The Pop-Up Choir Process – a Recruitment Tool for Choirs

Pop-Up Choir is an innovative approach to group singing. No music reading is required as the melody and harmonies are taught by rote. Songs are selected from the contemporary pop genre. The design of the arrangements enables the leader to teach the song to a group of singers of varied experience within a short period of time, usually about 45 minutes.

Pop-Up Choir is a great model for providing positive group singing experiences for people of all ages and experience levels, requiring no long term commitment from singers. Each Pop-Up Choir session is a stand-alone, so the group composition can change every time. As such, it can be an effective recruitment tool for choir directors in that singers can experience the joys and benefits of a fun and informal choral experience, hopefully whetting their appetite for more.

Schedule

A Pop-Up Choir Evening – A session for singers
Friday, May 24 – 7:30-9pm – The HUB at Cowichan Station, Co-op Room (2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6M5)

In the Friday workshop, intended for singers of all ages and abilities, participants will create a pop-up choir; over the course of the evening they will learn to sing a song without reading music, creating harmony by ear. This is a great experience for the musical non-reader.

$20 – walk-in
$8 – student

“Creating a Pop-Up Choir: a process to help recruit new choir members” – A session for choir leaders
Saturday, May 25 – 11am to 1pm The HUB at Cowichan Station, Co-op Room (2375 Koksilah Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6M5)

In the Saturday workshop, intended for choral group leaders, participants will learn about the tried and true Pop-Up Choir model. They will participate in a Pop-Up Choir experience and explore strategies for creating their own arrangements for use with students, community ensembles, at specific Pop-Up Choir events, or at community events.

$35 – walk-in
$15 – student

Registration

At the door – space still available, Friday and Saturday… pop on by!

Clinician

Wendy Nixon Stothert, B. Mus. Ed, M.EdL currently directs 5 adult community choirs and heads up a project called Choral Valley Retreats, Festivals and Workshops in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. She has taught Music, Band and Choir at all levels, privately and in the school system, for over 25 years. Wendy is passionate about lifelong learning herself as well as facilitating fun and rewarding community singing experiences like Pop-Up Choir.