Friday, October 21, 2022
Session 1 - 8:30 - 9:30am
Matt Falker
Supporting BC’s Vocal Jazz Educators
Thompson Room - Conference Centre
The Vocal Jazz Academy is a one-day event open to all that strives to educate and connect vocal jazz educators and students. Presenter Matt Falker is working with local educators to help bring this valuable experience to the greater Vancouver area in the near future. Come plan with us! The Academy's mission statement includes these goals:
To support and equip vocal jazz educators in their continuing educational journey
To reach out to and educate students in vocal jazz regardless of experience level
To emphasize the importance of developing secondary skills like jazz piano, improvisation, working with a rhythm section, music technology, sound engineering, and arranging
To provide a sound foundation of and appreciation for the traditions of jazz while actively seeking to evolve the music in today’s culture
Denise Gagne
Assessment Made Easy
Whistler Ballroom A - East Tower
Assessment in music starts with the end in mind. What do you want Grade 1 students to know at the end of the year? Denise will share realistic outcomes based on BC arts standards (beat, rhythm, pitch, timbre, tempo, dynamics, form) and quick, practical ideas and rubrics for assessment of skills, concepts, creating and ensemble playing in the elementary music classroom. You will sing, move, play, create, and respond to music in the session – and learn some ways to easily assess what you’ve done.
Long & McQuade
Secondary Choral Reading Session
Whistler Ballroom B - East Tower
Experience the joys of performance and discovery as our expert clinician, Frances Roberts and accompanist Brigid Coult lead the way through quality hand-picked selections for your choir. We organize our reading sessions with your professional development in mind: our dedicated team strives to choose repertoire for its educational value, originality and overall appeal. With selections appropriate for high school choirs, you're certain to find fun and innovative new material to suit your musical needs.
Presented by Long & McQuade
Christina O’Brien
Uke Can Do It!
Whistler Ballroom C - East Tower
Learn why the ukulele is the most versatile instrument in the elementary school classroom. Practice note reading. Check. Strum chord accompaniments. Check. Create harmony. Check. Practice singing. Check. Focus on rhythm. Check. Love music. Check... and the list goes on!!! "Ukulele for Children" author Christina O'Brien will walk you through some of her strategies to use the ukulele to get your students reading notes, develop musical multi-tasking skills, and play parts within a group environment. With the ukulele, it's simple to have parts for everyone no matter their abilities, and you'll quickly develop music literacy skills with your whole group. The "Ukulele for Children" method written by Christina and edited by James Hill, works great in a classroom or studio setting and it gives kids immediate confidence and excitement with their instruments. This fun and interactive session will be newbie friendly as well as offer experienced teachers some new ideas and repertoire to try in their classes. You'll come away with a quick overview of the UFC program, a couple of free popular arrangements to use, and plenty of new strategies to try out right away. Please bring your ukulele if you have one, however Tapestry Music will also have some demo ukuleles on site for you to use.
Presented by Tapestry Music
Ken Lister
All About the Bass
Capilano/Birkenhead Room - Conference Centre
A demonstration and overview of both electric bass and upright (acoustic) bass, including basics of tuning, playing, creating bass lines in various styles, how to get a good sound in a band situation, using an amplifier, etc. Questions about anything to do with the bass will be welcome! Ken will be demonstrating key concepts on the bass, and participants will be invited to play also.
Will Clements & Steve Clements
Once Upon a Time: Storytelling in the Secondary Music Classroom
Lillooet Room - Conference Centre
Join us as we explore the ways in which music can act as a vehicle for social emotional learning and creative expression. In this presentation, Clements and Son will share examples of class projects that explore music as a vehicle for storytelling while incorporating visual art, drama, and literature. When we find creative applications that are accessible, informative, and engaging, we enhance our classrooms communities and create opportunities for self-expression.
Dr. Anita Prest
Everything is Connected Conference: Follow-Up
Upper Lobby 1 - River Rock Show Theatre
At this session, we will show a short video of the Everything is Connected music education conference that took place in May 2022 and continue the conversation on decolonizing and Indigenizing music education. We will share what Knowledge Keepers, School District Indigenous Leads, and music educators suggested we all do to keep up the momentum initiated at the conference. Participants will share the conversations the conference sparked in their school districts, and the projects that they and Indigenous partners are in the process of envisioning. This a space to discuss what we have learned so far and ways to navigate the complexity of doing this work together.
