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My name is Tom Carter, and for the past 30 years I've been helping actors and singers create engaging experiences for themselves and their audiences. Lately, I've been doing this type of work with choirs, and the results have been extremely rewarding. When singers connect deeply and specifically to text and music, their faces and bodies are dynamically expressive, their singing is vibrant and nuanced, and -- most significantly -- their connection draws the audience into the heart and soul of the music. This is exciting stuff! In fact, Choral Coaching has become so fulfilling that I retired as Drama teacher and head of a private school's Performing Arts department so that I could work with more choirs and write a book on this subject. The second edition of Choral CHARISMA: Singing with Expression is now available. Since "playing with expression" is a very similar process (witness Gustavo Dudamel & the Los Angeles Philharmonic), I have begun to work with instrumentalists as well. It's an equally rewarding experience. |
My goal now is to work with directors and choirs, conductors and instrumentalists, helping them create vivid and engaging performances.
What I Offer
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Coaching (Seminars/Conferences/Workshops/Clinics): As described further below, I work with you and your group/s, provide brief, interactive (and fun!) instruction on the basic methods of connection, then dig into the rep, exploring and enjoying what for many is a transformative process. For other goals -- such as creating a tighter sense of ensemble, or helping timid singers find their creativity and power -- I adjust and adapt.
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Master Classes & Festivals: I work with individual singers, instrumentalists, or groups, helping them to perform more expressively, while other participants watch.
More About The Coaching
Usually, I will jump right into the rehearsal situation, establish a common vocabulary, then work with the groups on the repertoire (while the director conducts).
Occasionally, a director wants a more intense "workout" for the singers or instrumentalists. Here are some of the activities that I draw from when I work with different groups to meet their particular needs.
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Trust Building: The musicians engage in fun exercises which invite total personal commitment, combined with processing and discussion of the importance of trust in any successful group endeavor.
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Expression Exploration: After we're on solid ground in terms of the above, we do more extreme "edge-pushing" activities designed to get them in touch with their creative process, and aware of the forces that prevent them from full expression.
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Choral Connection Lab: Musicians explore methods of connecting personally to text and/or music. The activities are designed to facilitate rapid yet comprehensive learning.
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The Rewards of Connection: Once the members understand the basic concepts, I usually work with the group and conductor on their repertoire (during a regular rehearsal). I like to watch the first song all the way through, then work with the singers on ways to connect more powerfully and specifically to meaning and music. They try again, I might stop them and give some suggestions, then ask them to continue. The rest of the time with the group usually consists of similar work with more of their repertoire -- stopping, exploring connection, continuing. This process can be repeated indefinitely from rehearsal to rehearsal. Some conductors like to use it as a "concert primer." And it, or the entire experience, could be a "beginning of the season motivator."
Coaching Experience
I have worked with many diverse groups and directors, including...
The Choraliers of San Jose State University: Charlene Archibeque
Aragon High School Orchestras: David Martin
San Ramon Valley High School Concert Choir: Ken Abrams
San Francisco Girls Chorus (Chorissima): Susan McMane
Western Washington University String Class: Staff
Spokane Area Children's Chorus (Ensemble Choir): Kristina Ploeger
Western Washington University Concert Choir: Leslie Guelker-Cone
Mt. Eden High School Chamber Singers: Ken Rawdon
West Valley College Chamber Singers: Lou De La Rosa
Camerata Singers: John Koza
Aragon High School Choirs: David Martin
Crystal Children's Choir: Karl Chang & Jenny Chiang
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Varsity Men's Choir: Peter Eklund
University of Kentucky Choirs: Jeff Johnson, Lori Hetzel, Frank Eychaner, and John Flanery
Fullerton Union High School Academy of the Arts Vocal Ensemble: Scott Hedgecock
Walla Walla High School Choirs (Washington): Norbert Rossi
Stillwater Junior High School Choirs (Minnesota): Sue Gilsdorf
Liberty High School Choirs: Sue Stuart
UC Berkeley Choral Ensembles: Mark Sumner
Davis Senior High School Choirs: Karen Gardias
Marysville-Pilchuck High School Choirs: Jeff Tillinghast
Vivace Youth Chorus of San Jose: Peggy Spool
Ygnacio Valley High School Choirs: Geoff Carter
San Francisco School of the Arts [High School] Chamber Chorus: Ilan Glasman
Junipero Serra High School Men's Chorus: Jay Jordan
WomenSing: Martin Benvenuto
New Choir: Eileen Chang
San Francisco State University Chamber Choir: Josh Habermann
San Jose State University Chorale: Elena Sharkova
Viva la Musica!: Shulamit Hoffmann
Lexington Singers (Kentucky): Jeff Johnson
Peninsula Women's Chorus: Martin Benvenuto
Ragazzi (Boys Choir): Joyce Keil
Los Altos United Methodist Church Choir: Shulamit Hoffmann
Mount Whitney High School Choirs: Brad Hayashi
Conventions, Conferences, Clinics, & Workshops
ACDA National Convention in Oklahoma City, Interest Session: "The Fully Expressive Choir: A State of the Art Approach," March 7, 2009. Demo choir was the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Varsity Men's Chorus, directed by Peter Eklund
ACDA Western Regional Convention in Salt Lake City, March 2006 (Interest Session): Demo choir was the Hamilton High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by John Hamilton
Cobb County Music Teachers' Workshop in Atlanta, Georgia, August 2006: Melissa Arassi
Choristers Guild of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, August 2006: Carteena Robohm and Joanne Wang
Bay Area Handbell Seminar, September 2006: David Ruder
Columbia Basin (Washington) Music Educators Association Clinic, October 2007: Norbert Rossi, with the Walla Walla High School Chamber Choir and singers from Richland High School (Greg Fryhling), Kamiakin High School (David Wright), and Pasco High School (Mel Haug)
