SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

Assessment Strategies for Band and Choir | Tom Taylor, Nicole Hounjet, Jace Stream
The panel will share how they use Moodle, an on-line virtual classroom program, and other technology to assess student progress, increase student engagement and promote overall musical development. The goal of this session is to spark an open discussion and sharing of assessment tools and teaching strategies amongst the participants who attend.

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.

Bach’s Philosophy of Church Music Practice for a New Millennium | Rev. Lorne Manweiler
So often, J.S. Bach is held up as a paragon of the high Baroque and of an even higher church music.  It may be surprising to many that Bach dealt with the same challenges the modern church musician faces:  chronic lack of resources, few capable parish musicians, and often antagonistic working relationships.  This session will examine Bach’s philosophy of church music practice musically, practically, and theologically, and translate those principles into the new millennium.

Bridging the Gap: Jazz Basics | Ed Wasiak
This workshop is for the classically trained music educator interested in venturing into the world of jazz. Most music teacher education programs are well grounded in the conventions of classical music. Preparation for playing and teaching jazz music is more sporadic. Yet many secondary school music programs include jazz as a regular component of the music program. Consequently there is a gap in many music educators’ training.  For the classically trained music educator, crossing over into the world of jazz can be intimidating and confusing. Listening to, performing, or attempting to teach jazz is much like encountering a foreign culture. Just as when crossing over into any foreign culture, one must acquire a basic understanding of conventional practices, basic concepts, history and language. This workshop is an introductory bridge between these two musical worlds and a guide into the new musical world of jazz.    Participants will leave knowing key concepts in jazz, basic approaches to improvisation, basic strategies for starting a jazz program, and where to look for resources. Even more importantly, participants will leave with a sense of confidence and empowerment. Yes, you can teach jazz! Is possible, bring your voice or an instrument; if not, come anyway. This is a hands-on, interactive session.

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.

Choosing Appropriate Musical Theatre Songs: Lecture & Masterclass | Jocelyn Ahlf
This session will give you a better understanding of the traditions of Musical Theatre, emphasizing the importance of play in this accessible, expressive genre, and get repertoire suggestions for teachers of new singers.

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

Choral Symposium Session – An Analysis of Osvaldo Golijov's La Pasión según San Marcos | Irene Apanovich
Argentina-born composer Osvaldo Golijov was one of four composers to be commissioned to write a musical setting of a passion narrative by the International Bachakademie Stuttgart for the “Passion 2000” project. His La Pasión según San Marcos (St. Mark’s Passion) represents a diversity of musical idioms found in Latin America. The amalgamation of different musical sources found in La Pasión define it as a work of
contemporary art, true to traditional paradigm of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passions but yet innovative in its own right.

This essay will analyze the various musical components of the following three choral selections from La Pasión según San Marcos: Primer Anuncio (First Announcement), Demos Gracias al Señor (We Give Thanks) and Crucifixión (Crucifixion). By looking at the musical sources used in each movement, this essay will unravel the elements that make up the musical pastiche that is La Pasión según San Marcos.

Choral Symposium Session – Creative Compositional Processes in a Contemporary Context | Ian Charter
We live in a day when the art of musical reproduction tends to be relegated to the readily accessible performance media of YouTube or Facebook. It would seem that the rigors of formal musical foundations and understandings are up for grabs. Without dismissing that reality, what are the bare bones (minimum) requirements for budding composers who want to write—perhaps publish—their own music or arrange existing tunes? Is there still room for standard publishing and reproduction of musical works? These are important questions in a day when composition can easily default to a “stream of consciousness” approach with no constraints of traditional theory or forms to guide us. The good news is that our postmodern society allows us the opportunity to return, without apology, to the music theory, forms and history which are foundational to our teaching and practice. This session will explore some potential guideposts and processes for following that journey with musical integrity and purpose. Consideration will be given to choosing appropriate melodic, harmonic, textual, and contrapuntal materials which consistently work well in a “contemporary” environment. The use of computer notation software, as well as the logistics and process of submitting works to established music publishers, will be discussed.

