| |
||
| | | |
| |
||
           |
Education Alberta Gold Show Chorus meets once a week to rehearse our music repertoire and learn new songs. It is at these rehearsal sessions that we begin to learn the skills necessary to perform our style of vocal harmony. Each member is then expected to practice these skills, on their own, during the week. As a member of Alberta Gold Show Chorus you will have access to an impressive network of learning resources, from section practices to international vocal workshops. The learning never ends! Here are some of the ways that chorus members can learn and expand their vocal skills: Extra Practices/ Section Practices: Extra practices are often scheduled in preparation for a show or a special performance. Each section may hold extra rehearsals, set at the discretion of the Section Leaders. These practices may be at the rehearsal hall or at an individual's home.  Workshops/ Coaching: Throughout the year, a few workshops are held. These are generally scheduled for a Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon, often at the rehearsal hall. At these workshops we share in-depth practice on current music and choreography. Outside coaches are brought in to add their expertise and skills to the sessions. Coaches may be from our region, or from other regions in our International Organization. There is usually no cost to the member for these workshops.
Retreats: Alberta Gold holds a weekend retreat each year. This is held on a weekend: a Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning, usually in January. The retreat is generally held at a site just outside of Calgary. A guest musical coach is brought in and we have an intense weekend usually devoted to perfecting our competition material. The retreat includes a social evening with entertainment provided by fellow Alberta Gold members and is often capped with a fund raising activity.  Regional Education Weekends: Region 26 sponsors a Fall Workshop with high quality International Faculty as well as our own capable Regional Faculty. We encourage all members to attend this excellent learning vehicle. The Weekends are not only educational but provide us with an opportunity to mingle and make friends with members from other Choruses. As well as informative classes, this Workshop includes a boutique, often with unique musical items; personal and quartet coaching opportunities; and a performance opportunity for choruses and quartets. In most years this workshop is split west and east to reduce travel costs. The same program is held at each session. These sites can be anywhere throughout the three provinces. They include Forums for directors and board members so that they can be brought up to date on Regional happenings while sharing experiences and knowledge.
International Education Symposium: An International Education Symposium was held in July 2008 at a large American University Campus, Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas. IES celebrated it's tenth anniversary and was the final time held in the format that drew approximately 1200 people from all regions. Top members of the Organization were brought together to provide instruction in all facets of Sweet Adelines activity. These sessions included such areas as vocal production, choreography, directing, administration, marketing, quartet singing, arranging, coaching and judging. There was a symposium chorus and an all-elective track. The classes started on Wednesday and end Saturday. The week's activities included social events, a quartet competition for Young Women in Harmony (under the age of 25), a competition for the five small choruses (16 - 30 on stage) and the five mid-sized choruses (31 - 64 on stage) who earned the highest marks in the international organization during their respective regional competitions. The symposium wound up Saturday evening with a show and party for everyone involved.
Area Schools, Director's Seminars & Judge Training: These newly developed educational formats will replace the International Education Symposium format. The first session offered will be the Director's Seminar & Judge Training to be held in Detroit, Michigan, July 23-26, 2009. with a seminar theme, "Side by Side", this will bring chorus directors and judges together to learn from the best in their fields. The first offering of the three-year cycle Area Schools will be in 2010. These will be open to members wishing to improve as a singer and performer. The locations of these training sessions have not yet been made public by Sweet Adelines International. We look forward to these personal development opportunities provided to members of our Organization. More Than Just Singing!: Sweet Adelines is an organization based on a philosophy of education. This is evident in the opportunities for growth made available to its members. In addition to the most obvious one, vocal production, further education and experience can be achieved in marketing, stage management, show production, script writing, desktop publication, management of boards, arranging, judging and the list goes on. Formal programs to obtain director certification (DCP directors certification program), arranging certification (IMAP International Music Arrangers' Program) are available through International Headquarters. Classes in vocal production and the art form of barbershop singing are held at the fall regional gatherings, at regional competitions and at international gatherings. This is all in addition to the International Educational Symposium and Area Schools mentioned previously. Other: At varying times Sweet Adelines International sponsors other events. These may include:
 |
|
|||||||||
|
