CHORAL SESSIONS

Any Reason for Optimism ? The Arts within a Utilitarian Culture | Malcolm V. Edwards
Choral music, it seems, has always been fighting for its life and its rightful place within the curriculum. Teachers may sometimes feel, with reasonable justification, that their efforts are for naught, and that the demands of the timetable, Alberta Education and the occasional principal cause them to lose heart.  This session will attempt to be a counter-agent in that there may be reasons for optimism and for a revival of the spirit. The session will include an opportunity for audience interaction and for the sharing of positive strategies and innovative thinking. The purpose of coming to a conference is to be re-invigorated –and this session might just help that process.

The Power of Anatomical Awareness: Developing a Healthy and Vibrant Singing Tone Through Body Mapping in the Choral Rehearsal | Catherine Robbins
This session will provide educators with accessible and practical information that can be readily applied to the choral rehearsal context including alternative ways of reflecting on alignment, respiration, and resonance. The goal of the session is the development of accurate, succinct language that promotes vocal health and clears up some of the myths and mystery surrounding vocal production. The Alberta Youth Choir will be on hand to demonstrate.

Choir "Tone-Up" - Bringing Beauty and Vitality toChoral Tone | Joanne Collier
This session is designed to appeal to choir conductors and teachers at all levels, particularly those working with elementary, middle and high school singers. Ideas and techniques to add vitality and beauty to your choir’s sound and engage your singers will be shared. Featured demonstration choir for this session will be the Medicine Hat College Girls’ Choir, Bradley van Middelkoop, director.

Choral Reading Session: Mixed Choirs | Brendan Lord
This reading session is sponsored by Long & McQuade.

Choral Symposium Sessions
The Choral Symposium sessions act as forums for the sharing of academic research pertaining to choral music and choral music education. Questions and discussion arising from the presentations will be welcomed and encouraged. All delegates are invited to attend these sessions. Visit the Choral Symposium page for presentation topics and presenters.

Delegate Sing: Gospel Music | Brian Tate

DIY: Choir Choreography 101 | Tricia Penner
Yes, it is true! You can “Do It Yourself” and get your choir moving and groovin’! What music do I choose? Where do I begin? Jazz hands....blades....high V......Double dream hands? Come workshop the basics of choreographing for your choir. In this interactive session, we will look at the how-to’s, the thought process and creatively stage and choreograph 3 selections from beginning to end that you will be able to take with you and use in your 2011-2012 Choral Program.

It Don’t Mean A Thing If Ain’t Got That Swing | Brian Tate
Jazz is one of the most liberating, exciting, creative, colorful, and limitless styles of music that any singer can explore. Whether as a choir or a soloist, singing jazz will expand your technical, musical, and creative range like nothing else! This workshop is for any educator with a jazz ensemble from beginning to advanced, with little or no experience.  The workshop includes discussion of jazz rhythms (swing and syncopation; getting tight by getting loose!), jazz phrasing (the "elastic line" and rhythmic freedom), jazz harmonies (fine-tuning your ear to extended harmonies), jazz colour ("playing" your voice like an instrument; expanding your palette of sound), and improvisation (allowing your own spontaneous musical ideas to bloom).

To Glee or Not To Glee | Tricia Penner
Like it or not, Glee has started a choral revolution! Let’s jump on the bandwagon and use this momentum to build and strengthen our Choral Programs. Which arrangements are suitable for my program? How can I use the Glee movement as inspiration to plan and arrange for my choirs based on my strengths and the needs of my Community? What do I need to know in order for my singers to get a great well-balanced, educational experience? Come join the Gleek Generation!

The Power of Anatomical Awareness: Developing a Healthy and Vibrant Singing Tone Through Body Mapping in the Choral Rehearsal | Catherine Robbins
This session will provide educators with accessible and practical information that can be readily applied to the choral rehearsal context including alternative ways of reflecting on alignment, respiration, and resonance. The goal of the session is the development of accurate, succinct language that promotes vocal health and clears up some of the myths and mystery surrounding vocal production. The Alberta Youth Choir will be on hand to demonstrate.

Treble Voices Choral Reading Session | Kimberley Denis

The Warm Up - Preparing your singers to rehearse well | Donald Christenson
The session is designed to provide a bucket full of practical warm-ups that can be used to help your singers focus and energize for a successful rehearsal. Moving quickly from a talking world into a singing one can be greatly enhanced by warm-ups that focus on the body, the voice, the mind, and the spirit. Special attention will be paid to getting started quickly without direction, the use of movement and alternate arrangements, use and non-use of the piano, creating an environment the stimulates freedom and creativity that can be transferred to the rehearsing of repertoire. The University of Calgary Chamber Choir will be available as the demonstration choir.

World Rhythms | Brian Tate
Everybody has rhythm! And much of today's contemporary choral repertoire features exciting African, Latin, and jazz rhythms. This lively, hands-on workshop will give you and your singers a solid start in getting a groove happening in your choir. Exercises include clapped and spoken rhythm "rounds", syncopations, African and Afro-Cuban music, and more. The rhythms are learned through movement, clapping, speaking, and singing. Easy-to-learn and fun musical games and songs will help your choir listen better, loosen up, and become a tighter ensemble. A guaranteed good time!

WOW-ing Your Audience | Brian Tate
You've heard of extreme sports - how about extreme singing? Wowing your audience takes more than singing the right notes in the right place!  One of the most common challenges choirs face is to break away from "mezzo"-itis; that is, a middle-of-the-road approach to making music. Watch your choir come alive musically by taking its current or new songs to the extreme in dynamics, phrasing, tone color, rhythm, and articulation.