Here are my most requested classes. I’m happy to vary these or develop new classes to meet your needs. Just contact me!
Knowing your music
Identifying good music for your chorus/quartet. Discovering the traps and the strengths before you begin.
The 11 Barbershop Chords
Explanation of the 11 barbershop chords and when to use them. Either using a demonstration quartet or the audience to sing them. Examples of good and bad voicing and their places in commonly known songs. How to make chords ring.
Busting the tuning myth
How does tuning actually work…using science! Learn how the modern scale developed, the difference between different tuning methods and why the baritone shoulder is so essential.
DIY Singlish
A great fun retreat/weekend workshop activity to help chorus members develop a consistent approach to the sounds of each word.
Understanding the Judging Categories
How can you succeed in a competition if you don’t understand the rules? This class gives an overview of the four judging categories and how they apply to your ensemble. This class partners well with Chorus levels – what’s the difference?.
Chorus levels – what’s the difference?
Using the levelling DVD, we review performances from choruses of different sizes at different levels. This class works well when it’s targeted at your chorus level – where have you been, where are you now, and where are you going? Requires a viewing screen, speakers and a DVD player or HDMI connection. This class partners well with Understanding the Judging Categories.
Hints for a Successful Quartet
How to get started with a successful quartet, or improve the functionality of an existing one.
Conducting Skills
Aimed at new directors, assistants, section leaders. This class goes through the basics, but can also be extended to include coaching for individuals.
Giving effective PVIs
PVIs = Personal Voice Instruction; a one-off singing lesson. This teaches you how to identify the needs of a singer and give her some simple assistance to improve her singing. Can be done with the whole chorus or just the music team, and requires volunteers who are prepared to have a PVI in front of the group.
Tag – you’re it
How to teach tags, tag etiquette and more!
Arranger coaching
This works best as a one on one activity. If you’re a budding arranger with an existing arrangement, I can work through your arrangement with you and discuss choices and options. This can be done in person or from a distance through email/phone/Skype.
Moving forward through culture change
Musical leaders spend most of their time focussing on developing their chorus’s musical skills, but never see real change. Why not? Because for a chorus to move forward they need to change their culture to match their musical gains.