Chris Haas
Let's Record!
Upper Lobby 2 - River Rock Show Theatre
Introduction to audio recording for your music classroom or concert. Chris Haas will discuss microphones, audio interfaces, software and much more in this clinic on how to move beyond your cellphone for classroom recording.
Michael Beauclerc
Discover Drumline
Fraser Room - Conference Centre
Energize your music program, school, and community with marching percussion! Drumline is one of the fastest growing youth activities in North America. Experience drumline first hand as Michael Beauclerc guides you through a hands on workshop, with all equipment provided.
Presented by Yamaha Music Canada
Supporting BC’s Vocal Jazz Educators
Thompson Room - Conference Centre
The Vocal Jazz Academy is a one-day event open to all that strives to educate and connect vocal jazz educators and students. Presenter Matt Falker is working with local educators to help bring this valuable experience to the greater Vancouver area in the near future. Come plan with us! The Academy's mission statement includes these goals:
To support and equip vocal jazz educators in their continuing educational journey
To reach out to and educate students in vocal jazz regardless of experience level
To emphasize the importance of developing secondary skills like jazz piano, improvisation, working with a rhythm section, music technology, sound engineering, and arranging
To provide a sound foundation of and appreciation for the traditions of jazz while actively seeking to evolve the music in today’s culture
Denise Gagne
Assessment Made Easy
Whistler Ballroom A - East Tower
Assessment in music starts with the end in mind. What do you want Grade 1 students to know at the end of the year? Denise will share realistic outcomes based on BC arts standards (beat, rhythm, pitch, timbre, tempo, dynamics, form) and quick, practical ideas and rubrics for assessment of skills, concepts, creating and ensemble playing in the elementary music classroom. You will sing, move, play, create, and respond to music in the session – and learn some ways to easily assess what you’ve done.
Long & McQuade
Secondary Choral Reading Session
Whistler Ballroom B - East Tower
Experience the joys of performance and discovery as our expert clinician, Frances Roberts and accompanist Brigid Coult lead the way through quality hand-picked selections for your choir. We organize our reading sessions with your professional development in mind: our dedicated team strives to choose repertoire for its educational value, originality and overall appeal. With selections appropriate for high school choirs, you're certain to find fun and innovative new material to suit your musical needs.
Presented by Long & McQuade
Christina O’Brien
Uke Can Do It!
Whistler Ballroom C - East Tower
Learn why the ukulele is the most versatile instrument in the elementary school classroom. Practice note reading. Check. Strum chord accompaniments. Check. Create harmony. Check. Practice singing. Check. Focus on rhythm. Check. Love music. Check... and the list goes on!!! "Ukulele for Children" author Christina O'Brien will walk you through some of her strategies to use the ukulele to get your students reading notes, develop musical multi-tasking skills, and play parts within a group environment. With the ukulele, it's simple to have parts for everyone no matter their abilities, and you'll quickly develop music literacy skills with your whole group. The "Ukulele for Children" method written by Christina and edited by James Hill, works great in a classroom or studio setting and it gives kids immediate confidence and excitement with their instruments. This fun and interactive session will be newbie friendly as well as offer experienced teachers some new ideas and repertoire to try in their classes. You'll come away with a quick overview of the UFC program, a couple of free popular arrangements to use, and plenty of new strategies to try out right away. Please bring your ukulele if you have one, however Tapestry Music will also have some demo ukuleles on site for you to use.
Presented by Tapestry Music
Ken Lister
All About the Bass
Capilano/Birkenhead Room - Conference Centre
A demonstration and overview of both electric bass and upright (acoustic) bass, including basics of tuning, playing, creating bass lines in various styles, how to get a good sound in a band situation, using an amplifier, etc. Questions about anything to do with the bass will be welcome! Ken will be demonstrating key concepts on the bass, and participants will be invited to play also.
