Workshop (6): Nurturing the Beginning Choir

Are you a conductor of a primary school choir who finds it difficult to help choristers get started? A beginner choir often lacks the ability to sing with good intonation, have controlled vocal technique, and sing inside-parts with ease. Nurturing a beginner choir is an art that requires patience, skill, and passion, and it is crucial to be able to listen and provide accurate feedback with compassion.

Mrs. Robyn Lana is an experienced junior choir conductor who founded the Cincinnati Youth Choir, an ensemble-in-residence at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Her large range of experiences demonstrates her numerous encounters with different types of choirs, which contributes towards her professionalism and expertise in training beginner choirs.

In this workshop, participants will discover how to choose and present repertoire that suits the abilities, interests, and diversity of their singers. They will also learn how to help their singers develop confidence, skill, and expression, as well as create a cohesive and musical ensemble sound. By applying these strategies, they will be able to build tone and artistry in beginning singers across all age groups, and captivate both performers and listeners with their lively and memorable performances.

This workshop will teach participants how to select repertoire that is appropriate for the choir’s level, how to teach healthy and artistic beginner vocal techniques, and how to communicate and lead the choir in a democratic, collaborative, and flexible way, while maintaining a positive, respectful, and encouraging environment.