Spring Song Fest

Benslow Music’s popular solo singing tutor, tenor Brian Parsons, together with pianist, Gavin Roberts, who is also an expert coach, offer participants the benefits of their extensive knowledge. There will be technical, interpretative and presentational work, offering students a chance to hone their skills in a friendly and mutually supportive atmosphere. Please prepare four songs (more if you wish) of your own choice as fully as possible and also be prepared for fresh challenges.

Warm-ups, technique, style, period, ornamentation, interpretation, diction, languages, characterisation, the intentions of the composer, repertoire and the importance of the communication of the poetry and music facially and vocally to create a complete performance.

By the end of this course, you will:

• Perform your own pieces with more confidence in a concert on the final afternoon, having worked on any technical problems and interpretational ideas that come to light.
• Understand more about the voice and support system to enable you to address any difficulties that arise with future choices of repertoire.

Participants will be split into small groups in order for them to sing to and listen to all the others on the course. They will work with one tutor and pianist in each session and then swap around. This will introduce them to new repertoire of various styles and also to relate to interpretational and technical points that arise during the sessions. Input from participants is welcome.

Standard: Improver, Confident, Skillful

There is no specific level for this course, however we ask that participants are able to perform their songs accurately with or without the music. We encourage a non-competitive environment, a supportive and happy group where we all share a love of song and singing.

Participants choose their own repertoire of any style and learn in advance of coming on the course. They should bring a copy for themselves and one for the pianist. A third copy would be welcome for the session leader. Titles of chosen material should be given in advance, in time for the pianists to assess the difficulty of the songs being presented.

Please bring comfortable clothing.