Will Clements & Steve Clements
Once Upon a Time: Storytelling in the Secondary Music Classroom
Lillooet Room - Conference Centre
Join us as we explore the ways in which music can act as a vehicle for social emotional learning and creative expression. In this presentation, Clements and Son will share examples of class projects that explore music as a vehicle for storytelling while incorporating visual art, drama, and literature. When we find creative applications that are accessible, informative, and engaging, we enhance our classrooms communities and create opportunities for self-expression.
Dr. Anita Prest
Everything is Connected Conference: Follow-Up
Upper Lobby 1 - River Rock Show Theatre
At this session, we will show a short video of the Everything is Connected music education conference that took place in May 2022 and continue the conversation on decolonizing and Indigenizing music education. We will share what Knowledge Keepers, School District Indigenous Leads, and music educators suggested we all do to keep up the momentum initiated at the conference. Participants will share the conversations the conference sparked in their school districts, and the projects that they and Indigenous partners are in the process of envisioning. This a space to discuss what we have learned so far and ways to navigate the complexity of doing this work together.
Chris Haas
Let's Record!
Upper Lobby 2 - River Rock Show Theatre
Introduction to audio recording for your music classroom or concert. Chris Haas will discuss microphones, audio interfaces, software and much more in this clinic on how to move beyond your cellphone for classroom recording.
Michael Beauclerc
Discover Drumline
Fraser Room - Conference Centre
Energize your music program, school, and community with marching percussion! Drumline is one of the fastest growing youth activities in North America. Experience drumline first hand as Michael Beauclerc guides you through a hands on workshop, with all equipment provided.
Presented by Yamaha Music Canada
Thank you to Session 1 Sponsors!
Session 2 - 10:00 - 11:00am
Matt Falker
Vocal Jazz Rehearsal Techniques
Thompson Room - Conference Centre
Learn how to squeeze the most out of your limited jazz choir rehearsal time! Using a demo choir from the greater Vancouver area, Matt Falker will demonstrate techniques for getting the vocal jazz sound, style, harmonies, and rhythms up and running as quickly as possible.
Denise Gagne
Create and Perform on the Recorder
Whistler Ballroom A - East Tower
Do you love teaching recorder or does it just give you a big headache? In this session, we’ll make great music with recorders - with no headaches! Denise will share tips and tricks that helped her students become amazing recorder players, and will share ways to use the creative process when teaching recorder.
Long & McQuade
Elementary Choral Reading Session
Whistler Ballroom B - East Tower
Experience the joys of performance and discovery as our expert clinician, Michelle Hartley and accompanist Brigid Coult lead the way through quality hand-picked selections for your choir. We organize our reading sessions with your professional development in mind: our dedicated team strives to choose repertoire for its educational value, originality and overall appeal. With selections appropriate for elementary choirs, you're certain to find fun and innovative new material to suit your musical needs.
Presented by Long & McQuade
Rossi Tzonkov
Ukulele Pedagogy and Sequence
Whistler Ballroom C - East Tower
The workshop will take you on a journey through the steps required to implement a comprehensive Ukulele program. Some of the topics we will cover are: An easy-to-understand approach to reading chord diagrams Single note plucking techniques and various strum patterns. How to integrate music theory as part of the instrument learning process, e.g. reading rhythm notation (whole note, half, quarter, and eight notes and rests) and single note melodies written on the treble clef. All of that and more delivered in an engaging, game-like way through a variety of mediums such as media, student led activities, and in group formats. If you have a ukulele (Concert or Soprano) bring it along. If you don’t have one, there will be several ukuleles you will be able to borrow for the session. No prior ukulele experience required to attend and participate.
Ken Lister
More About the Bass
Capilano/Birkenhead Room - Conference Centre
In addition to answering questions attendees may have relating to playing, setup and maintenance of the bass, Ken will also discuss and demonstrate how to transition students from guitar to electric bass, and from electric to upright bass. Other questions are also welcome! Ken will be demonstrating key concepts and styles on the bass, and participants will be invited to play also.
