German Diction for Singers
with Kathryn Weld
Monday, February 8, 2021| 2:00 PM (Pacific Time) | Zoom Webinar
One of the joys of singing in German is that it obeys its own linguistic rules scrupulously, unlike French, Italian, or especially English. In this webinar, you'll encounter a variety of new vowels and consonants; positions of the teeth, lips, and tongue; and applications to some favorite choral repertoire. Join mezzo-soprano Kathryn Weld, who worked as an opera singer in Germany for many years, to learn the rules but also the beautiful subtleties of singing German.
Rehearsing at Home
with Melissa Plagemann
Friday, March 5, 2021 | 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) | Zoom Webinar
Your conductor suggests that you work on your music at home. But how? There is much you can do to reinforce what you learn in rehearsal, even if you don't play piano. The Internet has various helpful aids, and there are ways you can study your score's rhythm, text, and even pitches without any additional tools. Learn these techniques of self-sufficiency from Melissa Plagemann, one of the Northwest's leading mezzo-sopranos.
Music Theory for Choral Singers
with Michael Bennet
Thursday, March 25, 2021| 2:00 PM (Pacific Time) | Zoom Webinar
Learning music is filled with all kinds of intimidating terminology. In this webinar you’ll learn about many of those complex words pertaining to music theory, or analysis of the music itself. Knowledge of keys, cadences, scale degrees, and intervals opens up a deeper aspect of singing, including in pragmatic matters like finding pitches. Theorist, musicologist, and conductor Michael Bennett will demonstrate how learning music theory can make you a better choral singer.
Vocal Emergencies
with Ryan Bede
Monday, April 12, 2021| 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) | Zoom Webinar
It has happened to the best of us. We prepare the music well, and prepare ourselves well, but then something unforeseen happens. Maybe it's just before a rehearsal, or even while singing during rehearsal, or (horror of horrors!) during the concert itself. The cause can be illness, vocal fatigue, diet, allergies, weather, or a host of other emergencies. Noted baritone Ryan Bede will teach simple techniques you can use to help get your voice back on track in a moment's notice.
Download the handouts or the slide deck.
Everyday Vocal Health
with J. Scott Kovacs
Monday, April 12, 2021| 4:00 PM (Pacific Time) | Zoom Webinar
How you sit, stand, talk, laugh, cough, and even sneeze can affect how you sing. And the quarantine era has added new levels of complexity, such as difficulty in regulating your voice during online video conversations. Master teacher J. Scott Kovacs, also the Executive Director of the Emerald Ensemble, will reveal simple changes you can implement to keep your vocal mechanism healthy while you are simply living your life.
What Conductors Really Do
with Gary D. Cannon
Monday, May 24, 2021| 3:00 PM (Pacific Time) | Zoom Webinar
They stand up there in rehearsal and in concert. But that's just a small percentage of their time spent in helping you to be a better musician. Gary D. Cannon, the Emerald Ensemble's Artistic Director and a prominent area conductor, will share what goes on behind the scenes. He'll review how to program concerts, prepare rehearsals, tend to administrative and marketing tasks, and adapt everything when concert week arrives. This webinar will help you to understand why your tireless musical leader may be more tired than you think!
What Is Blend?
with Karen P. Thomas, Rebekah Gilmore, Gary D. Cannon, and J. Scott Kovacs
Wednesday, June 16, 2021| 8:00 PM (Pacific Time) | Zoom Webinar
"Blend, you rascals!" said the great conductor Robert Shaw, allegedly tongue-in-cheek. This panel will discuss the most hotly debated and contentious word in choral music: "blend." What does the term mean, if anything? If a conductor says it, how should the singer productively respond? The conversation between four beloved Seattle-area choral professionals is sure to be lively with disagreement. Be sure to bring your popcorn bowl!