News & Events

The Lyre As Instrument For Peace

Giving Ear Toward Understanding and Reconciliation

Preceded by a Lyre Pedagogy Conference August 1-3 — Detroit, Michigan, USA

In the words of master lye teacher Anna Prokhovnik Cooper of Northern Ireland, “The modern lyre is a most unique and unusual instrument because of its purity of tone and harmonic potential. It is suitable for all ages to play, from young children to older people. Although it has specific techniques of playing, it is not a difficult instrument to master. It can be enjoyed at all levels of playing ability. Its tone gives a wonderful quality of healing and relaxation, whether it is played in a therapeutic, social, or teaching setting.”

The Lyre Association of North America is a non-profit organization that promotes the modern lyre and supports local and global lyre communities. Beginning in the year 2000, lyrists around the world have joined together every three years for an international conference. Other venues have been Germany, Sweden, and Northern Ireland. LANA previously hosted the 2003 conference in Keene, New Hampshire, and now we will be back in the USA once again.

Detroit has a rich, diverse history. In the past century, Detroit has gone from the great heights of the automobile industry to the depths of bankruptcy. The city is now growing into a vibrant new era of rebuilding its community through embracing the cultural diversity of its citizens. Among many other things, the area boasts historical museums and churches, art and cultural centers, a river walk, riverboat cruises to the great lakes, and nature walks on Belle Isle.

Our host for this summer’s conference will be Wayne State University, which is in a safe and beautiful setting in the center of the city. The campus is located just two blocks from the magnificent Detroit Institute of Arts and a short bus ride from the Detroit River.

The Lyre 2015 Planning Group has designed a varied program around our theme of The Lyre As Instrument for Peace. In addition to a morning musical plenum, afternoon lyre groups, and evening concerts, we will have two different types of workshops: morning workshops related to our conference theme and afternoon workshops on more wide-ranging topics of general interest to our lyre community. We are happy to include with this letter a link to the official Conference Registration forms, which you can find here:

Conference Brochure and Registration (PDF)

Online Registration

Schedule (in German)

Registration includes a Youth Lyre Workshop (Aug 3-8), for ages 9 through adolescence, and a Lyre Pedagogy Conference (Aug 1-3, 2015).

Those attending our conference this summer will represent a complete continuum of musical skill and experience. From very experienced lyrists to rank beginners who have little musical experience or have never played the lyre before, this summer’s conference in Detroit will have something to offer for everyone, and we encourage all who have an interest in this important theme to join us in playing, listening, and exploring together through our work with the lyre, toward the possibility of furthering understanding and reconciliation in the world.

Christiaan Boele, master teacher, choir director, and singer, will present his advanced training course for the second time on the East Coast! German Werbeck singer and pedagogue Gerda Euskirchen will be assisting. The Second East Coast Singing Training course will take place at the facilities of the Threefold Educational Foundation, over a 31⁄2 year period-for five days in July and for a three–day weekend in February.

Singing Training Topics

• Session 1: Exercises to Forget the Breathing – July 5-9, 2016
• Session 2: Directing the Sounds – February 2017
• Session 3: Vowels and Consonants  July 2017
• Session 4: Expansion – February 2017
• Session 5: Reflection of the Sound – June  2017
• Session 6: Reflection of the Word – February 2017
• Session 7: Summary and Closing – June 2018

Summer sessions include:

• 5 morning intensives
• 4 afternoon small group classes
• 3 evening choir rehearsals
• 2 private lessons (one with Christiaan; one with Gerda)

Total Cost:

• Sessions 1: $800
• Sessions 2-7: $1,200

Application Process:

Deadline May 31, 2016

• Maximum enrollment, 30 students
• Applications received after May 31 will be considered as space permits

Applications for the Second East Coast Singing Training should include:

1. A paragraph about why you would like to participate in the course
2. Your contact information-Name, full mailing address, phone including cell, email address
3. A deposit of $200 with the application
4. Please make checks payable to Christiaan Boele

All should be mailed to course registrar Shannon Boyce 8 Capricorn Lane Chestnut Ridge, NY 10952

The remaining $600 is due by May 31, 2016

An emailed acknowledgement will be sent to you upon receipt of your application, which will include housing resources. Should you need to cancel prior to May 31, 2016, your deposit and payments, less a handling charge of $75, will be returned. A refund cannot be given after May 31. For further inquiries, including payment plans, please contact Shannon by email or by phone at 646-932-6062.