Danny Najjar
What Makes a 'Choir Kid' in 2022? An Interactive Panel
Lillooet Room - Conference Centre
Ever wonder what makes your students passionate about music? This panel offers a space designed for you to explore that question with 6 young music educators on the threshold between 'student' and 'teacher'. Moderated by Danny Najjar, the panel (consisting of Luke McAndless-Davis, Will Cournoyer Clements, Tyler Baek, Amber Tsang, and Sofia Avelino) offers a breadth of first-hand accounts as the panelists discuss the pivotal moments that defined their identities as 'choir kids' in the 2000s-2010s. This clinic will include (and encourage!) opportunities for discussion and Q&A driven by attendees who wish to examine their teaching philosophies with recent students familiar with educative lingo and priorities. All educators welcome.
Diana Chan
Demystifying Oboe Reeds
Upper Lobby 1 - River Rock Show Theatre
Oboe players often get the reputation of sounding like ducks, especially beginning players, and having poor reeds can often exacerbate the issue! In the session, I will cover oboe and oboe reed basics, and provide some information that may be helpful for beginning to advanced players. The session will also include information on selecting oboe reeds and the basic tools needed for adjusting reeds (for those who are feeling adventurous!) Bring a reed and an instrument for some hands on experience.
Alana Johnson, Jen Hill, and Jenn Treble
Decolonizing and Indigenizing: What's my role as a music teacher?
Upper Lobby 2 - River Rock Show Theatre
In this session, Alana Johnson, Jen Hill, and Jenn Treble will share some of their own journeys of decolonizing and Indigenizing self and how that has developed into their teaching practices in their music rooms. We have all taken missteps, such as appropriating from or misrepresenting Indigenous cultures in the past, and this conversation is designed to turn those into learning experiences that inform our practice. We will discuss what it means (and doesn't mean!) to decolonize and Indigenize music classrooms, some appropriate protocols that can enhance the learning experiences and worldviews of you and your students, and some "don't do this in your classroom" basics. This discussion is designed for all levels of education. Please bring your questions for a question and response period.
Dr. Jemima Bunn
Awakening the Sleeping Giant: opportunities for student engagement in large ensemble rehearsals
Fraser Room - Conference Centre
As unique learning situations, large ensemble rehearsals of concert band, string or full orchestra and choir provide significant musical experiences for music students in our schools. Working with a live ensemble, this presentation will provide opportunity to demonstrate educationally sound and musically relevant activities aimed towards engaging students in the rehearsal process. Through these experiences, directors provide opportunities to awaken students to the possibilities found in being-a-musician, engaging them in high levels of musical reflection through critical and focused listening, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and creation. Working collaboratively, responsibly and musically rehearsals have the potential to be experientially significant, an opportunity for students to undertake learning that is conducive to their musical and personal growth.
Presented by Brolga Music
Vocal Jazz Rehearsal Techniques
Thompson Room - Conference Centre
Learn how to squeeze the most out of your limited jazz choir rehearsal time! Using a demo choir from the greater Vancouver area, Matt Falker will demonstrate techniques for getting the vocal jazz sound, style, harmonies, and rhythms up and running as quickly as possible.
Denise Gagne
Create and Perform on the Recorder
Whistler Ballroom A - East Tower
Do you love teaching recorder or does it just give you a big headache? In this session, we’ll make great music with recorders - with no headaches! Denise will share tips and tricks that helped her students become amazing recorder players, and will share ways to use the creative process when teaching recorder.
Long & McQuade
Elementary Choral Reading Session
Whistler Ballroom B - East Tower
Experience the joys of performance and discovery as our expert clinician, Michelle Hartley and accompanist Brigid Coult lead the way through quality hand-picked selections for your choir. We organize our reading sessions with your professional development in mind: our dedicated team strives to choose repertoire for its educational value, originality and overall appeal. With selections appropriate for elementary choirs, you're certain to find fun and innovative new material to suit your musical needs.
Presented by Long & McQuade
Rossi Tzonkov
Ukulele Pedagogy and Sequence
Whistler Ballroom C - East Tower
The workshop will take you on a journey through the steps required to implement a comprehensive Ukulele program. Some of the topics we will cover are: An easy-to-understand approach to reading chord diagrams Single note plucking techniques and various strum patterns. How to integrate music theory as part of the instrument learning process, e.g. reading rhythm notation (whole note, half, quarter, and eight notes and rests) and single note melodies written on the treble clef. All of that and more delivered in an engaging, game-like way through a variety of mediums such as media, student led activities, and in group formats. If you have a ukulele (Concert or Soprano) bring it along. If you don’t have one, there will be several ukuleles you will be able to borrow for the session. No prior ukulele experience required to attend and participate.
