A 6-week course online course on Zoom starting September 2023.
When? Weekly 1.5hr sessions Thursdays time TBC starting 14th September 2023. Available as a 6-week block or one-off bookings.
Who is it for? Emerging singing group leaders, existing leaders who want to develop their practice, health practitioners, arts and health facilitators, school teachers and anyone interested in leading singing groups.
How much? 6 sessions £180 or two instalments of £100 each due by 14th September and by 5th October. One session £40.
Max 8 participants
Please contact me to express your interest: reroutledge@gmail.com
Course Structure
Week 1 – Thurs 14th September : All about YOU – identifying your strengths and areas of development, clarifying your role as a singing leader.
Week 2 – Thurs 21st September : Warm-ups – what, how and why?
Week 3 – Thurs 28th September: Arm-gestures and non-verbal communication – starting and stopping, beating time, louds/softs/expression.
Week 4 – Thurs 5th October: How to efficiently teach a song.
Week 5 – Thurs 12th October: How to make your group sound amazing – active listening exercises.
Week 6 – Thurs 19th October: Trouble-shooting – managing group dynamics, pitching issues, recruitment and more.
My approach
I create a safe and supportive space to learn and grow together, mirroring how to effectively lead a singing group, where participants are seen, heard and co-creating with their facilitator. Combining practical musicianship skills with extensive singing leading experience, this course is practical. Each session is structured around how to lead an effective singing session, starting with a warm-up, learning a song and with demonstrations and opportunities to try things out.
My background
I am a singing leader and singing for health practitioner-researcher who is passionate about inclusion and using group singing to support the healthy development of individuals within a community. After a degree in music and philosophy, I specialised in choral conducting, studying with Antoine Finck in Lyon, France. From there I founded and successfully led over 15 community choirs and singing for health groups in the UK and France (Pram Chorus parents’ choirs, Vocality Singing, Sol Singers) as well as leading groups for the Southbank Centre, London and family support charities Little Village and Homestart.
My experience is with people of all ages and abilities, from beginners to professionals in hospitals, schools, corporations, community and voluntary organisations and with people who have experienced homelessness, refugees, adults with disabilities/learning difficulties, children with SEND, mothers with PND amongst others. After attending training in creative leadership with Peder Karlsson (The Real Group, Perpetual Jazzile), I have developed an approach starting from a principle of care, developed into practical strategies to leading and running a choir to ensure inclusion, equality, listening, respect and each person being of value to the group. This has evolved into studying for a Masters with the Voice Study Centre in Singing for Health, conducting research into the health effects of singing.
Please contact me with any questions – reroutledge@gmail.com if
