Workshops

Enabling skills development through interaction across all levels and types of Various Voices activity.

Workshops of 1.5 to 3 hours by experienced London choral directors, vocal coaches and repertoire experts.

We aim to take advantage of the international skill base of London and those around Europe to provide something for everyone, and those within the Festival with skills will also be able to share them.

The workshop timetable will run in blocks from 10-1pm and 2-5pm, and delegates can buy from £5 as many or few as they want, across four workshop strands:

Developing Your Voice - covering vocal skills and choral skills.
Diversity of Repertoire - how to developing diversity in your song choices and make your group more vocally versatile.
The Whole Performer - covers mental and physical aspects of singing, using the body, dance, breathing and posture. Also expands out into broader areas connecting with song, including spirituality, meditation, and group dynamics. Much useful material for warming up.
Leading Your Group - a set of workshops for choral directors and other leaders within the movement, including those involved with administration, marketing, programming and fund-raising.

Some workshops may repeat over the four days, depending on demand, ideas currently under consideration include:

Developing your Voice

Joy of Singing - a series of singing workshops, at four levels: absolute beginners; normal chorus level; advanced singers and choir trainers.
Singing High Tenor - a workshop for tenors across many choruses and styles.
Get Your Ears Together - Kodaly training for musical directors and members, focusing on listening skills.
Advanced Singing for Soloists and Choir Directors - More demanding sessions for those who need to be stretched.
All Tenors across several choruses
Music Director Swaps

Diversity of Repertoire and Musical Style

Jazz Singing - a fun introduction to jazz improvisation.
Musical Theatre - ‘singing show tunes well’.
Renaissance Polyphony - the skills of singing in parts, using simple repertoire in Renaissance and early Baroque styles of Europe.
Putting Together a Concert Programme - for committee members and choir leaders.
Planning a Rehearsal Schedule - 2-3 choruses present their experiences concerning rehearsing LGBT choirs.

The Whole Performer

Dance - waltz, cha-cha, and ballroom dancing for beginners. Excellent for development of rhythm and body skills, and also great fun, fostering interaction, partners welcome. Other styles, Scottish, Country Dancing, Irish Ceilidh.
Performance Technique - ‘Now you know the notes’: using your face, and body; understanding and communicating the meaning of the text; kinaesthetics and the musician.

Leading Your Group

Choreographers of Choruses - on teaching and rehearsing simple choralography, ‘getting it tight on the night’, timing of teaching with song etc.
Strategies for Teaching Songs - to groups that include both music readers and non-music readers.
Fork or Key - the advantages and pitfalls of singing unaccompanied, including whether to use a piano or simply a tuning fork.
Management and Marketing Workshops - production, management and ‘Know How’.
Growing Your Chorus and Attracting New Recruits - how to attract members, retain them, optimum size, auditioning, tips for welcoming new choir members etc.
Sharing Good Practice - chorus managers, fundraisers and marketers.