Ken Lister
More About the Bass
Capilano/Birkenhead Room - Conference Centre
In addition to answering questions attendees may have relating to playing, setup and maintenance of the bass, Ken will also discuss and demonstrate how to transition students from guitar to electric bass, and from electric to upright bass. Other questions are also welcome! Ken will be demonstrating key concepts and styles on the bass, and participants will be invited to play also.
Danny Najjar
What Makes a 'Choir Kid' in 2022? An Interactive Panel
Lillooet Room - Conference Centre
Ever wonder what makes your students passionate about music? This panel offers a space designed for you to explore that question with 6 young music educators on the threshold between 'student' and 'teacher'. Moderated by Danny Najjar, the panel (consisting of Luke McAndless-Davis, Will Cournoyer Clements, Tyler Baek, Amber Tsang, and Sofia Avelino) offers a breadth of first-hand accounts as the panelists discuss the pivotal moments that defined their identities as 'choir kids' in the 2000s-2010s. This clinic will include (and encourage!) opportunities for discussion and Q&A driven by attendees who wish to examine their teaching philosophies with recent students familiar with educative lingo and priorities. All educators welcome.
Diana Chan
Demystifying Oboe Reeds
Upper Lobby 1 - River Rock Show Theatre
Oboe players often get the reputation of sounding like ducks, especially beginning players, and having poor reeds can often exacerbate the issue! In the session, I will cover oboe and oboe reed basics, and provide some information that may be helpful for beginning to advanced players. The session will also include information on selecting oboe reeds and the basic tools needed for adjusting reeds (for those who are feeling adventurous!) Bring a reed and an instrument for some hands on experience.
Alana Johnson, Jen Hill, and Jenn Treble
Decolonizing and Indigenizing: What's my role as a music teacher?
Upper Lobby 2 - River Rock Show Theatre
In this session, Alana Johnson, Jen Hill, and Jenn Treble will share some of their own journeys of decolonizing and Indigenizing self and how that has developed into their teaching practices in their music rooms. We have all taken missteps, such as appropriating from or misrepresenting Indigenous cultures in the past, and this conversation is designed to turn those into learning experiences that inform our practice. We will discuss what it means (and doesn't mean!) to decolonize and Indigenize music classrooms, some appropriate protocols that can enhance the learning experiences and worldviews of you and your students, and some "don't do this in your classroom" basics. This discussion is designed for all levels of education. Please bring your questions for a question and response period.
Dr. Jemima Bunn
Awakening the Sleeping Giant: opportunities for student engagement in large ensemble rehearsals
Fraser Room - Conference Centre
As unique learning situations, large ensemble rehearsals of concert band, string or full orchestra and choir provide significant musical experiences for music students in our schools. Working with a live ensemble, this presentation will provide opportunity to demonstrate educationally sound and musically relevant activities aimed towards engaging students in the rehearsal process. Through these experiences, directors provide opportunities to awaken students to the possibilities found in being-a-musician, engaging them in high levels of musical reflection through critical and focused listening, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and creation. Working collaboratively, responsibly and musically rehearsals have the potential to be experientially significant, an opportunity for students to undertake learning that is conducive to their musical and personal growth.
Presented by Brolga Music
Thank you to Session 2 Sponsors!
Lunch Break: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Keynote Presentation - 1:00 - 2:00
Vaughan Fleischfresser
The Alternate Universe We Create
Whistler Ballroom A - B - C - East Tower
The Music Department is an alternate universe where pupils are often unrecognizable from who they are outside of it. The shy become confident. The agitated become calm. The lonely become included. The quiet become heard. And the lost become found. Music reveals the real child. In this talk, I will explore the importance of the world we create for our students, and the impact it has on their lives while at school and beyond it. I will also seek to remind all of us of the importance of what we do, and why we do it. After all, there is no better job in the world than that of a Music Teacher.
