Seneca Land District
>> Chorus Directors Workshop Intensive Overview
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Seneca Land District
>> Chorus Directors Workshop Intensive Overview
by Louis Petroni <longplay[at]adelphia[dot]net> or 585-968-3389
Chorus Directors Workshop Intensive (CDWI) is probably the most useful tool the Society has developed for improving the work of our Chapter Music Directors. This is a one day event described in more detail below. The past several years it has been offered at POW-WOW in Alfred, and will be offered again this year. It is all day Saturday, and highly recommended as a dynamic learning experience.
The District Vice President for Chorus Director Development recruits five directors who agree to spend the day (9:00 to 5:00) working with two CDWI trainers. The morning session involves just those seven people working to identify only two areas where each individual feels a need to improve in directing techniques and rehearsal style. These areas will be different for each person and are arrived at through personal introspection, not outside analysis.
The afternoon is then spent with the host chorus (usually singing Pole Cats or other familiar songs). Each director spends 15 minutes in front of the chorus with one trainer working only on the two areas identified in the morning session. This session is video taped and at the conclusion the director and the trainer take the tape into another room to review it and continue the learning, while the next director works with the other trainer.
This continues until each director has had time in front of the chorus. After a break each director has another time in front of the chorus working with the other trainer and reviewing that session's video tape. At the end of the day each director is given his tape to take with him for further learning. A simple but powerful training device which has brought outstanding results and feedback from virtually all participants.
Each director is also asked to identify three men in his chorus who will be willing to evaluate in writing the results of the CDWI on his director after a 3 to 6 month period.
Each participating chapter (except the host chapter) is asked to contribute $100 to the District to help defray the costs of the CDWI. The balance is paid by the District.