Group singing leadership training days

Scenario: You're preparing a day to introduce group singing leadership practices to a group of people with an interest in singing, but little or no experience.

Here is what we think are the essential ingredients required to successfully lead a singing group.

Demonstration, practical engagement, few words, little paper. The event itself should be designed to embody these values. The participants watch and listen, then do, then talk about what they’ve just experienced (but not too much).

Create a welcoming, inclusive, free and fearless space for singing together, thereby creating a culture which innately does this (we see this as being our responsibility). What leadership behaviours promote this? From the outset, participants are engaged in group activity by “working it out for themselves”. They do this by watching, thinking, doing, and exchanging during (and after) the singing, which maximises interactivity and encourages cohesion and social behaviour.

Opening the mind to the idea of ”singing with”: the everyday art that brings joy, human connection and health - for each other and for the common good.

Understanding the requirement of a “warm-up”, how to do it and why.

Ways to explore improvisation.

Teaching skills for passing on a song by ear. Demonstrate call and response, and (highly) visual conducting; listen (and watch) then sing - no failure, no shaming, instant gratification. Watch good teaching then have a go yourself!

Collecting appropriate repertoire to begin (and continue) the singing group. Bring a recording device.

The importance of closure and methods to close well.

The importance of breaks and / or eating together for social interaction and collaborative effort.

Where to get help, ideas and resources to start a session / circle / group, and where to tap into on-going support. Take home lists. Sign up to the network.

Shared team leadership / distributed leadership. Role of leaders who are non-singing. See it happening.

Understand and appreciate the under-pinning philosophy of group music-making, health and wellbeing benefits, values, early learning benefits, and the benefits to creativity and community. Participants should describe their experience to each other.

Additional stuff for weekends or specific topic days

Weekends appear to allow for deeper formation due to more extended action / reflection possibilities, allowing for the coverage of the following topics:

How to establish clear boundaries, group agreements and healthy group processes.

Self care of voice and body and emotional resilience. Time management and financial sustainability. Avoiding burning-out.

Dealing with challenging behaviours and people who cannot match pitch.

Introducing your circle participants to leadership by introducing / leading a song themselves.

Finer musical skills - harmony, part singing, arrangement, movement.

Practice opportunities to lead small (and larger) group of peers and ways to receive feedback.