If you want to conduct or are already conducting a choir, SfP can help through publications, events for singers and conductors, one-to-one coaching, a Library to browse or borrow music and a structured training programme.

COURSES AND OTHER EVENTS

We organise summer schools and weekend and day courses which offer graded training in choral techniques for students of different abilities, from beginner to advanced. There is the chance to learn and practise new skills, with the emphasis throughout being on effective song teaching, aural awareness and economy of conducting gesture. Conductors tell us how valuable these techniques have been for them and how helpful the repertoire has proved.

Many of our conductors are offered the opportunity to become tutors on singing days, both for adults and children, and to train beside more experienced directors.

We are fortunate that, through the generosity of our supporters, we are able to offer a number of bursaries to help teachers and younger conductors attend our courses.

TRAINING PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

SfP conductor training is at several levels ranging from beginner to advanced. The levels are as follows:

Foundation
Absolute beginners with little or no conducting experience, and for those with limited music reading skills.

Intermediate I
Course students will normally have some prior conducting experience, or will have previously attended an SfP conducting course.

Repertoire at the Foundation and Intermediate I levels includes rounds and simple part-songs (we have learned that by using simple musical tools we can focus on developing technique and gesture without complex musical challenges getting in the way).

Intermediate II
Intermediate II course students will normally have attended the Intermediate I conducting course and will possess wider conducting experience. Repertoire at this level typically involves part-songs, madrigals and sacred works from a variety of periods and countries, both à cappella and accompanied.

Advanced
The advanced course is a continuation course leading to a final formal concert. Students conduct the other conducting students, often supplemented with additional singers. Repertoire will include one orchestrally accompanied piece, one set of complex and challenging à cappella works and one work typically performed by a large choral society, such as an oratorio or cantata.

The advanced course is accredited by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music as an approved substitute for the Dip.ABRSM in Music Direction, thus enabling students who have successfully completed the SfP Advanced Conducting course to proceed directly to the LRSM diploma in Music Direction.

ONE-TO-ONE TUITION

In addition to the various courses and other events, SfP offers one-to-one tuition and coaching for those who would like a more personalised approach. Typically, such a lesson entails the learner bringing with them a video recording of a recent rehearsal they have directed with their own choir. This enables them to reflect on their existing skills and work with the tutor to develop them further.

PUBLICATIONS

SfP publishes song collections containing a wide variety of enjoyable songs and arrangements for a range of ages and abilities.  All the Junior Songbooks contain songs from a wide selection of musical traditions - useful for teaching National Curriculum requirements. Other books have material that is particularly useful for youth choirs and small adult choirs.  Our songs have given teachers and amateur choirs much useful and enjoyable material and are clearly presented and reasonably priced. For more information please see the publications page.