Conductors' Day, Tamworth, UK

• Posted by Liz Garnett December 4, 2012 - Filed in Announcement - 908 views

  Conductors’ Day 19 January 2013

  The Coton Centre, Tamworth, B79 9AA
  10.00 am - 4.00 pm

  
  

  Presented by the Association of British Choral Directors, Midlands Region

  
  

  The day is designed to appeal to choral directors with a range of experience; it is intended both to support those new in their role and to give well-established conductors the chance to refine and develop their skills. There will be a mix of practical activities and discussion sessions around three main pillars of the director’s role: conducting technique, rehearsal technique, and leadership/management.

  There will be two themed sessions:

  • Body Language and Voice: An exploration of how and why the conductor’s posture and gesture affect their singers’ voices. Practical exercises to refine our conducting technique derived from research in gesture studies and the neurology of non-verbal communication.
  • Diagnostic Listening and Rehearsal Tactics: A session on practical problem-solving - how to use the sounds we hear from our choirs to identify learning needs, and devise rehearsal activities to address them.

  Additionally, there will be the following opportunities for individual feedback and peer-support:

  • Break-out discussion groups on issues of choir management and leadership raised by participants
  • Participants will invited to bring a short piece to conduct as a focus for discussion on effective gesture and rehearsal strategies
  • Participants will be invited to lead the group in a short warm-up/workshop exercise as a means to share ideas and receive feedback on delivery style

  The day will be led by Dr Liz Garnett, author of Choral Conducting and the Construction of Meaning (Ashgate, 2009), and erstwhile Head of Postgraduate Studies at Birmingham Conservatoire.

  Download the booking form