Choral Symposium Session – Demystifying Choral Intonation | Rob Curtis
Many experienced choristers will remember having been told on many occasions to sing second scale degrees slightly sharp, major thirds of chords slightly low and fifths slightly high, to beware of dark vowels pulling the pitch flat, that certain keys tend to go flat more than others, and many other truisms regarding choral intonation. The reasoning behind these common tips and tricks is sometimes less clear, however: the supertonic should be a little higher than what, exactly? How can a given pitch be properly sung slightly low one measure, and then slightly higher the next? Why do darker vowels often cause pitch to sag? Why do pieces that start in F often end up in E?

This presentation will present the science behind these and other aspects of choral intonation, in an accessible and easily-understood manner. A brief discussion of the overtone series and temperaments will lead into a demonstration of why particular intervals must be intoned differently from the piano: participants will see the reasoning behind the truisms and will have the opportunity to experiment with varying intonation through sung exercises. Concepts such as major and minor semitones and whole tones, tonal reference points, vowel colour and melodic direction will also be considered. Situations in which just intonation is inappropriate or impossible will also be explored. A reference sheet summarizing the differences between just intonation and equal temperament will be provided for easy consultation.

Choral Symposium Session – Diction: An Acoustic Approach to Choral Clarity | Alison Norris
“The choir sounded lovely, but I couldn’t understand a word.” This sentiment is often expressed by audience members, and is a long-standing challenge for choirs and directors to overcome, dating as far back as the early 16th century. In the rehearsal room, the choir’s articulation may be crisp and clear, but when transferred into a large performance venue with a warm and reverberant sound, the words, especially the consonant sounds, are often lost. With the loss of word comprehension comes a decrease in communication, which is one of the ultimate objectives of any choral group. Potential solutions to this dilemma can be facilitated by exploring the field of choral acoustics. Although a relatively new interdisciplinary field of study, choral acoustics is attracting an everincreasing level of interest and involvement.

Before we as choral conductors can begin to solve the problem of textual clarity, we must first determine how and why these problems arise. This presentation and paper will provide scientific information illustrating the most problematic sounds for choral diction; that is, which sounds are most difficult to hear in a concert hall. Strategies for improving text clarity will then be offered. Such strategies will include modification of gesture, specific score markings, rehearsal technique and verbal instruction. These solutions will
be supported by evidence-based research as well as voice-lab test results.

It is my hope that these explorations into choral acoustics will yield straight-forward and effective methods for improving diction in our choirs and communication with our audiences, which, in the end, is our common goal.

Connecting Youth and Seniors through Music Memories | Cara Brown
AMEF’s program, Alberta Heritage Music Project (AHMP), has been put on twice in Cochrane, and once in Fort McMurray.  Nathene Arthur, past Director and Chair of AMEF, created this program after having spent many hours with her students volunteering at Seniors Lodges and Hospitals, sharing the gift of music. AMEF will support this intergenerational program in music studios and schools. The possibilities truly are endless – come and find out how you can bridge the gap between all generations through music and stories!

Crossing Over to the Dark Side: Fiddle for the Classical Strings Studio | Trish Clair
Traditional and contemporary fiddle music has gained enormous popularity in recent years, and this trend presents a opportunity for classical strings teachers to maintain excitement and interest among their students. Embrace the dark side! Fiddle tunes can be used to expand left- and right-hand technique, improve bow control in a variety of strokes, explore theoretical concepts, and strengthen aural skills. In this session a graded curriculum of fiddle tunes will be suggested, along with many fun ways to incorporate fiddling into "serious" violin studies. Suitable for private studio teachers as well as ensemble teachers.

Delegate Sing: Gospel Music | Brian Tate

De-stress Techniques | Paula Crider
Paul Crider is sponsored by The Bandstand Ltd., Conn-Selmer, GIA Publications and the Hal Leonard Corporation.

