Cross-Choral Training (sm)
Vocal and Musicianship Training for Young Singers and Choruses
Presented in conjunction with The Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy
June 30 - July 2, 2008
For choral directors, voice teachers, music educators and all those interested in furthering the development of young vocal musicians.
Across the country choral conductors have the role, often by default, of primary voice and music educators for school-age children. In order to be effective communicators and facilitators, who are prepared to teach a wide variety of musical skills and techniques, we must have access to the latest musical and vocal tools. Most college choral conducting programs do not offer training in children’s voices, nor do they teach vocal technique for today’s contemporary commercial music, which makes very different vocal demands than classical music.
The Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy (BYCA), in conjunction with NYU Steinhardt’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, programs in Vocal Performance and Music Education, presents The BYCA Cross-Choral Training(SM) Institute to provide participants with just such tools for classroom and performance preparation for school and community choruses.
Cross-Choral Training(SM) (C-CT(SM)) is BYCA’s holistic approach to building vocal musicians who are capable of responding to the musical and expressive demands of diverse repertoire. It is both functional voice training, based upon voice science and health, and a comprehensive approach to teaching sight-reading and other musicianship skills. C-CT(SM) affects vocal changes at the physiological level, enabling singers to intentionally perform a variety of coordinated adjustments and vowel sound qualities. By focusing on free function, singers learn to sing in the healthiest sounds possible in a wide variety of styles.
For the past 14 years the GRAMMY® Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy, under the guidance of Dianne Berkun, has prepared hundreds of children to perform with symphony orchestras and recording artists to great acclaim. Through its C-CT(SM) program, BYCA singers consistently demonstrate that all children can reach the highest levels of artistic achievement in a wide range of music.
For more information about The Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy, please visit: www.brooklynyouthchorus.org/
COURSE CONTENT:
Musicianship and Music Literacy Skills – the pedagogy of music reading, sight singing, ear-training and basic music theory.
Score Analysis – how to analyze and prepare your scores for teaching and conducting.
Conducting Practicum – improve your skills by working with a master conductor
Vocal Pedagogy – learn how to healthily build the voices of your students so that they are able to sing all styles of music.
Voice Class– improve your skills by applying Cross-Choral Training(SM) techniques in your own singing by working with a master voice teacher.
Master Classes (conducting optional)– try out all you have learned with support and feedback from our team of clinicians and special guests while you conduct the BYCA Institute chorus.
Housing/Meal
Participants will stay in the Hayden Hall dormitory, on Washington Square Park, ideally located at the heart of NYU's main classrooms and facilities. Bedrooms have a bed, desk, dresser and closet/armoire for each student, rooms are air-conditioned, but they do not have telephone or Internet access. There is 24-hour security. Participants will receive a package of bed linens with a small towel when they arrive. Participants who request a single will not have a roommate, while participants in doubles will be assigned to live with one or two other participants from the program.
A meal plan is not included. Participants will receive more information about housing after they have been accepted to the program.
Cost
The cost of the program is $400 for participants who do not receive credit. The fee for housing is $390 for singles.
How to Apply
Participants must be 18 years or older to be considered. Please send application to:
Dianna Heldman
Associate Director of Vocal Performance
Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
35 West Fourth Street, Suite 777
New York, NY 10012
The following materials should be included:
The application deadline is June 1.View Faculty Bios here