Artistic Strategy 2019-2022
Our vision for the next 3 years...
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Artistic Strategy – a summary
These are outlines of plans for our vision for the future of SC Choirs over the coming 1, 2 and 3 years. Each stage outlines ideas, events and changes we aim to implement in order to develop the quality and range of experiences we offer, as well as utilising the skills of staff to maximum potential. Recruitment and retention is central to this thinking, as is the importance of delivery from the front. We want to give the best experience possible! |
What we achieved in 2017 and 2018 (phase 1 and 2 or the original Artistic Strategy)
- High quality service covering an age range of 4 to adult across five inclusive choirs
- Develop a music team who are fully trained, up to speed and totally enthused about choral work. Opportunities for professional development, as well as annual appraisals, so that we can evolve and constantly improve.
- Moving all choirs to a Wednesday – all choirs on one day, easier when moving up, creates areal ‘buzz’ at venue, good for any joint rehearsals
- Exciting, regular performances, including a Flash mob and a trip to Queens’ College, Cambridge
- Organise workshops in schools followed by a joint concert, with observations for teachers get kids interested in singing – supported by the ‘Friday Afternoons’ project
- Social media – more updates, videos and pictures.
- Much more social approach: regular, inclusive family-based events – encourages belonging and commitment.
- Opportunities for older ones to help with younger choirs.
- Regular rewards and achievements – merits, section attendance cup, certificates for attendance, merit points in rehearsals, record of achievement award at the end of the year,
- Have a planned break with wine, nibbles & refreshments for adults – encourages a less cliquey atmosphere and a much more friendly and inclusive group.
- Name badges for all – using people’s names encourages inclusivity.
- Buy more original copies of music – easier to follow, we own more sets of music as an organisation.
- Recording rehearsal tracks for members to practice parts at home – learning more quickly and efficiently.
- Keep repertoire varied and broad.
- Real focus on good technique via well-planned and effective warm ups – that translates into much better performances and more uniform sound.
- Use the solfege system in all younger choirs – develops good ear training, understanding of intervals and eventually sight-reading. Encourages excellent musicianship!
- Employ professional bid-writer/fundraisers which this will enable us to massively expand what we do in the coming years, helping us to fulfill this strategy!
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Our plans for the future!
Ordinary text illustrates that this has been achieved in phase 1 or 2 & is ongoing in future years. Underlined text shows a new action. 2019-20 (phase 3 of original Artistic Strategy in 2017) Retention and recruitment – how will we develop our membership?
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- Encourage leadership opportunities and roles within our younger singers: developing the role of helping in younger choirs, young conductors/leadership opportunities, section leaders, head chorister, buddies
- Reintroduce choir council
- Regular rewards achievements: loyalty cards, mascot, sweets, section attendance cup, certificates, record of achievement, 100% for the year award.
Music and Standards
- Continue to develop our music team, focusing on strengths – with opportunities to have regular professional development. This can include: conducting courses, observing each other, choral conferences, sharing good practise and annual appraisals, so that we can evolve and constantly improve.
- Keep our focus on good technique and high standards via well-planned and effective warm ups – that translates into much better performances and more uniform sound.
- Continue to develop the solfege system, weaving this into the teaching and learning of repertoire in major and minor keys. This in turn develops good ear training, understanding of intervals and eventually sight-reading. Encourages excellent musicianship!
- Develop Helen’s role as a Vocal Coach – need to think about timetabling for this to work
- Continue our competitive edge: Choir Of the Year, MACC, Songs of Praise and Llangollen all offer opportunities to aim as high as we can.
- Record rehearsal tracks for members to practice parts at home – learning more quickly and efficiently.
- Continue to increase and file our sets of music.
- Music folders to colour match (if possible) each choir.
- Keep repertoire varied and broad, and include new compositions and arrangements from our own team, but above all ensure that music challenges
- Classical Project – an extension of repertoire used on Come and Sing Day, where we link together Intermediates, Seniors and Dynamics with B Natural, to perform a ‘full work’.
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Educational Projects
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Patrons & professionals – how will we utilize these?
New Choirs, Satellite Choirs & Partnering
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Continuing progress and focus from previous phases, plus:
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Satellite Choirs – further development for phase 5
- Develop further choirs in original outreach area from Year 2
- Start to explore the possibility of starting a new choir in another new area of the city
- By phase 5 SC Choirs should not only be providing the best choral programme for all ages, but should act as a beacon of musical leadership and excellence within Birmingham. We want to shine a choral light on Sutton Coldfield – effectively being a ‘leading light’ in what we deliver!
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