The Alternate Universe We Create
Whistler Ballroom A - B - C - East Tower
The Music Department is an alternate universe where pupils are often unrecognizable from who they are outside of it. The shy become confident. The agitated become calm. The lonely become included. The quiet become heard. And the lost become found. Music reveals the real child. In this talk, I will explore the importance of the world we create for our students, and the impact it has on their lives while at school and beyond it. I will also seek to remind all of us of the importance of what we do, and why we do it. After all, there is no better job in the world than that of a Music Teacher.
Session 3 - 2:15 - 3:15pm
Matt Falker
Vocal Jazz Reading Session - Anchor Music New Releases
Thompson Room - Conference Centre
Come read the newest vocal jazz releases from Anchor Music, one of the leaders in publishing quality, accessible jazz choir repertoire. Led by Matt Falker, attendees will receive packets of music of all levels recommended by our vocal committee, and sing along with professional demo recordings.
Denise Gagne
Favourite Singing Games and Dances
Whistler Ballroom A - East Tower
In this session, we will sing, move, dance and play games and dances to become better musicians. We’ll have fun reading, writing, improvising and creating because EVERY game teaches many concepts and skills.
Anican Yu and Kurt Chen
Away from the Score
Whistler Ballroom B - East Tower
As two classically trained musicians, the Vitara Duo exercises their master of craft through the art of improvising- with the talent to perform almost any requested song with a fair notice, extemporaneously. This clinic will focus on challenging the traditional realms of music performance with sheet music and a conductor, in embracing the possibilities of performing with spontaneity. The Vitara Duo will perform a live demonstration of how they reorient, rehearse, and reproduce any song with a song request from the audience. The requested song is encouraged to be one of today's pop hits so that the majority of the audience can experience improvising at its full potential. The clinic will close with a performance of a "live-rehearsed" song. The Vitara Duo hopes to break the boundaries of traditional performance by encouraging rehearsal techniques that allow for a creative attempt in improvisational performance. With the courage to perform creatively, the possibilities are endless.
Dr. Floydd Ricketts, Dr. Nicholle Andrews, and Carolyn Shiau for Phoenix Chamber Choir
Cultural Appropriation versus Cultural Appreciation
Whistler Ballroom C - East Tower
This workshop is designed to provide a safe space to ask questions around cultural appropriation from an educator's perspective. Questions about repertoire selection and how to engage members of the local community from that cultural background will be explored. Particular attention will be paid to African-America Spiritual performance practice. We want to be able to sing music from around the world and use this as a platform to spark conversation with students, parents, educators, and audiences.
BCMEA Book Club
Dr. Anita Collins - The Music Advantage
Capilano/Birkenhead Room - Conference Centre
Come and discuss our newest book club choice by Dr. Antia Collins, The Music Advantage!
Jaime Yoon
Relating Vocal Technique to Repertoire - Strategies for Approaching Challenging Musical Passages
Lillooet Room - Conference Centre
This clinic will speak on the importance of applying and relating foundational vocal techniques to sections of repertoire for students to think about/experiment with during rehearsal as well as show how to break down a difficult passage of high school level repertoire and use vocal technique concepts introduced through warmups to guide students and facilitate healthy vocal experimentation, ultimately resulting in not only greater mastery of the passage of music but a greater mastery of their voice.
The clinician will share about his musical journey - how practice of vocal technique in the context of choirs has enabled him to grow and find success as a choral singer and sharing what that looked like from adolescence when he sang in high school, to post secondary, and to professional ensembles. He will speak about how it contributed to the self-paced aspect of choir - how it encouraged students to take personal initiative and ownership of their own learning, how it supports the learning of students with varying levels of experience, and how it builds confidence. For example, there are many instances in rehearsal where not all voice parts are singing where singers can think about the next time they will sing through a section and decide to try something differently. But how can that be facilitated? Many teachers do much of their vocal technique teaching through warmups which focus on certain elements of vocal technique. This is good for reminding singers’ bodies how to sing at the beginning of a rehearsal. However, singers can easily forget about the warmups once they start working on repertoire.
Examples of challenging passages from high school level repertoire will be shown and broken down - identifying what singers might find difficult about the passage, what are applicable vocal technique concepts, and what warmups will help.
