Wide variety of courses, workshops for singers and musicians
THE Methodist School of Music’s (MSM) Church Music Encounter 2005, to be held from Sept 3 to Oct 22, will comprise three courses and seven workshops.
The courses are: “Explore The World of Singing”, “The Soloist”, both to be conducted by Ms Leona Quek, and “Beginning Choral Conducting”, to be conducted by Ms Wong Lai Foon. All three courses will be held at the MSM (Lecture Room).
The first course is designed for conductors who wish to further understand the art of singing and develop voices of the choir. It is also useful for choir members. It will be conducted over eight Saturdays from Sept 3 to Oct 22 from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Participants will be given the opportunity to sing pieces of their own choice during the Vocal Clinic as well as study pieces together as a group.
“The Soloist” is organised for those who have attended the foundation singing course conducted earlier by Ms Quek, and for soloists or lead singers in a choir. It will also be held over eight Saturdays from Sept 3 to Oct 22, from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm.
Ms Quek, a teaching associate at the MSM, also directs the Living Praise Presbyterian Church (Mandarin Congregation) Choir and teaches part-time at Nanyang Technological University and the Singapore Bible College.
The “Beginning Choral Conducting” course is designed for church choir conductors who want to acquire some basic conducting skills. These skills will be learned in a hands-on manner through the participation, singing and conducting of anthems of various styles. The seven-session course will run from Sept 10 to Oct 22 from 2.30 pm to 5 pm.
The course lecturer, Ms Wong, is a member of the renowned Westminster Choir and has performed alongside major American orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
The seven workshops are: “Explosive Drums!!”, to be led by Mr Jeremy Yeo, “The Low End Foundation” (Mr Thomas Ee) “Improvising With Guitar” (Mr Eugene Wong) “More Than Just Strumming” (Mr Chan Kum Soon), “Black Keys, White Keys” (Mr Raymond Fong), “Vocals Express” (Ms Renee Lee), and “Band Dynamics” (Mr Thomas Ee).
The workshops are for people with prior knowledge and basic proficiency in their instruments.
They will be held at Fairfield Methodist Church, Tanjong Pagar Road, on Sept 17 from 2 pm to 9.30 pm.
For more details on the courses and workshops, call 6767-5258 or go to www.msmusic.edu.sg
