teaching singing workshops

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: pattyClink
Date: 01 Mar 03 - 10:48 AM

to answer your request for feedback on what would Mcatters like to see in a workshop

I would wish for 4 sessions working (not being lectured to) on the techniques you list in your item number 1, applying them to a few folk songs, and maybe taping the sounds and playing back the audible improvements.

Then I would like a session of working in small groups singing harmony, which is what everybody wishes they could do and seldom get a chance to do much less get instruction on.

I would leave off all the rest, anybody seeking that deeper knowledge can take college classes in it.

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: Kaleea
Date: 01 Mar 03 - 02:04 AM

First, you must determine who will be coming to your workshops--people who sing in a "band" or people who just love to sing in a session? Then you must determine how long will the workshop last--1 or 2 hours?--all day? Then determine the absolute basics of what you wish to get across if, for example, the attendees are mostly those who gig part-time, such as warming up, relaxation is good to begin with, and then go on to very basic vocalise. Then perhaps correct breathing, and exercises to help them understand correct breathing. What is good phrasing? How does one emphasise the important word of a phrase. Basics of expression. You could have a whole day in just these subjects. i.e.,
*I* love you. i *LOVE* you. i love *YOU*.
I was recently asked to give a 2 hour workshop on singing harmony. JUST singing harmony. Most are not pros, and most need the basics, keep that in mind.
    As for warm-ups with a group. . .many years ago when I was still in music school, I overheard a member of the choir I had directed for 2 years comment to a new member, ". . .you can tell that she is really building a program here! Some of us complained in the beginning about the warm-ups, but we have all noticed that our voices are much stronger and we have much better breath control since she has been our choir director." Think about it.

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: Stewart
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 07:25 PM

Hi Mary, thanks for entering this thread. And thanks, Frank, for your additional comments. Mary, I wouldn't even charge you $10 for the course, I'd think of hiring you as a guest instructor. You're right, it's probably a bit too intellectual, but what do you expect from an ex College Prof.? You have a beautiful voice and nice delivery, and probably are a natural singer with innate talents. I guess I should decide exactly who I am aiming this at. I am thinking more of the solo rather than group singer - someone who wants to sing folk songs, but needs some guidance. I'm not sure this would be for the complete beginner, certainly not the accomplished or advanced singer.

I don't subscribe to the school of thought that folk music should sound rough and untutored, such as the hayseed who sings slightly off key with a poor-sounding voice, or the guitar player who, after trying to tune his guitar, says "that's good enough for folk music." No, it isn't good enough! - it would sound so much better and more pleasing if the guitar really was in tune, and the singer had a more pleasant-sounding voice.

I've heard people at song circles, sessions, or open mics try to sing who weren't very good, but could become better with a little guidance and encouragement. But I don't know teaching such a course would result in better song circles, sessions, or open mics. Probably not, but I might at least feel a little better that I am doing something rather than complaining, and hopefully a few people would benefit by singing better and enjoying it more.

Maybe I am a bit too ambitious. But why not try?

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: Frankham
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 06:25 PM

Stewart,
Your course prospectus looks great but I think you might be trying to do too much. I think that Mary G. is right in that you want to gear your courses toward beginners to start with. Let them grow with your teaching style rather than have more advanced students with their own agenda. A beginning student generally doesn't have a strict agenda but wants to learn. I believe that you might want to consider a specific focus rather than a generalized one that encompasses many ideas such as theory, performance etc. Something like Irish traditional singing for example. $95 per five lessons is reasonable in my opinion.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: mg
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 04:54 PM

I think the general idea is just great although I wouldn't pay $95 for it..maybe $10 or so per class is all...I think it sounds overly intellectual and technical for beginners...if you are just hoping to encourage newcomers to the hobby of group singing...the main thing is to do it...heave it out of you as they say in Newfoundland...guest instructors: you couldn't beat Stan James, Tim Hall, Chris Roe, Val Cohen, Janet Stecher, Joe Martin, to name just a few.

mg

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: GUEST,Claire
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 02:41 PM

Hi Stewart,

I haven't had a chance to carefully read your whole prospectus, but I was very impressed with the way you outlined your workshops above. I have been to several workshops that seem to be much more about the artist's performance and knowledge than about getting people to sing. That is always disappointing to me.