Jaelem Bhate
Music and Career
Upper Lobby 1 - River Rock Show Theatre
When young musicians are fundamentally deciding whether they want to pursue music as a career or in a more 'serious format', they are often operated into streams by specific genres and streams. In reality, a music career today is often multi-pronged, simultaneously composing, teaching, conducting, and acting as an entrepreneur. As educators, how can we encourage young musicians to take risks, explore as many facets of music as possible, and provide them with the skills and outlook necessary to succeed in a wide variety of musical pursuits? As a professional myself with a number of branches to my career, my clinic would discuss entry points and strategies to introduce young instrumentalists and singers to composition, arranging, conducting, and acting as an entrepreneur. For each category, I would outline thematic conversations educators might have with their students, and strategies of how to demystify music beyond their instrument informed by my own experiences as a student and now teacher.
Susan Kiddie
Building Community through Socio-Emotional Program RULER
Upper Lobby 2 - River Rock Show Theatre
In this workshop, Susan demonstrates how she uses the social-emotional intelligence program, RULER, from Yale University in all areas of her Music program to build community. RULER stands for 5 areas of emotional intelligence: Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and Regulating Emotion. Susan explains the 5 RULER skills, such as the mood, metre, classroom contract, Meta-Moment and Blueprint and how she embeds them into her music program. By integrating social-emotional learning into her music program, Susan finds that her students have stronger social skills, experience fewer attention and learning problems and perform better academically. She has been able to build her music program into a thriving community and better meet the needs of her students as a result of this program.
Alana Johnson, Jen Hill, and Jenn Treble
Sharing Indigenous Songs In Your Music Room
Fraser Room - Conference Centre
Music teachers have the skills of public speaking and singing that others in education have often not had the same opportunity to develop. By using these skills, we can hold a unique role in our school community to move towards (re)conciliation through drumming. But where do we find songs to share without appropriating? What are the differences between appropriation, appreciation, and active participation? What are some correct ways to introduce and respect the songs that we hold as a sacred responsibility? In this session, Alana Johnson, Jen Hill, and Jenn Treble will lead an exploration of some of these questions and send you home with important guidelines and a few songs that you will have permission to share with your school community.
Please note: this session will not go into depth about drumming protocols, as each nation holds its own teachings. If this is new ground for you, this is a responsibility you must carry back to your community. Consult with your Indigenous education department and ask them about connecting with knowledge keepers from your local nation(s) to begin a conversation about bringing drums into your classrooms.
Vocal Jazz Reading Session - Anchor Music New Releases
Thompson Room - Conference Centre
Come read the newest vocal jazz releases from Anchor Music, one of the leaders in publishing quality, accessible jazz choir repertoire. Led by Matt Falker, attendees will receive packets of music of all levels recommended by our vocal committee, and sing along with professional demo recordings.
Denise Gagne
Favourite Singing Games and Dances
Whistler Ballroom A - East Tower
In this session, we will sing, move, dance and play games and dances to become better musicians. We’ll have fun reading, writing, improvising and creating because EVERY game teaches many concepts and skills.
Anican Yu and Kurt Chen
Away from the Score
Whistler Ballroom B - East Tower
As two classically trained musicians, the Vitara Duo exercises their master of craft through the art of improvising- with the talent to perform almost any requested song with a fair notice, extemporaneously. This clinic will focus on challenging the traditional realms of music performance with sheet music and a conductor, in embracing the possibilities of performing with spontaneity. The Vitara Duo will perform a live demonstration of how they reorient, rehearse, and reproduce any song with a song request from the audience. The requested song is encouraged to be one of today's pop hits so that the majority of the audience can experience improvising at its full potential. The clinic will close with a performance of a "live-rehearsed" song. The Vitara Duo hopes to break the boundaries of traditional performance by encouraging rehearsal techniques that allow for a creative attempt in improvisational performance. With the courage to perform creatively, the possibilities are endless.
Dr. Floydd Ricketts, Dr. Nicholle Andrews, and Carolyn Shiau for Phoenix Chamber Choir
Cultural Appropriation versus Cultural Appreciation
Whistler Ballroom C - East Tower
This workshop is designed to provide a safe space to ask questions around cultural appropriation from an educator's perspective. Questions about repertoire selection and how to engage members of the local community from that cultural background will be explored. Particular attention will be paid to African-America Spiritual performance practice. We want to be able to sing music from around the world and use this as a platform to spark conversation with students, parents, educators, and audiences.
