Individual class registration is not required. Pick which classes you wish to attend, and show up. Workshop registration is encouraged as it helps us to appropriately plan for the numbers of people and the range of interests.
Classes listed are subject to change. Information will be added here as it becomes available.
General Interest
Getting Them to the Bench (and Staying There!) (Joseph Hoffman)
We all want our children to have the enormous blessing of being able to play the piano, or any instrument, proficiently and joyfully. But why can it be so hard to get kids to want to practice? In this session, Joseph Hoffman will draw upon years of research and practical experience with directing his own music school of 300+ students to share his secrets for motivating kids to not only practice but to ENJOY it, too!
Organ/Accompaniment
The Art of Accompanying (Lauren Fraley)
Come and learn the art of accompanying. Pianists, organists, and guitarists have a unique opportunity to support vocalists and instrumentalists in many settings. This class will give a brief overview of those opportunities as well as tips and tricks to be the grounding force of your group!
Come and learn the art of accompanying. Pianists, organists, and guitarists have a unique opportunity to support vocalists and instrumentalists in many settings. This class will give a brief overview of those opportunities as well as tips and tricks to be the grounding force of your group!
Organ Secrets I: Registration (Eric McKirdy)
All those buttons, all those knobs . . . what’s a person to do?! This class focuses on the many different ways the organ sounds depending on what hymn or piece of music is being played. Say goodbye to using presets for everything, and say hello to taking charge of the organ!
Organ Secrets II: Pedaling for the Non-Organist (Eric McKirdy)
Most ward organists start off as pianists who get handed the calling by default. How do you use all those pedals down there? We’ll talk about four easy tricks to begin practicing with pedals and incorporating them more into playing in church.
Organ Secrets III: Playing the Hymns with Power! (Eric McKirdy)
With registration and pedaling under your belt, now it’s time to talk about how to take the ward organist calling and magnify it – when the calling is magnified, an entire ward (or branch) benefits, both consciously and subconsciously. (And no, it doesn’t take an Organ Performance degree to magnify the calling).
Choral
Choral Reading (Tom Pixton)
Come and preview music for your ward choir
Choral Music packets $20
More Than a “Joyful Noise”: Making the Most of Ward Choir (Karen Porter)
Dealing with the reality of ward choir can be challenging. Low rehearsal attendance, non-existent music budgets, and untrained singers (or conductors) can make it feel overwhelming. How do you make the most of what you have with your ward choir and magnify it to get even more?
Basic Conducting (Lauren Fraley)
Whether you are newly called or need a review session, this class will offer instruction in basic conducting patterns as well as hands on practice in conducting voices and instruments. Becoming comfortable as a music leader is our main goal!
Choir Rehearsal Technique: Emotion, Technique, Unity – How to Get it All (David Thomas)
Dr Thomas and the PCO Adult Choir will engage in a “normal” rehearsal; at least for the first few
minutes . . comments from class members will direct what happens next. You are welcome to simply observe but we also invite you to throw your voice into the class conversation and influence the flow of this rehearsal. You will not be conducting, rather adding comments, asking questions, and giving feedback on how the rehearsal is progressing. We expect that all of us will come away with new ideas for effective rehearsal management.
Conducting Master Class: Learning By Doing! (Dr. David Thomas and Members of the Portland Choir & Orchestra)
Observe 3 workshop attendees as they work on polishing hymns in choir performance, using the PCO Adult Choir for demonstration. Alternatively titled “Show What You Mean and Mean What You Show”, this class will offer specific guidance on refining the conductor’s physical gestures to more effectively encourage the desired singing from the choir.
Primary/Nursery
Sharla Dance’s Best Primary Practices for 2018 Primary Songs (Deborah Threadgill)
Come learn from one of Sharla’s most devoted followers how to use many of her ideas and methods in teaching the 2018 Primary songs. Share some of your experiences using her methods.
We will be sharing her blog posts and YouTube videos of Primary music.