Posts Tagged ‘Choir’

Barney has just completed the first essay of his Masters in Musical Theatre Creative Practice at The Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick.

The first module is entitled ‘Analysis of Performance Techniques in Musical Theatre’ and he was required to write a research journal of 2250 words based on class observations and previous professional experience.

The essay is titled ‘Examining the Methodologies of Musical Direction within the Ensemble Environment’ and you can download it here if you would like to read it. The Introduction is below:

I shall be examining standard practices utilised by Musical Directors and Singers whilst learning new works in an ensemble or group situation. I shall be exploring various techniques and methodologies from other disciplines and their potential benefits if applied to Musical Direction. This will be with reference to the many class observations that I have undertaken in Ensemble, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Speech and Voice, Acting, Song Workshops and also from previous experience with professional casts. I shall be examining whether performance anxieties and the psychological state of the Singers affects their abilities and also their speed of learning. Using examples from Elite Sport Psychology, I intend to find methodologies that improve a team’s performance. I shall be looking at how the Musical Director’s role and behaviour as a leader within the ensemble can affect the performance levels within the group and the group’s dynamic. I will demonstrate that there are techniques that I have observed employed in other disciplines that the Musical Ensemble Environment would benefit from implementing.

So your brother Ben is getting married and you offer to oversee, arrange and Musically Direct his wedding… simple! Well it would be normally… but this is no ordinary brother…

Organising the Organist was relatively easy having been at school with some superb players. Mark Browne was duly appointed who is a previous Organ Scholar of Canterbury Cathedral and played superbly.

Ben wanted something a little unconventional during the Signing of the Register…

…more specifically Take That’s ‘Greatest Day.’

Having just said that he wanted me to play it as a solo on the piano I decided to go one large step further and try and find a choir!

Step forward the fantastic girls from Downe House School in Berkshire who after only one rehearsal and a lot of hard work sang beautifully and added a perfect ambiance to the service.

I hope you enjoy the video! Barnes x