I am mulling over putting together a workshop on "singing in the Irish tradition" for festivals and dance camps around the state. For these purposes, it needs to be 1 hour long, appropriate for a wide range of audience members, and very participatory. I hope to pull in some ideas from your work.

I do have some general workshop suggestions based on my experience teaching clogging workshops. Maybe you will find these helpful. They would be applicable to the festival or dance camp scene, where attendees are interested, often talented, but not expert in your field.

Handouts are great for most people, they feel they have gotten something to take home and it takes the pressure off of learning the whole thing in class. Hand them out at the beginning and people can glance through them while you are waiting for folks to gather. If you hand them out at the end, some might miss them because they have to leave early. Also, if you hand it out at the beginning, it sends an immediate message - you are organized and plan to be informative.

Have people introduce themselves and then start with something energetic that gets them moving and gets them working as a group.

Place the more challenging material closer to the front of the lesson, not at the end. Tell them this is tricky, but lets give it a try. This may seem counter intuitive, but at the beginning people still have energy and can learn better. Also, you can review this material at the end and give them a second shot at getting it down. I have had very positive response when I have done this.

Place fun and somewhat easy material at the end, so that they leave feeling successful.

Plan carefully, so that your workshop has a nice flow and you are not rushed.

I try to keep in mind that my job is to create an enjoyable experience with real content... not to make them into instant cloggers. If they truly want to get good at clogging, or singing for that matter, nothing but practice and hard work will do it. You cannot give them that, only the tools to work with.

Anyway, that is my 2 cents (or vastly more). It was fun to share these ideas, and I really appreciate the resource your workshop notes provide.

Claire

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: Stewart
Date: 28 Feb 03 - 01:57 PM

Thanks again. That sounds like a great workshop, Brian. I've begun to work out some of the details and have produced a Prospectus for a course involving a series of classes (maybe about five or so) and placed it on my web site - CLICK HERE. So I'd appreciate more feedback and your reaction to this so far. Is it too ambitious? Balanced, or too much emphasis on some aspects and not enough on others? Other things to include? Etc.

This is only the beginning of my planning, so I am open to suggestions. Also, there is a question of a venue. I plan to discuss this with my friends at Dusty Strings (a folk music store in Seattle that does many workshops). Venues usually do this for a charge, so I may consider doing it at my home. I should charge a fee for participants (thinking of $95 for five 1.5 hr sessions) - I'm not interested in making money, but would like to pay musician friends of mine to serve as occasional guest instructors and cover the cost of the venue. Also I believe participants will take it more seriously if they have to pay something for the course.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: Brían
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 06:10 PM

I did a workshop with a Colm O'Donnell at a Fleadh Ceoil in Riverstown Co. Sligo that I thought was very helpful. He had each of the participants auditon with a song of their own choosing as we sat around in a circle. He selected a suitable song for competitions, THE DEAR LITTLE ISLE and we went around the room and practiced phrases of it until we sang it. Colm talked about style and ornamentation. We learned a little bit about how to learn songs through abc notation, tape recorder(I went out and bought one after returning from Ireland)and breaking the song down into bits and putting it back together. There was some discission on how to select appropriate songs and the role of the schools in supporting tradition-I recall he seemed to think that the schools could be helpful in teaching music and Irish language to the children but that the tradition belonged to the people. He encouraged people to go to summer music schools which are prevalent in Ireland. He mentioned one where Paddy Tunney taught.

Brían

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 04:59 PM

Stewart, your workshop idea sounds great, especially as a series. In my experience people who want to learn to sing better need regular, continuous support and encouragement in a non-judgemental setting. I used to think that went without saying, but I've had to deal enough times with dropouts and hurt feelings over comments like "I'm not sitting next to you- you'll throw me off!" from other group members that it's a stated policy now!
AggieD, I'd love to have gone to that workshop! Who gave it?

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: Stewart
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 04:32 PM

Thanks for your comments so far - hope to hear from others too. I am more inclined to think of a series of classes rather than just one workshop - there's more that I want to cover than can be put into one or even two workshops. As an ex college prof. I am used to preparing handouts, but again too many may get in the way - I will restrain myself, perhaps only give them out at the end of a session. Thanks, Aggie for your description of a workshop - it sounds like it was good. Again, I'd like to hear from others about workshops they have attended or would like to attend.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: Frankham
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 04:11 PM

Stewart,

It's been my experience that too many handouts confuse and get lost. If they are used, all encouragement to get them memorized so they don't have to be referred to is a good goal IMO.

