The School of Music at the University of Auckland and MENZA are hosting a teacher training day for primary school teachers who want to feel more confident with developing and implementing singing activities within their school community. This day is aimed at non-music specialists, but is suitable for any classroom or itinerant teacher wanting to incorporate singing into daily classroom life for any age group.
The workshops will be led by visiting music educationalists/singers from Ex-Cathedra, a UK based professional choral organisation that has considerable experience in devising and delivering singing projects for the primary school age range covering a period of 25 years. Their successful initiatives include Singing Playgrounds (awarded Best Musical Initiative 2014); SingMaker; ChoirMaker; and Singing Medicine; as well as the more traditional choir and festival work.
Rebecca Ledgard is Director of Education for Ex Cathedra’s award-winning education and participation programme and has been leading the education programme since 2000 that brings the benefits of singing to thousands of children and people of all ages and also trains singers and singing leaders. Rebecca leads a team of 25 vocal tutors and accompanists devising and delivering projects including Singing Playgrounds for primary schools, which has been implemented in over 500 primary schools across the UK and also beyond.
Urzula Weber (Ula) is an experienced choral animateur, singer, teacher trainer, conductor and workshop leader whose work has taken her as far afield as Poland, Ukraine, Thailand and China. Ula is now Vocal Projects Manager for Sandwell Music and Arts Service where she is working with schools and teachers to promote classroom and choral singing. She is one of their lead education vocal tutors and co-created Ex Cathedra Education’s internationally acclaimed and award winning Singing Playgrounds/Singing Medicines/Singing Pathways projects.
Rob Challinor trained as a pianist and répétiteur, Rob now divides his time between playing for Opera, accompanying singers and education work, through private teaching and vocal workshops. He is an integral part of the singing projects emerging from the education department of Ex Cathedra, training and demonstrating the initiatives alongside experienced and enthusiastic vocal tutors Rebecca Ledgard, Urzula Weber and Daniel Ludford Thomas.