Photo credit: Martin Crawley
We're running a two-part workshop to kick off our 2018-19 season. The morning session will focus on developing sight-reading skills, and the afternoon session will introduce the work we'll be performing on 1 December, Handel's Messiah. The SPC's Musical Director, David Gibson, will be leading both sessions, and participants may register to attend either or both sessions. This workshop is aimed primarily at members of SPC and the SU Phil, but is also open for non-members, at a cost of £7.50 per workshop or £10.00 if you book to do both morning and afternoon. The fee is refundable against your membership subscription if you join the SPC in the 2018-19 season. (Please contact the Registrar, Sue Stephenson, for more information, or speak to her at the workshop.)
The sight-reading workshop, 10.00am (doors open, and registration, 9.30am)
In this session, our Musical Director, David Gibson, will start with the basics of reading the notes on the staves; he'll cover key signatures and time signatures, and recognising and pitching intervals. Don't imagine that you'll be allowed to sit and doze in your seat, though! There will be plenty of practical exercises to keep you thoroughly engaged.
After the tea/coffee break at 11.00am, the focus will be on sight-reading polyphonic music together. There will also be an opportunity (completely optional) to create an ad hoc consort with some of your fellow singers, and practise sight-reading as a group, away from the main session.
This workshop ends at 12.30pm.
Introduction to Handel's Messiah, 1.00pm (registration for those attending this workshop, only, is from 12.45pm)
Whether this masterpiece of the classical repertoire is completely new to you or whether you know it inside-out, we hope you'll get a great deal out of this mini-workshop, which runs from 1.00pm to 3.30pm, with a break for refreshments. Following a brief introduction (from a vocal perspective) to baroque style, David will lead us through five of his favourite choruses from the piece, and send us home with the famous Hallelujah chorus ringing in our ears!
Lunch
If you are attending both sessions, please bring a packed lunch, as the lunch break is just 30 minutes.
The venue
The Gregg School at West End, Southampton (postcode for satnav directions is SO18 3RR) provides us with a lovely setting for our workshop. The school building was once the home of Lord and Lady Swaythling, and the listed garden, which was planned by Gertrude Jekyll, is maintained through the efforts of the Friends of Townhill Park Gardens. There is free parking for attendees for the duration of the workshop.
To book your place
Places at the workshops are limited to 110 and are offered on a 'first come, first served' basis. Booking form for non-members.
Members of the SPC and SU Phil in the 2017-18 season are entitled to free entry, but must book their place using this (members only) form.
