Choral and Percussion Workshop

Choral and Percussion Workshop 2008
suitable for Primary Music Coordinators, Teaching Assistants
and PGCE Music Students.
Course aim and objectives:
The aim of this workshop is to:
• highlight the role that classroom percussion instruments can play in the development of literacy, composition and performance.
• teach musicianship by combining percussion performance with singing.
There have been cases in the past where no instruction has been given as to the names of instruments, how to hold them or how to play them in a way that produces a musical sound. Pupils would merely hit, scrape or shake the instruments without any thought. This half day course combining percussion with a choral workshop will aim to address these issues. The choral workshop will focus on singing in unison, simple rounds and part songs; using non verbal signals in teaching singing and ways to combine percussion and singing in classroom performance.

Course Outline and tutors:

• Percussion Workshop with Andy Leask, Head of Percussion, Berkshire Maestros.

Andy Leask taught percussion at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Streatham, Roehampton University and the University of Reading. In 1989 Andy was appointed Head of Percussion for the Centre for Young Musicians in London. Then in 1992 he was appointed Curricular Head of Percussion for Berkshire Maestros, formerly known as the Berkshire Young Musicians Trust.
Andy formed percussion ensembles in each of the four area music centres in Berkshire, giving students the opportunity to rehearse and perform in ensembles with students of similar ability.
To date there are nine area percussion ensembles and a County Percussion and Marimba Ensemble which has played at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Festival Hall and The Royal Albert Hall on numerous occasions, most recently in November 2008.
Players in these ensembles also play in the Berkshire Youth Orchestra, Berkshire Youth Wind Orchestra and Dawsons Berkshire Youth Brass Band, with players each year gaining entry into music colleges throughout the country.

• Choral Workshop with Dr Rebecca Berkley

Rebecca Berkley is a freelance writer and musician. She was a percussion student of Andy Leask in London whilst at school. She is a choral conductor and works as a choir trainer for Berkshire Maestros, at the Newbury Music Centre, and works for Sing for Pleasure as a singing tutor. She has taught percussion to students of all ages, both as a private teacher and as a workshop leader and published percussion music. After starting a career as a music teacher in secondary schools, she became a lecturer in music education at the University of Southampton and the Institute of Education, University of London. She completed her Ph.D. on how GCSE students learn to compose, and how best to teach them.

Course Day: Thursday 12th March 2008 Time: 9.30 am to 12.30 pm;
Course Cost: £60 Location: Berkshire Maestros, Stoneham Court, Tilehurst, Reading RG30 4EZ
What do you need to do to enrol ?
Complete in full the course application form opposite, sign and obtain authorisation from your Headteacher and send or fax to:
Dawn Garside, Berkshire Maestros, Stoneham Court, 100 Cockney Hill, Reading RG30 4EZ
Fax: 0118 901 2351
If you are interested in a course and the date is not convenient – please talk to us since we can try to suggest future courses around your availability. Also let us know the nature of other courses you may be interested in - Email:dawngarside@berkshiremaestros.org.uk

Delivery:	Classroom
Regions:	The East Midlands South East England
Category:	Sport & Recreation