Hearing the sound of a gospel choir is one of the
truly uplifting and inspirational experiences in life. All those voices working
together to create a harmony 'wall of sound' over a rocking band; singing
lyrics of hope, comfort and aspiration, draws us to the music and makes us want
to move! In this course, we'll explore how the sound of
gospel music has evolved over time; absorbing influences from other musical
styles to create new expressions of the classic gospel sound….. and we're going
to do it through singing!
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone who would like to have a
go at singing gospel music.
What happens in the sessions?
The focus of this course is group singing. Each day
begins with a vocal warm up to ensure we're using our voices safely as we sing.
In each session, we'll learn a song or songs from a different gospel era and
talk about how the music is changing as we work our way through the week.
We'll be singing in teams to create vocal
harmonies. In keeping with the gospel tradition, all songs will be taught 'by
ear' (Jo sings a line and the team sing it back).
Gospel singing involves gentle movement (swaying
and clapping) from time to time.
Do I need to have sung in a choir before?
No. Gospel music is very accessible and easy to
pick up. If you've not sung in a choir before, don't worry, Jo and your fellow
singers will help you along. If you're an experienced singer, there will still
be plenty to challenge you.
Will
I have to sing on my own?
No.
Being in a gospel choir is a team activity so you will always be singing with
others.
Do I need to read sheet music?
No. We'll be using lyric sheets and our listening /
sing-it-back skills.
Will I get to perform?
It's always great to share our efforts with others
so we'll aim for an informal performance at the end of the week.
Monday
Spirituals Roots - exploring the early days
of gospel and identifying what makes it 'gospel'.
Tuesday
Traditional
Gospel - defining the elements of the traditional sound.
Wednesday
Soul,
Funk & Disco - learning what happened to gospel in the 1960s & 70s
Thursday
Urban
Contemporary - discovering how pop crossover and RnB influenced gospel towards
the new millennium.
Friday
What's
happening today? - learning material from current artists and considering where
gospel might be headed.
Essential equipment
Please
wear comfortable clothing and footwear as there is some movement during
sessions (particularly avoid high heels in the warm up!)
Bring
your water bottle as singing can be thirsty work.
Bring a
pencil in case you want to scribble on your lyric sheets.
If you
have any access needs (learning/mobility etc) please let the college know so
that we can support you.
