Song of the Birds: Performance and Schools Workshops

The Swan Consort is currently seeking expressions of interest from primary schools across England and Wales who would like to benefit from choral singing workshops, delivered by our professional musicians.

The natural world has moved human beings to make art since time immemorial. Building on a collection of choral works inspired by bird song from the 15th Century to the present day, professional vocal ensemble The Swan Consort are offering singing workshops to primary school aged children in the UK. In these workshops, students will experience the consort in live performance, learn about the birds of the British Isles, and devise their own polyphonic choral improvisation based on the bird songs. They will learn to warm up their voices, sing in harmony, and have the opportunity to perform alongside the professionals. The project engages children with the nature on their doorstep, offers coaching in group singing, and draws children into dialogue with composers who, throughout history, have been inspired by the songs of the birds. The Swan Consort’s Birdsong Workshops have been successfully piloted in two primary schools in Brighton and Hove, in association with Brighton Early Music Festival (2021-2022).

Bird Song & Choral Workshops 

  • The workshops facilitate 5 professional musicians to work in school with up to 75 children during a 1 hr workshop which includes:
    o Vocal Warm Up
    o Whole Class Singing (unison and harmony)
    o Devising a structured improvisation (inspired by Bird Song)
    o Experiencing live performance from The Swan Consort
    o Cross-curricular links with science and nature
    o NB: The Swan Consort can offer 2 x 1hr workshops per school
  • Schools will receive a pack of lesson resources and supporting materials, devised by fully qualified teachers (Use of these is optional/at schools’ discretion)
  • Schools are requested to contribute £150 towards the cost of the workshop (representing approx 10% of total cost). If schools are keen to host workshops but unable to meet this requirement, we encourage them to contact us for a further discussion.

Please Contact Anita Datta to request an information pack, and to express
your interest in participating. Expressions of interest are requested before
5th November 2022.

Concept By

The Swan Consort

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