WORKSHOPS

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RECENT WORKSHOPS

Blackford: Mirror of Perfection
April 2012

Shearing: Songs & Sonnets
March 2012
At the invitation of Brentwood Choral Society, Christine co-led this Arbutus Music event, which was enjoyed by choir members plus a goodly supply of guests.

Bach: St John Passion
January 2012
This open workshop marked the beginning of a wonderful adventure for Writtle Singers culmianting in a preformance in Chelmsford on 31 March 2012 that was terrifically well received.

Handel: Judas Maccabeus 
Saturday 15 January 2011

This workshop marked the beginning of a journey for Valentine Singers members, for most of whom, including their (arm-in-plaster-at-the-time-of-the-workshop) MD, this was a first full-scale encounter with Handel's "hit" oratorio... 

• Early rehearsals were bemusing. “But what’s it about?” “I can’t follow the story”, “It’s all short bits”, “Judas who?”  Most of us could recognise (but not accurately I imagine) “See the Conquering Hero”, but the rest was mystery. One of the wonders of Handel for me, is that once on his wavelength you find every voice part has its own distinct, singable, and memorable tune.  The real revelation however comes with the orchestra and soloists (on great form), when the sheer grandeur of the piece, its spine-tingling narrative drama, must speak to even the most staid of singers and audiences. In my book this goes down as one of Valentine Singers greatest performances – not least because we seemed to hit peak form at just the right moment!    From reflections on the 2010-11 season from a choir member 

Mahler: Resurrection Symphony
Saturday 24 April 2010

• a big thank you for making this such an interesting and rewarding day - you certainly opened up and brought back some of the thoughts behind the work and of Mahler's life and times to everyone's advantage - particularly those who had never experienced this magnificent symphony before.  I am confident it will have encouraged many to learn more of this intriguing and very enjoyable composer.

• Thanks once again for the splendid workshop.  You always make it so interesting!

Haydn: The Creation
Saturday 22 January 2009

• "Vielen Dank fur den tollen Musictag" I had a fantastic day - thank you very very very much

Solo Singing Workshop
Saturday 26 April 2008

• I just wanted to thank you for an invigorating workshop yesterday which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you for letting me come along.  I think you and Anne were fantastic; supportive and constructive, rather than unnecessarily critical.  

Find Your Voice
Saturday 2 February  2008
A course for anyone who has you ever been told 'you can’t sing' or has been asked to mime.

• I very much enjoyed Saturday and I am very keen to continue singing

• It must be 30 years since I sang out loud but there I was singing along with everyone else.  I was so buoyed up that I turned the radio off in the car and sang all the way home- really out loud and making a sound. I can’t remember when that last happened.

Elgar: The Music Makers & Walton: Belshazzar's Feast
Saturday 19 January 2008
An open choral workshop day hosted by the Valentine Singers which gave a chance to explore these great choral works, learn about them, rehearse and sing through some extracts.

• I was genuinely surprised at the amount we managed to get through, with a reasonable amount of       panache!

St Matthew Passion
Saturday 27 January  2007 
An open workshop day on J S Bach St Matthew Passion, hosted by the Valentine Singers.  The choir of 90+ - members of Valentine Singers plus some 25 guests - enjoyed the opportunity to sing chorales and choruses from this great choral work and to learn more about the whole work.  

• A huge thank you for a very enjoyable, useful and fruitful day

Find Your Voice
Saturday 3 February  2007
A course for anyone who has you ever been told 'you can’t sing' or has been asked to mime.
Some feedback

• Just like to say that I really enjoyed the day and I met some really nice people

• May I just say “thank you” for a really good day last Saturday.  I never thought that I would have enjoyed it so much – and I think my voice did improve!

Choral Workshop for Braintree Choral Society 
Saturday 10 February 2007
Vocal techniques including tips and exercises to enhance your musicality - a lively, fun, refreshing day of choral singing. Repertoire included: Elgar Ave verum; choruses from Mendelssohn Elijah.

Opera Scenes
Saturday 28 April 2007 
An open workshop day hosted by the Valentine Singers on various operatic scenes from Cavalleria Rusticana, Dido & Aeneas and HMS Pinafore  

From members:

• THANK YOU What a fun day! I also learnt alot. I had a great time only sorry I didn't audition [for a solo]. I didn't realise how much fun it was going to be.

• I'm finding it really interesting doing the opera scenes - I've never done anything like this before and it's good to be able to try something new

CHORAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS

Christine has led 'bespoke' workshops for a number of choirs and music theatre groups wishing to focus on specific technical areas, such as choral tone, voice production or sight-reading.  For more information contact Christine

Groups for whom Christine has led workshops include:

• Becket Drama Company, Waltham Abbey
• Times & Seasons (Essex-based chamber choir)
• CADOS (Chingford Amatuer Dramatic & Operatic Society)
• Epping Church Choirs Association 
• Theydon Bois community music group
• RSCM EEL (Essex and East London Church Music Committee)
• St Barnarbas Choir, Dulwich
• Braintree Choral Society
• Matching Handbell Ringers
• LCF Church Luton (An Arbutus Music workshop with Frances Quintrell)
• Homestead WI (S Weald) (An Arbutus Music workshop with Frances Quintrell)
• Brentwood Choral Society (Arbutus Music workshop with Frances Quintrell) ~ Shearing Songs &    Sonnets
  

Christine has also led INSET training in music for primary school class teachers.

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SOLO SINGING WORKSHOPS

Together with Anne Fradd, an experienced solo singer and music teacher, Christine has delivered many workshops for solo singers, focusing on performance skills and communication.  The idea is to offer solo singers, whether experienced or novice, a performance opportunity in a friendly environment where advice can be tried out and ideas exchanged.  The participants, plus any listeners who may enrol, form the audience for one another and each singer is asked to prepare and present one or two songs of their own choice.  Full details on current leaflet.  Solo workshop guidelines are also available.

 Anne in action

                warming up........

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Christine has run workshops covering various musicianship skills, notably conducting skills, sight-reading and music-perception skills, both for Essex County Council and in privately-run workshops.  As part of Arbutus Music, Christine co-presents  Sing the Stave workshops  which offer opportunities to both novice and experienced choral singers and to others who would like to improve these skills, perhaps to help with sight-reading on an instrument or for grade exams.  These workshops are also available to groups, such as choirs, on a bespoke basis.

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PIANO WORKSHOPS

Christine is active as a piano teacher and also leads piano groups for adults with moderate to advanced piano playing experience.  More piano info

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Why not give music workshops a try?  Just come along to see - and hear - for yourself!