The College of Music, Theatre, and Dance is co-hosting a virtual international choral/vocal music workshop with a university in Ghana.
Joining in the workshop, to be held Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 6 to 8, will be the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Dr. Amy Spears, who is assistant professor of Music Education at SUNY Fredonia, and Dr. John-Doe Dordzro, head of the Department of Music and Dance at UCC, are convening the workshop. Six SUNY Fredonia faculty and a recent graduate will lead clinics on a variety of topics related to teaching choir and vocal lessons.
Faculty include Assistant Professor Travis Gratteau-Zinnel, Associate Professor and Director of Choirs Vernon Huff, Professor Joe Dan Harper, Assistant Professor and Director of Opera Studies Donald Marrazzo, Assistant Professor James Harrington and Senior Lecturer Lynne McMurtry.
Nicholas Pattilio, a music teacher in the Port Jefferson Union Free School District who has a M.M. in Choral Conducting and a Mus.B. in Music Education, both from SUNY Fredonia, will also lead clinics.
The primary audience for this first-time event at SUNY Fredonia includes choir directors, soloists and choir members in Ghana and West Africa, though anyone is welcome to attend any or all parts of workshops. Attendance is free, but you must register for the event to receive the Zoom link. To register for the workshop, visit here.
For more information, contact Dr. Spears via email at spears@fredonia.edu. All faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend. Five sessions will be held each day.
Topics, presenters and times on Monday include:
• Welcome and introduction of topics and presenters, 9 a.m.;
• Teaching Strategies and Choral Gestures for American Folk Music, Dr. Vernon Huff, 10 a.m.;
• Fundamentals of Choral Conducting, Mr. Pattilio, 11 a.m.;
• Fundamentals of Vocal Technique: Posture, Breathing and Vocalizing, Ms. McMurtry, 1 p.m.;
• Jazz Music in a Choral Setting: Rehearsal Techniques and Repertoire, Mr. Harrington, 2 p.m.
Topics, presenters and times on Tuesday include:
• English Lyric Diction, Mr. Harper, 9 a.m.;
• Tips and Tricks for Successful Choir Rehearsals, Mr. Gratteau-Zinnel, 10 a.m.;
• Fundamentals of Choral Conducting, Pattilio, 11 a.m.;
• Fundamentals of Vocal Health: Overview of Contributions to Good and Bad Vocal Health, McMurtry, 1 p.m.;
• Vocal Pedagogy: Vocal Training with a Focus on Classical Voice, Marrazzo, 2 p.m.
Topics, presenters and times on Wednesday include:
• English Lyric Diction, Harper, 9 a.m.;
• Teaching Strategies and Choral Gestures for American Folks Music, Huff, 10 a.m.;
• Repertoire Selection for the Development of Adolescent Singers, Gratteau-Zinnel, 11 a.m.;
• Jazz Music in a Choral Setting: Rehearsal Techniques and Repertoire, Harrington, 1 p.m.;
• Vocal Pedagogy: Vocal Training with a Focus on Classical Voice, Marrazzo, 2 p.m.
A lunch break will be held each day from noon to 1 p.m.