BCMEA Book Club
Dr. Anita Collins - The Music Advantage
Capilano/Birkenhead Room - Conference Centre
Come and discuss our newest book club choice by Dr. Antia Collins, The Music Advantage!
Jaime Yoon
Relating Vocal Technique to Repertoire - Strategies for Approaching Challenging Musical Passages
Lillooet Room - Conference Centre
This clinic will speak on the importance of applying and relating foundational vocal techniques to sections of repertoire for students to think about/experiment with during rehearsal as well as show how to break down a difficult passage of high school level repertoire and use vocal technique concepts introduced through warmups to guide students and facilitate healthy vocal experimentation, ultimately resulting in not only greater mastery of the passage of music but a greater mastery of their voice.
The clinician will share about his musical journey - how practice of vocal technique in the context of choirs has enabled him to grow and find success as a choral singer and sharing what that looked like from adolescence when he sang in high school, to post secondary, and to professional ensembles. He will speak about how it contributed to the self-paced aspect of choir - how it encouraged students to take personal initiative and ownership of their own learning, how it supports the learning of students with varying levels of experience, and how it builds confidence. For example, there are many instances in rehearsal where not all voice parts are singing where singers can think about the next time they will sing through a section and decide to try something differently. But how can that be facilitated? Many teachers do much of their vocal technique teaching through warmups which focus on certain elements of vocal technique. This is good for reminding singers’ bodies how to sing at the beginning of a rehearsal. However, singers can easily forget about the warmups once they start working on repertoire.
Examples of challenging passages from high school level repertoire will be shown and broken down - identifying what singers might find difficult about the passage, what are applicable vocal technique concepts, and what warmups will help.
Jaelem Bhate
Music and Career
Upper Lobby 1 - River Rock Show Theatre
When young musicians are fundamentally deciding whether they want to pursue music as a career or in a more 'serious format', they are often operated into streams by specific genres and streams. In reality, a music career today is often multi-pronged, simultaneously composing, teaching, conducting, and acting as an entrepreneur. As educators, how can we encourage young musicians to take risks, explore as many facets of music as possible, and provide them with the skills and outlook necessary to succeed in a wide variety of musical pursuits? As a professional myself with a number of branches to my career, my clinic would discuss entry points and strategies to introduce young instrumentalists and singers to composition, arranging, conducting, and acting as an entrepreneur. For each category, I would outline thematic conversations educators might have with their students, and strategies of how to demystify music beyond their instrument informed by my own experiences as a student and now teacher.
Susan Kiddie
Building Community through Socio-Emotional Program RULER
Upper Lobby 2 - River Rock Show Theatre
In this workshop, Susan demonstrates how she uses the social-emotional intelligence program, RULER, from Yale University in all areas of her Music program to build community. RULER stands for 5 areas of emotional intelligence: Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and Regulating Emotion. Susan explains the 5 RULER skills, such as the mood, metre, classroom contract, Meta-Moment and Blueprint and how she embeds them into her music program. By integrating social-emotional learning into her music program, Susan finds that her students have stronger social skills, experience fewer attention and learning problems and perform better academically. She has been able to build her music program into a thriving community and better meet the needs of her students as a result of this program.
Alana Johnson, Jen Hill, and Jenn Treble
Sharing Indigenous Songs In Your Music Room
Fraser Room - Conference Centre
Music teachers have the skills of public speaking and singing that others in education have often not had the same opportunity to develop. By using these skills, we can hold a unique role in our school community to move towards (re)conciliation through drumming. But where do we find songs to share without appropriating? What are the differences between appropriation, appreciation, and active participation? What are some correct ways to introduce and respect the songs that we hold as a sacred responsibility? In this session, Alana Johnson, Jen Hill, and Jenn Treble will lead an exploration of some of these questions and send you home with important guidelines and a few songs that you will have permission to share with your school community.
Please note: this session will not go into depth about drumming protocols, as each nation holds its own teachings. If this is new ground for you, this is a responsibility you must carry back to your community. Consult with your Indigenous education department and ask them about connecting with knowledge keepers from your local nation(s) to begin a conversation about bringing drums into your classrooms.