Developing a Sound Body | Anna Beaumont
Session led by Anna Beaumont based on her Voice Connection: Where Sound and Light Connect” workshops. Our bodies contain a vital life force that is necessary for singing.  Developing a sound body and sound mind is crucial to fully realizing the potential of our magnificent singing voice.

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.

Fostering Musicianship in Young Children | Martha Livingstone
This session will be geared towards the studio music teacher as well as K-3 teachers who are interested in teaching music to young children. Martha will provide a brief overview of the benefits of music in early childhood as well as sample lesson plans, materials and ideas for those who are already teaching this age.

French Horn Tips and Techniques | Mary Fearon
Join Mary for an informative and humorous hour of "Horn Talk". Be mesmerized by a video on how to re-string a valve, learn how to oil horn valves correctly and be introduced to other horn related practices you might not be aware of.

Fundamental Percussion Techniques | Nathan Ouellette
Basic percussion skills you can impart to your students.  This session sponsored by Brandenburg Music.

However Small Your Voice
Zoltan Kodály’s philosophy for music education is based on a belief that the singing voice is the foundation of musical culture and the primary instrument for music education. In a time when singing is often described as a spectator sport, an activity no longer commonly practiced in the home, or a pursuit only for a minority of gifted, privileged, and talented individuals, the thought of singing as the principal activity in the classroom seems next to impossible. Through vocal exploration and age-appropriate vocal exercises for children, in addition to practical strategies that address singing challenges in the classroom—from pitch-matching to part-singing, from folk song to Lady Gaga—this session will address our responsibility as music educators to promote singing in the school, in the home, and beyond.

Instrumentation Model for Low-Enrolment Schools | Tom Dust
Establishing and maintaining the standard complement of instruments is a challenge for band programs in smaller schools.  Without the standard complement of instruments bands are unable to realize the concert band repertoire as conceived by contemporary composers and arrangers.  Poor instrumentation can result in an unsatisfactory band experience for band members, causing high attrition rates, which further exacerbates the difficulty of maintaining suitable instrumentation.  Dr. Tom Dust presents a model of instrumentation and practice for junior high school band that, even when accounting for normal attrition, enables band programs starting as few as fourteen students a year to achieve balanced instrumentation and satisfactorily perform literature up to the Grade Three level.

Introduction to Handbells | Quarter Notes Handbell Ensemble
This introductory workshop will present the basic ringing techniques required to teach any beginning choir of youth or adults as well as propose recommended repertoire to be considered in a church stream setting. Participants will have the opportunity to try handbells with lots of hands-on practice and learning about some of the special techniques as well. Ringers from Quarter Notes Handbell Ensemble will demonstrate said techniques as well as offer coaching ideas and suggestions.

Introduction to Improvisation in Your School Jazz Band  | Jerrold Dubyk
Mr. Dubyk will demonstrate some tried and true techniques to assist your students in the art of improv!

Introductory Hand Drumming | Nathan Ouellette
How to incorporate hand drums into your Jazz Band, Choir and Classroom.  This session sponsored by Brandenburg Music.

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).

Junior Piano Masterclass (Ages 11-14)| Bianca Baciu
Bianca is an active soloist, chamber musician, adjudicator and Masterclass clinician offering a masterclass for junior piano students. 

Listen Up! Engaged Listening in the Music Classroom | Lori-Anne Dolloff
This workshop will explore strategies for the use of engaged listening in the choral classroom. These will include movement, singing, music reading/writing, composition and guided listening maps. Maps continue to offer opportunities for engaged listening, particularly given the promise of new technology. Focused listening as a vehicle for assessment will also be discussed.

Moved to Sing: Singing with the whole body | Lori-Anne Dolloff
This workshop explores the use of movement with beginning singers to help the development of the voice. As teacher conductors we often focus on our gesture as a means of communicating musical ideas. Through the use of gesture students engage with their own music making in a deeper, multi-modal way. Strategies are applicable to classroom or rehearsal settings. Repertoire will include unison and two part choral arrangements.

