Choir Leader Training

Are you interested in leading singing groups and choirs? Or seeking to build your confidence in this area? This series of workshops will cover all the basics and much more.

The training will give you skills for a wide variety of community settings and several previous participants have gone on to make this their profession. It is a hands-on, practical course, though with philosophy, theory and lively discussion where appropriate.

Candy developed and has run this course for 15 years now

In 2016 we ran this course for the first time at the Song House, over 8 days. It was very successful. The training days are spread out over the week. In between those days, students are required to spend time putting newly acquired skills into practice, by teaching the choir formed by the student group. This enhances the value of the course, and quickly builds students’ confidence. Students found it invaluable to have this time together: time to practice on each other, pool expertise and ideas. See many testimonials on this page.

Topics covered:

• Philosophy and principles
• Warm Ups
• The voice
• How to teach a song in parts
• How to develop a song
• Ways to improve the quality of the singing
• Building dynamics of the group
• Improvisation
• How to support individuals

There are no entry requirements and you don’t need to be able to read music, though it is helpful.

Candy will be drawing on over 35 years’ experience of teaching in a wide range of settings: directing a set of five ‘Singing in the Round’ community choirs, initiating and directing the Trowbridge Song project, a multi-racial community building project, work in schools, Early Years, Steiner education, nursing homes and work in the corporate world.

See what past students have to say

Jessie Ceridigion, 2022

Click here to see more testimonials on our Youtube Channel

See what past students have to say

Frances, Co Louth

“Tranformational. This course, this environment, the land, Candy’s style of deep listening and ability to create a safe container for vulnerability has helped me recognize my own fears that hold me back from living my full creative potential. The wealth of Candy’s experience coupled with her sensitivity to the group made it easy to experiment with teaching styles amd let me feel comfortable to try thing out and make mistakes.”

Fran Haverfordwest Wales April 2022

This course will give you skills to run singing workshops in a wide variety of community settings. But singing in this way, opens the heart, and for many, leads them also on a transformational journey.

It is a hands-on, practical course which includes philosophy, theory and lively discussion where appropriate. There are no entry requirements and you don’t need to be able to read music. However it will be most useful to people who have had experience in some areas of music: singing in choirs, but also teaching or other musical settings. All musical experience is helpful.

“I adored every single bit. It soothed and comforted and pushed and challenged. It took me to the heart of my fears and out the other side. There was nothing I couldn’t use. The protective loving atmosphere you and Robin create is utterly unique and has held us so safe, allowing us to go to… and through… and past dangerous territory. Thank you for giving us so much of yourselves.” Jessie from Ceridigion, Wales April 2022

Click here to see more testimonials on our Youtube Channel

The course includes:

• Philosophy and principles
• Warm Ups
• How to teach a song in parts
• How to develop a song
• Ways to improve the quality of the singing
• Building the dynamics of the group
• Improvisation
• Teaching Practice
• Join in and observe Candy run a session for her choir

In past years this course has run over 3 months: 4 intensive training days with 3 week gaps between each session, for students to practice their skills. We have now run this course twice at the Song House, over 1 week, with great feedback from the students.

The training days will be spread out over the week. In between those days, students will be required to spend time putting newly acquired skills into practice, by teaching the choir formed by the student group. This enhances the value of the course, and quickly builds students’ confidence. Students found it invaluable to have those times to practice together, pooling expertise and ideas.

Candy will be drawing on over 35 years’ experience of teaching in a wide range of settings:

• Setting up and directing a set of five ‘Singing in the Round’ community choirs
• 7 years directing her performance choir Sounding It Out
• The Trowbridge Song Project. A 2 year Arts Council Funded multi-cultural community project
• Singing on the Wild Side- week long singing holidays on islands around UK and Ireland over 13 years
• Work in schools, Early Years, Steiner education, nursing homes and work in the corporate world.
• Pan-Euro choir
• Cór and Chroí- a local Irish choir

See what past students have to say

Markus, Switzerland

Click here to see more testimonials on our Youtube Channel