Artistic Director Brainerd Blyden-Taylor is an energetic and charismatic Master Teacher of Choral Music with the Toronto District School Board, and has many years of experience leading educational workshops and residencies for all ages and levels of musical accomplishment, from young children through pre-professional musicians.
Please contact us to discuss customizing one of our educational workshops to the specific needs of your students, from elementary school through university. The types of workshops we offer are as follows; all workshops can be extended into an in-depth residency lasting two days or longer.
School Concert: 45-90 minutes
Concerts can be based on a predetermined theme connected to your school’s curriculum. While there will be some introduction of songs, the focus will be on the music. Time can be allocated to a question and answer session. Some examples of possible lecture demonstration themes are as follows:
- The History of the Spiritual;
- Jubilees, Sorrow Songs, Work Songs and Ring Shouts;
- The Underground Railroad and Black Migration to Canada;
- African Polyrhythms in the Gullah Music of the Southern United States;
- Afrocentric Music from Around the World: experience the astounding variety of music from the African diaspora. Examples may be drawn from such diverse countries as Ghana, Zambia, Trinidad, Cuba, Haiti, Canada, and the United States.
School Lecture Demonstration: 45-90 minutes
Concerts can be based on a predetermined theme connected to your school’s curriculum. A themed talk will be illustrated with selections from the repertoire of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. Time can be allocated to a question and answer session. Some examples of possible lecture demonstration themes are as follows:
- The History of the Spiritual;
- Jubilees, Sorrow Songs, Work Songs and Ring Shouts;
- The Underground Railroad and Black Migration to Canada;
- African Polyrhythms in the Gullah Music of the Southern United States;
- Afrocentric Music from Around the World: experience the astounding variety of music from the African diaspora. Examples may be drawn from such diverse countries as Ghana, Zambia, Trinidad, Cuba, Haiti, Canada, and the United States.
School Workshops:
- Masterclass I: 60-90 minutes
Your choir prepares 1-3 pieces from the repertoire of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale in advance and works with clinician Brainerd Blyden-Taylor on elements of style and interpretation. Elements of Afrocentric performance practice are usually discussed. The singers of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale can also take part in this workshop on request.
- Masterclass II: 60-90 minutes
Your choir selects 1-3 pieces from its own repertoire in advance, and works with clinician Brainerd Blyden-Taylor and members of The Chorale on elements of style and interpretation. Elements of Afrocentric performance practice are usually discussed. Your choir’s learning will be accelerated and its engagement deepened by the opportunity to sing alongside the professional singers of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale.
- Masterclass III – Conducting: 60-90 minutes
This workshop is designed for students of conducting from the senior high school through pre-professional university level. It gives young people the chance to learn from renowned conductor Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, with the option of testing their skills on the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. This workshop can be especially effective when combined with Masterclass I or II in a residency of two days or longer.
Workshop + Performance: 60-90 minutes, plus concert
Your group workshops 2-3 predetermined pieces with the Chorale and subsequently performs these pieces with the Chorale in concert. This option works best in school and community settings, particularly when a school or university is also the concert presenter.
Canaan Lan’ Integrated Arts Program:
If your school is interested in an integrated arts residency by the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, please take a look at our curriculum-based Canaan Lan’ program on the Underground Railroad and Black migration to Canada.
Workshop and residency pricing varies depending on whether the Artistic Director leads the activity alone or with the singers of the Chorale; on the number of students involved; and on the length of the workshop. Please contact us for pricing and availability.
