We will be working intensively for five days on conducting skills. Each day there are classes in conducting technique, rehearsing, warming-up and vocal styles. Apart from that, there will be short workshops each day focussing on a range of subjects.
Practicum
The Practicum is an essential part of the course, which forms a strand throughout the week. Every day, for around three times, the group will come together as a choir, with a participant acting as conductor for a period of ten minutes. For the Practicum the participants will be divided into two groups: group A is aimed at conductors who have relatively little experience in conducting pop and jazz, while group B is aimed at those with more experience. These two smaller groups mean that we will be able to focus more on the specific needs of the participants, as well as provide more individualized teaching.
Other classes
Each day begins with Warming-Up, with a variety of different exercises, led by one of the teachers. This will include a detailed explanation of each of them, as well as how you might use these exercises with your own choirs. Later in the morning there will be a hands-on class Beating Technique which focuses on the physical skills of conducting. In the afternoon there will be a choice of either a class looking in detail at the scores of well-known and highly successful arrangers or a class Warming-Up Practicum, in which the participants will be doing sing-in exercises with the group themselves.
The evenings are spent working on and singing more complex arrangements in the so-called Big Choir, in which all of the course participants will take part. At the beginning of the week, the work and rehearsals will be led by the teachers. From Wednesday on, the participants of group B will have the opportunity to conduct the Big Choir.
Each day there will be two half hour classes on your Choice of Subjects. The classes change each year. In 2019 there were, among others, the following classes:
- Arranging – In this class we will be producing a short arrangement together and singing it so that we can hear the effect of the written notes.
- Chord symbols – We will study the more difficult chord symbols.
- Circle songs – We will be doing group-wise improvisations.
- Improvising – This class will provide tips on soloistic improvisation.
- Ear Training – We will work on analysing harmonies by ear.
- Sight Singing – Tips for singing a prima vista.
- Using the Tuning Fork – We will develop the use of the tuning fork to indicate chords.
- Rhythmical Awareness – Developing awareness of rhythm by clapping them in canon.
- Solmisation – Using gestures to indicate notes in the scale.
- Darmon Meader – We will listen to and analyse scores from this fantastic arranger for the New York Voices.
Final Concert
The course will finish with the Final Concert on Friday 31 July at 4 p.m., in which we will showcase the pieces we have been working on. The concert will be conducted by a selection of the participants. This finale enables participants to put into practice everything that they have learned during the week. The concert will take place in the concert hall of the venue.
Schedule of the Day
A sample schedule is shown below. The days are fully packed to allow optimum use of time.
| 8:30 | Arrival | |
| 9:00 | Warming-Up | Led by the teacher, a different Warming-Up approach will be used each day, with discussion about its use. |
| 9:30 | Practicum | Participants will take turns in conducting their group (A or B). and will receive feedback from their group’s teacher. Group A is working with Ruben and group B with Tijs. |
| 10:45 | Coffee break | |
| 11:00 | Beating Technique | We will work on specific skills such as indicating entries, using hands independently and flow. |
| 11:30 | Practicum | Group A will work with Tijs and Group B with Ruben. |
| 12:30 | Lunch | |
| 1:45 | Subjects of Choice | A 30-minute session during which participants can choose their classes. |
| 2:15 | Practicum | Group A works with Ruben and group B with Tijs. |
| 3:30 | Tea break | |
| 4:00 | Subjects of Choice | Another half hour with short workshops on different subjects. |
| 4:30 | Vocal Scores or Warming-Up Practicum |
On Monday and Wednesday, we will take a look at a couple of wonderful and singable arrangements by acclaimed arrangers. On Tuesday and Thursday there is a class in which the participants will practice their warming-up with the group. |
| 5:30 | Free time | |
| 6:00 | Diner | |
| 7:30 | Big Choir | Participants will work together as a whole group, sometimes conducted by teachers, and sometimes by a selection of the participants. |
| 9:00 | End |
Coffee, tea, lunch and dinner are provided.