Schools

Two Free Singing Schools Every Month!

Sacred Harp 101 -- Every Last Thursday
In response to the ever-growing number of new singers entering the Sacred Harp fold in Portland, we are committed to spending our monthly Last Thursday Singing catering to those who want to take things more slowly. Depending on the specific needs of the group present, we will:

~ Teach the rudiments of sight-reading music.
~ Drill the scales.
~ Sing each part of the songs through separately before singing them together in harmony.
~ Sing songs more than once.
~ Provide practice and feedback to singers who want to practice their leading.
~ Hold an open Q&A session.

The specific structure and content of each "Sacred Harp 101" session will vary. Beginner and advanced singers are both encouraged to attend!

Advanced/Topical Singing Schools - Every 4th Sunday
PoSH offers a free community singing school from 3 to 4pm on the fourth Sunday of every month, in the Community Room at McMenamin's Kennedy School (5736 N.E. 33rd Ave). Topics and teachers vary from month to month. Each singing school is immediately followed by two hours of singing, from 4 to 6pm.

2012 Schedule of 4th Sunday Singing Schools (subject to change)

If you have a suggestion for a topic you'd like to teach, or an idea of a topic for another person to teach, please write to the PoSH email discussion group, or directly to Jessica Beer.

May 27: Woodshedding - Singing Outside the Square. Led by Katy Kanfer. Whether you are trying to find your place on the staff, become a more adept sight-reader, or unpack a tricky song, there are many motivations to sing at home! At this school we'll talk about techniques for solo and small group singing.

Past Singing Schools with links to notes, if available

2012

April 22 -- Leading Workshop: from Song Selection to Graceful Conclusion. Led by Jessica Beer, et al.

March 25 -- PoSH Public Outreach: What, How & Why, led by Rosie Lindsey & Eleanor Clagett

February 26 -- Leading Basics, led by Betsy Jeronen and Marie Brandis

January 22 -- New Year's Resolutions. Katy Kanfer will lead the class in a dicussion of what we love about our singing community and what we resolve to love more in 2012. Notes on the Resolutions class.

2011

December 25 (Christmas) -- Christmas Songs! Our annual singing of Christmas-themed songs from the shape note tradition. This year, we won't use the 1991 Revision of The Sacred Harp at all. Folks are encouraged to bring their copies of An American Christmas Harp, and at least 30 copies of any other Christmas-themed song which uses shape note notation.

November 27 -- Keying. Dan Thoma will lead this class, revealing some secrets of the mystery we call "pitching" or "keying." Notes on the Keying class.

October 23 -- Welcoming Newcomers: Our Role As Ambassadors of the Sacred Harp Tradition. Why do people come to a Sacred Harp singing for the first time? And what makes them come back again? A lot of this has to do with what *we* do as members of this community to welcome newcomers ... from providing clear and helpful documentation at the door and inviting struggling new singers to sit next to us, to smiling and introducing ourselves to people we don't recognize during the break. There is an ambassadorial job for everyone who sings, even the most shy among us. Come learn how you can directly help in growing and strengthening the local singing commmunity as a Sacred Harp Ambassador. This lesson will be moderated by Jessica Beer.

September 25 -- Convention Preparedness. With our annual singing convention right around the corner (October 15 & 16 at the Laurelhurst Club!), Steve Cackley & Nell Whitman will guide you through the ins & outs of the event and help you determine things like what to bring, where to sit, etc.

August 28 -- Roles & Responsibilities of Convention Volunteers. Learn about the different committees that plan, organize, and run our annual convention ... and decide which ones you'd like to volunteer for! Preparations start several months before the event, so Chairmen Lyle Lindsey & Chris Cotter will help light a spark under the planning and inspire many hands to make light work of the convention. Includes info on the following Committees: Location, Publicity, Housing, Registration, Arranging, Food, Finance & Hospitality, as well as details about Chaplaincy and the Covention Secretary.

July 24 -- Historical Characters of The Sacred Harp. Thom Fahrbach will teach about some of the authors, composers and singers who have made this tradition the vibrant force that it is. Using the newly published book The Makers of The Sacred Harp as a jumping off point, Thom will intersperse anecdotes with illustrative singing from the 1991 Revision of The Sacred Harp songbook.

June 26 -- The Unwritten Sacred Harp. Dan Thoma will be joined by Heather Ikeler to teach singers about some of the traditions in Sacred Harp that are strictly oral. Includes information on vocal style in addition to addressing some song-specific deviations from what is actually written in the book (unwritten time signature changes, the special alto part for the song "Liberty," etc.).

May 22, 2011 -- Care of the Voice. Bennett Bailey has been a professional singer for nearly 30 years and is an active teacher of voice, piano and other instruments. In this lesson, Bennett will give you tips on caring for your voice both within the hollow square and in the time preceding a singing so that you can take full advantage of your natural ability to sing long and strong with the rest of the Sacred Harp community.

April 24, 2011 (Easter) -- Dinner-on-the-grounds. One of the highlights of any All Day Singing is the noontime break for a community-provided potluck, called dinner-on-the-grounds. In this lesson we will talk about the social significance of this joyful tradition, as well as discuss practical matters such as what to bring and how to ensure that it is kept hot/cold between the time you leave home in the morning and the appointed dinner hour. Co-led by Cornelia Stanton and Rosie Lindsey.

March 27, 2011 -- Leading. Marie Brandis offers guidance and encouragement for folks who want to start leading or to expand/improve their leading capability. Will include consideration of how to pick songs to lead as well as practical tips & tools for leading those songs.

February 27, 2011 -- Singing with Abandon! Join Emily Winokur to explore the spiritual/emotional importance of unbridled vocal passion, letting go of being "right," and not judging those around you for being off once in a while. Emily's school will help build confidence in new/beginning singers who may feel nervous and reconnect more seasoned singers with their passion.

January 23, 2011 -- Singing School Planning Session. Jessica Beer will lead the class through planning the coming year of singing schools. Bring your ideas for school topics and suggestions for teachers. And yes, we'll squeeze in some actual singing too!