On Friday, March 23, 2018, I was a Conference Headliner for the NDMEA Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota. It was a wonderful day, where I met so many new friends and exploring topics regarding choral music education with so many passionate teachers! Thank you so much, NDMEA, for this delightful opportunity! Below are some of the resources employed for the four sessions. Enjoy!
Description: As a choral music educator, you may be the only voice teacher many of your students will ever have. If intentional voice instruction is absent from your rehearsal, the rule of “inaction is action” means that you do regularly influence the vocal habits of your students. To fulfill this important responsibility as a voice specialist and to promote healthy singing, conductors must have a solid understanding of vocal pedagogy. Intended for teachers of all ages, this interactive session will present practical information, techniques, vocalises, kinesthetics, and accessible repertoire to address how conductors can teach the functional unity of posture and alignment, breath management, phonation, resonation, and articulation. Healthy vocal techniques will be introduced to empower your students to express themselves expressively.
Click Link Below for Powerpoint Presentation (PDF):
NDMEA_VoiceTeacher_March 2018_Powerpoint
Click Link Below for Handout (PDF):
Description: Come ready to sing and move in this processentation designed to create beautiful music together! Interactive circles will be used to explore ensemble voice building techniques, participate in creative choral rehearsal strategies, and engage in kinesthetic awareness activities that include gesture, movement in place and movement in space. Such work increases physiological connections to singing and encourages a full-bodied awareness of musical elements, which ultimately allows one to access and convey their natural artistry. Research will also be shared that shows how choral singers perceive the effectiveness of these strategies and how best to apply movement and interactive loops in various choral settings.
Click Link Below for Powerpoint Presentation (PDF):
Click Link Below for Handout (PDF):
Description: How do you choose repertoire for your concerts? Does curriculum influence your music choices? Do you introduce your students to pieces and performance practices that span the entire history of our genre? Are you looking for innovative ideas to vitalize your choral concert? . . . for accessible and enjoyable selections that are also educational?. . . for effective programming concepts that are sure to bring it all together? If so, this is the session for you! Come prepared to sing, to share concert themes that have worked well for you in the past, and to discuss programming possibilities that invigorate and inspire. Special thanks to our pianist, Julie Schwartz, and our generous sponsors: University Music Service (Hershey, PA), Hal Leonard Corporation, The Moravian Music Foundation, and J. W. Pepper.
Click Link Below for Handout (PDF):
Planning Artful Choral Concerts
Description: Group discussion will focus on the critical aspects of music education typically overlooked in college methods courses. Learn strategies to negotiate challenging situations and work with colleagues in your school to create success in your program and to bring a greater sense of satisfaction to your professional life. Topics include (but will not be limited to): brainstorming strategies to reduce stress, learning how to work collaboratively with others, and utilizing techniques for building mutually beneficial interpersonal relationships to provide an environment that promotes positive experiences to benefit your students.
Jeffrey Gemmell's Repository of Artful Things! 