Music – A Window to the Soul; Experiencing Classical Music Through Informed Listening | Lorraine Kneier
The session is designed for teachers looking for a resource for music listening or for anyone who wants an introduction into the world of classical music. The presentation will include information about the lives of the composers, discussion of the melodic, rhythmic, and formal elements of each piece in terms of the musical style of the period, and musical encounters with the chosen works, using listening guides that are supported by the musical score.

Musical Theatre Vocal Styles: Lecture & Masterclass | Jocelyn Ahlf
Jocelyn will work with individuals on presenting Musical Theatre with emphasis on character, storytelling and trusting their own artistic choices.  

NEW Canadian Band Literature | John Reid
Band music has a broad base in Canada with wind bands existing across the country in elementary, middle and high schools, colleges and universities, communities, the military, and in a few cases, professional aggregations. Band music has a rich history in the country and many prominent Canadian composers have chosen to write pieces at all levels of difficulty for band. The history of band music in Canada will be examined, including its place in the country in the present day, the state of the Canadian music publishing industry with respect to band music, and the role that the Canadian Music Centre plays in preserving, promoting, and disseminating wind music. Fifteen works for band will be featured; approximately two each in the grade levels one through six. Independent verifiers of quality such as publishing, recording, inclusion in syllabi, and recommendations of prominent band directors and observers were used in making the selections, plus an attempt to make geographic representation of composers of the various regions of Canada, and to place an emphasis on the most prolific Canadian composers for band.

No Wrong Notes – Part I | Jennifer Buchanan
Discover how music evokes memories, assists in retraining language, and offers alternative means of self-expression, while validating each persons’ strengths, leading to best health. This presentation will leave you with a better understanding of how music can enrich the lives of those you care about while enriching your life at the same time.

No Wrong Notes – Part II | Jennifer Buchanan
Discover how music evokes memories, assists in retraining language, and offers alternative means of self-expression, while validating each persons’ strengths, leading to best health. This presentation will leave you with a better understanding of how music can enrich the lives of those you care about while enriching your life at the same time.

Oboe Tips and Techniques | Beth Levia
This session will cover some oboe-related topics such as sourcing reeds, embouchure, hand position & fingering issues, exhaling and articulation. The presentation will be immediately followed by a Q&A session.

Old Wine in New Bottles | Paula Crider
Sources of inspiration to make teaching more efficient, interesting, innovative…and fun!  Paula Crider is sponsored by The Bandstand Ltd., Conn-Selmer, GIA Publications and the Hal Leonard Corporation.

Organizing and Building a Successful Program | Rita Burns
Have you wondered what success in a junior high music classroom looks like and sounds like?  In this session a veteran teacher shares her perspective on success in the music classroom and ways to achieve it.

Possibilities for Movement – Musical Improvisation and Physical Play| Jeremy Brown & Valerie Cameron
Musicians have long “moved to the music” while performing, yet the inhibitions inherent in the adolescent years can interfere with the “playfulness” so natural to the performing arts. This workshop will focus on freeing the imagination through freeing the body, and how freeing the imagination informs possibilities for physical expression in the music/jazz improvisation realm. The emphasis will be on the ability to “play” as an essential element to the creative process. Professors Valerie Campbell (drama) and Jeremy Brown (music) of the University of Calgary explore ways that students and music teachers can incorporate movement, improvisation, play and music performance.

Reading Session for Band| Paula Crider
This session has been sponsored by Hal Leonard.

Resources for the Church Musician: books, internet sites, and scores for the working musician in today’s church | Dr. Joy Berg
With limited financial resources, as well as limited availability to resources, often we church musicians in Alberta feel we don't know where to go for resources for our congregations and our choirs in order to "Enliven the Church's Song".  In this session we will explore some of the newest printed and internet resources that are available and practical for the church musician today!

