Principles of Choral Leadership
This course has two sections:
Choral conducting for the Church Musician
and Voice Training for the Choir
I: Choral conducting for the Church Musician
The first five sessions are designed to introduce students to the basic skills of choral conducting. It is by no means comprehensive but will serve to give students the tools for further study and practice. It is recommended that, whenever possible, these skills be reinforced through use in other courses where practicable or desirable.
Conducting in class is a major requirement of this course. A portion of each class is designed as a masterclass so that students receive individual conducting opportunity and constructive critique from the instructor. Students are expected to have assignments well prepared each week. In the event that there are more than 10 students in the class, more emphasis will need to be placed on conducting as a group, rather than individual conducting and critique. Because of the brevity of this course, there will be little or no work in score preparation; if the student is interested in this topic, it should be covered in private sessions.
Each session begins with technique review followed by a group session using the conducting drill. Daily practice of this drill by students is invaluable in becoming facile with not only the beat patterns themselves, as well as moving from one pattern to the other. It is important to allow time for students to demonstrate the assignment for each session. It is also vital that they have time to practice the new skills and ask questions. In all sessions, the assignment demonstration is encouraged first to reduce anxiety and allow for maximum attention to the new skills, however the teacher may determine the best way to present the material in this course with regard to the particular local circumstances. It is possible to devote five weeks solely to conducting and the remaining five weeks to vocal production; the teacher also has the option to combine both parts of this course.
Session 1—Introduction to Basic Technique
Session 2—Preparatory Beats and Releases
Session 3—Use of the Left Hand
Session 4—Compound Meters and Subdivision
Session 5—Cueing, Articulation
II: Voice training for the choir
This second section of the course deals with vocal pedagogy. Its intent is to teach choir directors to help volunteer singers develop their vocal skills and improve their singing ability. Such singers, who volunteer copious amounts of their time to church choirs, often maintain for their entire singing careers the same level of ability with which they began. This course is based upon the belief that all singers can improve by understanding their instruments and the techniques for properly using them. As with any skill, the greater the ability the more enjoyment derived. In addition, enhanced skills will improve the offerings of singers to the worship. Surely the praise of God merits such an effort!
It is assumed that the person teaching the course using these materials is a music professional with teaching skills. The Leadership Program for Musicians provides training and certification for those who want to organize a local training program using these courses – see their website for more information. LPM Certified Coordinators receive a substantial discount for use of the course materials.
Session 6—Introduction and Physiology of Breathing
Session 7—Placement of Tone—Focus
Session 8—Placement of Tone—Color
Session 9—Vocal Registration
Session 10—Demonstration of Teaching and Conclusion
Session Content
Each session provides goals, content material (some designed as handouts), reading assignments and activities and/or practice as appropriate. Sessions are designed to be an hour to an hour and a half in length although the number of students and length of practice time may require adjustments.
Price
These materials are licensed for use on an annual basis. You must renew your license annually to continue using the materials. This also entitles you to all upgrade and improvements made to the materials during the program year. Materials are downloadable from this website - you will be given login information after you complete your order. You may return to the website to download additional copies of this program at any time.
Annual licensing fee: $495 per course
LPM Coordinator with a current certification: $100 per course ($75 in 2008)
LPM Coordinator with lapsed certification: $195
NOTE: to receive the LPM discount you must contact the LPM office to obtain a coupon code that you will enter in the shopping cart when you checkout.
For questions or more information contact:
Anna Leppert-Largent
LPM Consultant-Coordinator
P. O. Box 2262
Saginaw, MI 48605
989-791-3025; 989-755-1420 (fax)
lpm-online@sbcglobal.net | 
