Learn to lead and facilitate singing groups with inspirational singing facilitator, composer and singing for health specialist, Ruth Routledge.
Drawing on her own choral conducting training, over twenty years experience of founding and facilitating singing groups in community, health, education and corporate settings, as well as the latest evidence-based singing for health research and practice, Ruth has developed practical courses and resources for beginner-intermediate singing facilitators.
“The training with Ruth was outstanding in every way. She is so knowledgeable and inspiring and breathes life into every session.”
Singing Leading 101
8-week online course + residential weekend
Who is it for?
Emerging singing group leaders, existing leaders who want to develop their practice, health practitioners, arts and health facilitators, school teachers and anyone interested in leading singing groups.
“Inspiring, informative, succinct, enjoyable.”
What you learn
- warm-ups (ice-breakers, physical, vocal and team-building);
- choosing suitable songs;
- breaking down and teach songs;
- what to do with your hands (beating, starting, stopping and more);
- inclusive exercises to adapt and integrate into your practice;
- developing your group musically and interpersonally;
““A fantastic course that provides a solid foundation, covering all the important elements of leading community groups. Especially useful focus on how to get the best sound from your choir, things to do with them that‘s not just singing songs.” ”
““I enjoyed it immensely and learned a lot. Your friendly, supportive presentation of material was superb. You made me feel less scared that I might somehow be letting my singers down. I enjoyed meeting others starting out on their choir leading journey and they helped me a lot too. Seeing their different styles and approaches was great.””
“Really friendly and personable facilitation by Ruth, who is clearly a legend and who I wish I was lucky enough to sing in a choir with.”
My approach
Singing in a group is the act of making yourself vulnerable with others; seeing and hearing each other and being seen and heard using our voices/bodies and music. This creates the potential for deep connection and personal development and similarly the potential for deep hurt and destruction of confidence. Facilitating group singing is about creating a safe and supportive space to learn and grow together where participants are seen, heard, valued and co-creating with their facilitator. This course is participative, combining practical musicianship skills with group dynamics approaches informed by community music therapy, dance-therapy, sport psychology, psychodrama and singing therapy. Each session is structured around how to lead a safe and effective singing session, starting with a warm-up, learning a song with demonstrations and opportunities for you to experiment and try things out with constructive feedback.
““I wasn’t sure about doing a course online, but it was excellent, easy to follow and totally interactive.””
My background
I am a singing leader and singing for health practitioner-researcher, passionate about inclusion and using group singing to support the healthy development of individuals within a community. After a degree in music and philosophy, I specialised in choral conducting, studying with Antoine Finck in Lyon, France. From there I founded and successfully led over 15 community choirs and singing for health groups in the UK and France (Pram Chorus parents' choirs, Vocality Singing, Sol Singers) as well as leading groups for the Southbank Centre, London and family support charities Little Village and Homestart.
My experience is with people of all ages and abilities, from beginners to professionals in hospitals, schools, corporations, community and voluntary organisations and with people who have experienced homelessness, refugees, adults with disabilities/learning difficulties, children with SEND, mothers with PND amongst others. After attending training in creative leadership with Peder Karlsson (The Real Group, Perpetual Jazzile), I have developed an approach starting from a principle of care, developed into practical strategies to leading and running a choir to ensure inclusion, equality, listening, respect and each person being of value to the group. This has evolved into studying for a Masters with the Voice Study Centre in Singing for Health, conducting research into the health effects of singing.
““A great introduction to the principle skills of choir leading delivered with a relaxed, fun and supportive vibe.””