General Interest
Hymn Sing
Come join us for a special musical treat to start your Workshop experience! We will be singing along with the organ, as usual BUT – we will be adding something to each hymn. See what fun we can have with hymn harmonizations, interludes and original compositions to make Sacrament Meeting feel like your own little Tabernacle!
Music Therapy & YOUR family (Nancy Bair)
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Learn how specific Music Therapy techniques can help you teach your children, teenagers, and even the adults in your family to cope with change and life’s up and downs.
Music and the Restoration (Anni Scott)
Does God speak only through the spoken word? Come study the music, composers and historic events that ushered in the gospel in the latter days. A great class to help "connect the dots" and see God’s hand in communicating with and preparing the hearts of the people to receive the restoration of all things.
The Hymns, In Theory (Eric McKirdy)
What did all those hymntune composers need to know, about how to write a hymn? What patterns do they follow, and why do they matter? If you’ve ever wondered what music theory is all about, this class is for you! Using the hymnal as our textbook, we’ll talk about some of the basic (but very interesting) elements of theory that connect the hymns to each other, and other elements of theory which make some hymns really stand apart from the rest. You’ll never sing a hymn the same way again!
Backstage at the Tabernacle: 30 Years of Stories from the Bench (Bonnie Goodliffe)
Over the course of her career at the Tabernacle, Bonnie Goodliffe has heard and seen it all! Sometimes humorous, often touching, in this session she shares some of her best memories (so far!) that have defined her experience as an Associate Tabernacle Organist.
Choral
Basic Choral Conducting (Denise Erskine)
“Help me: I’m waving my arm, and I don’t know why!” Participants will improve conducting technique by getting somewhat technical. This year emphasis will be placed on effective preparatory gesture and final release.
Choral Reading (Denise Erskine)
Come enjoy reading a wonderful assortment of choral music appropriate for ward choirs of all levels. The pieces vary in difficulty and price, as well as come from a variety of resources to provide a wide exposure for choir directors.
Getting More From Your Choir (Joseph Hoffman)
Want to bring new life and energy to your Ward or Stake Choir rehearsals? Joseph Hoffman will share from his extensive conducting experience tools, tricks and techniques for making rehearsals engaging and effective. From creating a beautiful tone and blend to choosing the right music to rehearsal time-saving tools, this session will give conductors many practical new ideas to make choir rehearsals a fantastic experience.
Conducting Master Class (David Thomas)
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Learning by doing. Class will focus on refining the conductor’s physical gestures to more effectively encourage the desired singing from the choir. Some participants will prepare to conduct a selected piece in advance. Class members will act as choir for conductors.
Primary / Nursery
Primary Music: The Full Meal Deal I (Dana Garrett)
Come learn how to nourish children’s lives and testimonies through Primary music. Learn how to create a musical meal that is filling, and wholesome and fun! Come prepared to learn and share about your stewardship, preparation, building relationships, and instructional strategies. There’s something for every taste, and it’s all fat free!
Primary Music: The Full Meal Deal II (Dana Garrett)
Come learn how to nourish children’s lives and testimonies through Primary music. Learn how to create a musical meal that is filling, and wholesome and fun! Come prepared to learn and share about your stewardship, preparation, building relationships, and instructional strategies. There’s something for every taste, and it’s all fat free!
Empowering Primary Kids Through Music (Beth O’Brien)
Learn how to help children understand that when they sing they have power to feel, identify, & invite the Spirit. Explore simple tools and techniques as we teach the Gospel through music.
Music: The Language of Nursery (Channing Dance)
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From singing time, to snack time, to play time, to clean-up time, to story time, to lesson time, to circle time, music is the underlying voice of Nursery. Come learn ways to engage every age Nursery child, to transition from one activity to the next, to enhance the attention span and effectiveness of your lessons, and to bring the Spirit into Nursery with song. There will be a mock singing time and lesson presented along with an organized booklet of play songs to correspond with almost any nursery activity or theme.
Music & Kids (Kristine Parker)
When should music education begin? How do children learn music? How do you teach them? When are they ready to start an instrument? So many questions! Come and learn more about early childhood music education based on principles researched by Edwin Gordon.
Organ
Pedaling Essentials (Eric McKirdy)
The organ is a different animal from the piano, and to play well, a pianist’s hands and feet need to learn new tricks. Come explore simple methods to improve your technique, and learn some practice tips to make you play like a pro!
Making the Most of your Practice Time (Bonnie Goodliffe)
Most ward organists have many other duties in life, and practice time is both scarce and precious. This class covers several tips and tricks to help organists of all levels to maximize the effectiveness of limited rehearsal time. Come and find out how to become a better organist in whatever amount of practice time you have!
Organ Q&A (Bonnie Goodliffe & Eric McKirdy)
Do you have questions about your calling as organist, the organ in general, or other related questions? Bring them all to Bonnie Goodliffe and Eric McKirdy in this open forum, and all questions will be addressed in a roundtable format. No question too large or too small.
Effective Hymn Playing (Bonnie Goodliffe)
The role of the ward organist is not just to play music, but to help guide the congregation through musical worship. How the hymns are played can define the quality of the worship experience. In this session, we’ll explore the psychology of how the organ (and organist) function in supporting the congregation, and demonstrate the differences between best- and worst-case scenarios.
Music Chair
Music Chair Boot Camp (Eric McKirdy)
This class is for every ward or stake music chairperson, or anyone who might be one at some point. There are important ways that music in the church can be improved and used as a very meaningful catalyst for worship. We’ll discuss innovative ways that the stake or ward music chairperson can work with bishoprics, stake presidencies, and stake/ward music committees to continually develop the talents and resources of each congregation. The class will feature a step-by-step plan which can be used in every stake to raise the level of music and musicality among all members, and therefore increase the amount of worship that can only happen through music.
Relief Society Music Spotlight: How to Pack 20 Minutes of Instruction into a Five-Minute Window (Denise Erskine)
Power pack your 5 minute music period with variety! We’ll discuss many different ways to capture the meaningful Relief Society lesson material in a musical way that both complements the lesson and uplifts the soul. Compete with Primary, and make Relief Society the most fun place to be (at least for five minutes).