This is the same discussion as is using RUS.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: AggieD
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 01:52 PM

The last voice workshop I went to was great. It was taught by a woman who teaches voice etc. professionally, & is a very well known folk singer. She did shortish workshops, & started by warming everyone up physically, which she said that everyone should do before they perform. This made everyone relax, and put us at our ease, although many of us knew each other, there can still be a stifness about performing in front of each other. We then went on to do a voice warm up with the physical exercises, which stretched our lungs as well as vocals. She came along with very simple part harmony songs, which she taught us, & then went on to give a short explanation of how she writes harmonies. This was enough for us to go away with after a session & I agree with NicoleC that you are hoping to pack a lot into a workshop. Also make it fun & not too much theory, a lot of folk singers sing by ear anyway & don't want to be too tied down by structure theory. Have handouts so that people go away with something concrete from the day eg the songs you have sung, research sites(Mudcat) etc.
Good Luck!

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: NicoleC
Date: 27 Feb 03 - 11:24 AM

This workshop sounds great! I am always annoyed when my choir director exhorts us to practice, but doesn't seem to understand that many of us newcomers don't know the techniques to practice effectively.

I think you'd need a series of classes. This is a lot to cover in a workshop.

Subject: RE: teaching singing workshops
From: Frankham
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 06:05 PM

Good start, Stewart. Like to hear more from Mudcatters on this.
Thanks,
Frank

Subject: teaching singing workshops
From: Stewart
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 05:38 PM

Recent threads on "blue books revisited (Rise Up Singing)", and "songs to warm up a song circle" prompted me to complain about people coming to song circle not prepared or able to sing a song and the misuse of the blue book. Then I thought: Why complain? Why not do something about it? I am retired, and certainly have the time, and I have a fair background in singing (studied voice for 7 yrs), music theory (some college courses), and performance (at Northwest Folklife Festival, open mics, Irish sessions). So how about doing a workshop or series of classes on singing folk music?

I have only participated in one singing workshop, which I found less than satisfying - the instructor, a fine Irish singer, spent most of the time singing her songs and explaining them, but very little time was given to singing by  the participants or instruction in how to sing, learn, or perform a song. As a fiddle player I have participated in many fiddle workshops where time was spent learning several tunes by ear, phrasing and bowing patterns, ornamentation, and sometimes even technique. Could this model be used in a singing workshop?

So my questions for this thread are: How would one organize such a workshop (classes)? Are there any good models and/or materials available? What topics to cover? How to present the subject (what works best, or doesn't work)? Examples of the best workshops you have attended? What would fellow Mudcaters be interested in learning at a singing workshop?

Some topics I might cover include:

1. The very basics of vocal technique - breathing, relaxation, resonance, projection, etc. Although I have experienced much of this in voice study, I am not trained in vocal instruction and don't feel qualified to do more than a brief elementary presentation.

2. Basic music theory - the key (tonic), intervals, scales (major, minor, modals, etc.), elementary harmony, etc.

3. Ear training. - how to learn a tune by ear, repeat short strings of notes, learn a tune phrase by phrase, recognize the tonic, scale or mode, dominant, sub-dominant, etc.

4. Words - how to fit words to melody, phrasing, variation in melody with different words (verses), etc.

5. Memorization - tricks to memorize tune and start the tune in an appropriate key (or change if necessary), tricks to memorize the words (something I still have trouble with!).

6. Repertoire building - sources (the Mudcat, etc.), recordings, etc.

7. Performance - how to polish a song for performance, relaxation techniques before and during performance, how to connect with audience, mic techniques (I still don't like microphones, prefer unamplified acoustic under suitable conditions), tricks to recall tune and beginning words in a session when many other tunes and songs are going around.

8. Session etiquette.

I would place emphasis on unaccompanied singing and learning by ear - learning the song first without accompaniment and later adding it (only if it improves or adds to the presentation of the song) (music - notes and words - would be provided only at the end of the workshop or class session).

Thanks for your comments, ideas or advice.

Cheers, S. in Seattle