Singing Classes
Beginning class
Mondays, from 7 to 8 p.m., is a beginning class. Relaxation exercises, gentle warm-ups, and easy (but beautiful!) songs. This class is about basic voice production: staying in tune, practice harmonizing, not straining your voice. All questions welcome. Depending on the level and interests of who is there, we will include some music theory.
Advanced class
Mondays, from 8 to 9 p.m., is an "intermediate/advanced" class. Each month will focus on a different repertoire set, allowing people to choose their personal favorites. Included with the session fee is a small songbook of related material. The upcoming schedule is as follows:
Schedule
September: Hungarian folk songs. If I was trapped on a desert island and could bring only one kind of music with me, it might very well be Hungarian. These melodies are absolutely stunningly beautiful.
October: Epirotika. These are the songs of the wild, beautiful Northern hinterlands of Greece. Sung in parts, in minor pentatonic keys, in a style probably thousands of years old.
November: Russian & Ukrainian. Sweet Slavic soulfulness.
December: The first two Mondays will be review and practice, incorporating favorites from the past year. Then, on the 16th, we will perform for family and friends. Party!
Fees
The fee for either class is $10; both together is $15.
E-mail for more information.
Resources are available to class members here.
Past topics
Lullabies. Beautiful Sephardic, Irish, Greek, Slavic, Italian, and Scandinavian lullabies.
Spooky ballads from North and West Europe. We'll explore the French, English, Irish, Scandinavian and Appalachian traditions of vampires, ghosts, murderous jealousy, magical harps, and true love.
Love songs. Wedding songs, dance songs, and ballads, all with romantic love as their theme.
Songs of nature. Ancient, ritual songs honoring agriculture, and also the seasons, rain and sun, rivers and mountains. Georgian, Armenian, Irish, Scandinavian, and Greek songs will be included.
Georgian harmonies. We'll dive in to one of the most fascinating and ancient choral traditions in the world.