We Can All Make Music.
Key activities
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.
Weekends appear to allow for deeper formation due
to more extended action / reflection possibilities, allowing for the coverage
of the following topics:
CMV - making a
sound world together.
© Community Music Victoria Inc.