Rhythms and Rounds | Brian Tate
Songs, grooves, and movements that are fun for little folk and big folk alike. Easy to teach and easy to learn. Builds oral learning, cooperation, memory, integrating movement, and a joy for singing at an early age.

Saito Conducting: The Ballistic Baton | Wayne Toews
Using Hideo Saito's analysis of conducting gestures, participants will learn to use gravity and minimal muscular exertion to express their musical ideas with clarity and artistry.  This session sponsored by MusicFest Canada.

Saito Conducting: The Eloquent Baton | Wayne Toews
Participants will explore ways by which Hideo Saito's teachings about conducting gestures can help them elicit profoundly musical performances from their ensembles.  This session sponsored by MusicFest Canada.

Selecting Music for Your Young Band |Rita Burns
One of the most important tasks of a music teacher is selecting music that will engage and inspire young musicians at the same time as it increases their musical understanding.  Hear tips and techniques for this important task and learn about some quality literature for young bands.

Senior Piano Masterclass (Ages 15-18 ) | Bianca Baciu
Bianca is an active soloist, chamber musician, adjudicator and Masterclass clinician offering a masterclass for senior piano students. 

Sing it again! Creative use of Ostinato for Developing Part Singing | Lori-Anne Dolloff
Music Educators from Kodaly and Orff to Bobby McFerrin make creative use of ostinato as a way of engaging singers of all abilities in part singing. This workshop will explore repertoire from multicultural contexts and newly composed works that begin with ostinato and move into choral improvising and arranging.

Strategies for the Beginning Singer | Lori-Anne Dolloff
Singing in the music classroom should be a joyful event. This workshop will engage participants in activities, songs and games for helping beginning singers to feel confident singing with others. In particular we will look at the uncertain singer and strategies for developing the child voice.

Suzuki Group Class Workshop | Trish Clair
Suzuki teachers, are you running out of ideas to keep your weekly group classes engaging and relevant? Are you new to the Suzuki method and looking for some more ideas for your "toolbox"? In this workshop, Trish Clair will present some of the methods she employs in her own Suzuki group classes and will also invite participants to share their own ideas, in the true spirit of Suzuki. Although this session is intended for Suzuki violin/viola teachers, there will be many ideas discussed that would prove helpful to any ensemble teacher looking for ways to enliven their group class instruction.

Technology and Teaching: Be Not Afraid! | David Sabine
David will explore some of the greatest technology that is available to your students and discuss ways that you can engage your students in new ways.  Technophobes welcome.

This Rehearsal Is Available to You in High Definition |Tom McAuley
This clinic is designed to help young music teachers best use their time and energy during rehearsal. Attendees will have the opportunity to: view their time on the podium in terms of musical intentions and goals, and to consider the effectiveness of their physical gestures on the podium. They will also have the opportunity to examine the rehearsal of a piece with regard to tempo, balance and color, and musical intent. Handout will include musical examples, a visual realization of printed vs. 'real'          dynamics, and extensive reading and listening lists. Having the opportunity to be in front of young musicians everyday is an honour and privilege, and I try to remember that each day before every rehearsal. When an ensemble conductor considers heightening the definition and clarity of a rehearsal in terms of tempo, instrumental color and balance, preparation, and intent the ensemble can only improve and the entire experience can become more educational and rewarding for both teacher and student.

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!

Treble Voices Choral Reading Session | Kimberley Denis

Voice Masterclass | Anna Beaumont
Masterclass to illustrate the work of Whole Body Singing; Anna will assist students incorporate awareness, breath and sound.  This class will leave behind the rules of right and wrong, and embrace the Sound Body.

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.

Whole Body Singing  | Anna Beaumont
Session led by Anna Beaumont based on her Voice Connection: Where Sound and Light Connect” workshops.  How does every part of our body contribute to the quality of our voice?  Through the embodiment of our voice we can learn to feel our voice as a full representation of our being, and bring all of the colours and textures of our sound back to life.

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.