FREE YOUR BODY • FREE YOUR VOICE • FREE YOUR SPIRIT
Workshops and Clinics
Dear Choral Director--
As
a singer you know how important it is that your
choristers have some fundamental training on vocal technique. As a
conductor I know how difficult it is to find the time
during rehearsals to impart proper vocal technique to your singers. We
both know as well that in the choral setting, distracted by
reading the music, blending with our neighbours, tuning the chords,
watching our diction, and following the conductor, we often lose
awareness of our bodies and lose sight of the fundamentals of technique.
A
well-timed clinic can help awaken body awareness long ago forgotten, it
can create a deeper understanding of the fundamentals and reinforce the
importance of good vocal technique. It can bring to light spcific
technical issues that singers may be facing and that prevent them from
their best sound. These individual defficiencies at large become choral
issues and hold the choir back from their true potential.
My
approach is wholistic and organic, based on the natural and proper
structure of the singing apparatus and efficiency of the mechanism,
tailored to the individual and their particular issues at the time. My
first priority is to find tension and help release it, thereby freeing
sound energy and achieving a more complete physical relaxation.
Some of the technical issues that I can plan to tackle in a workshop
situation might be:
- Proper use of the breathing apparatus
- Breath management
- Awareness of the importance of intercostal muscles in breath and
support
- Proper use of the diaphragm and abodminal wall
- Sound placement
- Proper use of resonance
- Proper use of chest register
- Use of middle voice -- blending the lower and upper registers
- Use of vowels to achieve depth and resonance
- Vowel modification for tuning and blending
- Use of language for projection
- Efficient and clear diction
- Language coaching -- Spanish, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, French,
Catalan, and German
These are just some of the most common fundamental concepts which often
need to be revisited and reinforced. You may have some specific concerns
that need to be addressed with your choir.
I am available to visit you
at
rehearsals in or out of town, retreats and workshops.
Rates
Rehearsal workshop................................. $ 315
3-hour workshop..................................... $ 375
(morning, afternoon or evening)
Full day workshop ................................... $ 515
(morning and afternoon)
Weekend Retreat................................... $ 815(Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon)
** These rates do not include meals or out of town traveling or lodging when necessary
Past Clinics
Vancouver Men's Chorus
Chor LeoniElektra
Aura
Chamber Choir
White Rock Children`s Choir
Coastal Sound Academy
Choirs
Richmond Chorus
BC Girls Choir
Terrace Music Teachers' Association
Sea to Sky Singers
Albertson College of IdahoB.C. Choral FederationGrande Prairie Music Festival
Whistler Music FestivalHowe Sound Music FestivalComox Music Festival
Chancellor Music Festival
Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music
Sunshine Coast Music Festival
Aura Choir of Vernon
Sutherland Secondary Concert Choir