Singing In Harmony:

Arranging English Folk Songs For Choirs

Sunday 20 May, 10.30am - 4.30pm

Following last year's successful Out of This World conference (delivered in partnership with the University Of Winchester) EFDSS presents a practical workshop day for choir leaders and teachers, introducing approaches to arranging English folk songs for community choirs. Led by Sarah Morgan, Ali Burns and Sally Davies, all of whom have many years' experience of leading thriving community choirs with English folk material at the core of their repertoire. More information about the workshop  below. See the bottom of the page for workshop leaders' biographies.

Tickets: £50 (to include lunch)

Booking: Download a form at the bottom of the page and send to education@efdss.org, 020 7485 2206 ext. 23

By the end of the day participants will:

•    Have had an opportunity to analyse and discuss a number of arrangements of English folksongs.
•    Have a clearer idea of the components of a successful arrangement.
•    Have identified some guidelines for arranging folksongs for groups and choirs
•    Be aware of the potential benefit of using two music software packages
•    Be more confident about developing their own arrangements

More information about the workshop day

Timetable

10.30 – 11.00     Registration, coffee and chance to mingle!
   
11.00                 Welcome, introduction and housekeeping
  
11.15                 Opening song
   
11.30 -12.45       Here’s one I prepared earlier…
   
12.45 – 1.45       Lunch and Bring & Share arrangements
   
1.45 - 2.35         Arrangement clinic (1)
   
1.45 – 2.35        Getting technical (1)
   
1.45 – 2.35        Arrangements under the microscope (1)
   
2.45 – 3.35        Arrangement clinic (2)
   
2.45 – 3.35        Getting technical (2)

2.45 – 3.35        Arrangements under the microscope (2)

3.45 – 4.15        Plenary session – questions & discussion
   
4.15 – 4.30        Evaluations & closing song

Here’s one I prepared earlier... 

A chance to hear some arrangements created by the course leaders, to discuss how and why they work, and to sing at least one of them.

Bring and share arrangements

If you have an arrangement which you would be happy to share, please bring it, either in written form or on CD.  Please let us know if you are bringing an arrangement on CD so we can have facilities in place for people to listen to it.

Arrangement clinic

Bring a song you’d like to arrange, or one which is still “work in progress”, and work on it in a group with advice from Sally Davies.

Arrangements under the microscope

Ali Burns will look in detail at some of her arrangements and discuss strategies for success, and solutions to some of the problems that arise when arranging for a choir.

Getting technical

Sarah Morgan will provide an illustration of how you can use two different software packages (Noteworthy and Sibelius) to help you with your arrangements.  Please note – it is only technical in the sense that it uses a computer; you don’t have to be a technical expert!