British Choirs on the Net

Choral Conducting Courses & Training
 

15 May

12 June

17 July

ABCD Extended Choral Conductors Training

Initial course - provides a firm foundation for singing leaders and covers;

  • · Preparation

  • · Voice training

  • · Developing simple conducting gestures

  • · Learning to communicate with gesture instead of words

  • · Developing awareness of vocal technique

  • · Using warm-up exercises to develop    sound and flexibility

  • · Score preparation for rehearsal and performance

  • · How to communicate with your choir and lead efficient and enjoyable rehearsals

  • · Guidance on choosing suitable repertoire

  • · Development of programme-planning skills

Dates: 10th April, 15th May, 12th June, 17th July
Venue: St Pancras Church Hall, Lancing Street, London NW1 2BA.
Course Cost: £220 (abcd members) or £250 (non-members)

Visit www.abcd.org.uk or contact Kate Allen, 07528 382445 / kate.allen@abcd.org.uk for more information.
29 May The Choral Voice: for Choral Conductors & Singing Teachers
In association with the British Voice Association
Speakers Stuart Barr, Mike Brewer, Mary King, Jo McNally and Graham Welch will cover a range of topics including how the voice works ; improving choral singing technique; differences between choral and solo singing; idiomatic choral sound; the ageing voice; children’s and adolescent voices; warm-up: theory & practice; vocal health and how conducting gesture affects voice.
Date: Saturday 29 May
Venue: 10.00-17.30 The Priory Rooms, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF
Course Cost: £60 (abcd or BVA members), £70 (non-members) £35 (students).

25 July

12 September

16 October

17 October

ABCD Intermediate Course - includes active training sessions on vocal and rehearsal techniques alongside masterclasses and covers;

  • · Understanding the rehearsal process

  • · Understanding vocal development, skills and health

  • ·  Understanding conducting gesture and communication

  • ·  Repertoire and research

 The course is accepted as a substitute for the DipABRSM (Music Direction) which allows students who have successfully completed the course to proceed to the LRSM (Music Direction).

Dates: 24th & 25th April, 23rd May, 27th June, 25th July, 12th September, 16th and 17th October
Venue: The Hall School, Crossfield Road, Hampstead, London NW3 4NU

Course Cost: £560 (abcd members) or £595 (non-members).

Visit www.abcd.org.uk or contact Kate Allen, 07528 382445 / kate.allen@abcd.org.uk for more information.
9 - 12 August

Conducting and Rehearsing with Christopher Gayford

The conductor and researcher Christopher Gayford will help you improve and develop your score-learning, interpretation, gesture and rehearsal techniques, working with examples from the orchestral, choral and operatic repertoire. Some pieces might be specified in advance, and you are invited to play or sing in small ensemble versions of the works to provide your fellow participants with plenty of opportunities for hands-on conducting. So bring your instrument! Christopher’s course will benefit conductors at all levels, and places might be available for those who don’t want to conduct but instead to develop their listening and/or performing skills.

Resident £220    Non Resident £185

This course and more like it take place in the beautiful grounds of Benslow Music Trust, Little Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. SG4 9RB. Tel: 01462 459446    Email: info@benslow.org   Web: www.benslow.org
9 October 2010

The College’s popular start-of-season Choral Directing event returns in 2010 as a full-day workshop, with a professional-standard chamber choir present for the afternoon session. This year’s tutor is Peter Wright, Organist & Director of Music at Southwark Cathedral and RCO Chief Examiner from 1997-2005. The programme is designed to be accessible to choral directors of all levels of experience, whether they work with church or secular choirs, and whether or not they are keyboard players. It is an essential event for those preparing for (or considering) the Royal College of Organists’ Choral Directing Diploma. Based around the practical requirements of the Diploma, there will be opportunities for those who wish to do so to conduct pieces from the set repertoire, working with piano in the morning and with the chamber choir in the afternoon. You may attend as an active participant or as an observer. Up to five people will be able to conduct the choir in the afternoon session. They will be chosen in order of receipt of booking form and repertoire offered, and will be asked to pay a supplementary charge of £10 on the day. For full details of the Choral Directing Diploma visit http://www.rco.org.uk/examinations.php or contact the College to be sent a copy of the Regulations.

Saturday 9 October 2010, 11:00 – 16:30 Temple Church London (wonderful acoustic!) Tutor: Peter Wright, Organist and Director of Music, Southwark Cathedral and former RCO President and Chief Examiner Professional chamber choir present in afternoon. Non-members welcome.  Attend as active participant or observer