Visit our website: werbecksinging.com

Christiaan Boele

Born in 1956 at The Hague in the Netherlands, Christiaan Boele exhibited strong musicianship early in life — a a solid foundation for future study and his life’s work in music. He currently lives in Mendig, Germany and conducts various master classes, courses and schooling of the voice sessions around the world. Students from over ten countries travel to Christiaan to study. In addition, he leads a touring ensemble of twelve singers and continues to perform as a soloist.

Explore the 4 Elements in Singing > Meet the Earth – Air – Fire – Water in your voice

Singing is not just about the voice – it’s about LIFE. Given the pivotal role our voices play in our lives, don’t you find it surprising how little attention we give to them? What this workshop will demonstrate to you is: how changing aspects of your voice can spark other positive changes in your lives.

For more details & to see the leaflet use this link.

Fees:

• £74 (for booking by May 15th), £82 (by June 15th), £88 (thereafter)
• Couples, OAPs, and Group Bookings (3+): £68 / £73 / £78
• Saturday Attendance Only: £48

~ The Waldorf Music Continuum: How do we meet the developing child through music? ~

Sponsored by the Association for Waldorf Music Education

In its 17th year, the 2016 Waldorf Summer Music Conference will offer a journey through the grades, looking more closely at what stands behind the music curriculum. Bringing ‘the right thing at the right time’ is the hallmark of Waldorf education, and the music curriculum reflects this profound pedagogy.

Our work together will explore the what, when, how, and why of what we do, and how it meets each stage of the child’s development. Included in this spectrum will be hands-on experience with the instruments we use in our curriculum, a deeper look at Rudolf Steiner’s indications for bringing music to children, alternatives to traditional ensemble work, the changing voice, and more! There will also be sessions dedicated to questions and answers. For our own development as well as for enhancing and supporting our work in the classroom, our days will be rounded out with Werbeck vocal exercises and choral work in addition to movement and games.
Since we will be including hands-on instrumental work, we ask participants to bring Choroi interval flutes, pentatonic flutes, diatonic/C-flutes, recorders of any voicing, kinderharps, or bordun lyres, if possible. We will also have some instruments available to borrow at the school, but please bring whatever you have, and extras to share, if possible! On Thursday evening, we will have our traditional music sharing for the larger community – everyone is welcome to attend! For this occasion, participants are invited to bring any and all instruments to make music to share with each other as well as extra copies of sheet music if you would like to prepare something with others.

This year’s facilitators:

• Sheila Johns – Sheila Johns taught music for 14 years at the Washington Waldorf School in Bethesda, Maryland where she served in a variety of capacities, including mentoring other music teachers. She teaches courses in the mood of the fifth and has developed a curriculum for working with the pentatonic kinderharp for grades 1-3 as well as for an applied music course for grades 7/8. Sheila served as president of the Lyre Association of North America for 9 years and has trainings in both instrumental and vocal anthroposophic music therapy. She has been a carrying member of AWME for the last 8 years.
• Andrea Lyman – Andrea Lyman has been a Waldorf music teacher since 1992, has taught music courses at Sunbridge College, Waldorf Institute of Southern California, Sound Circle Center, and has been an adjunct faculty member of the West Coast Institute in Vancouver, BC since 2011. In addition to evaluating and mentoring Waldorf music teachers and faculties throughout North America, Andrea also gives courses and workshops in South America and Asia. She has authored several articles on the Waldorf music curriculum and has served as president of AWME since its inception in 2001.

NOTE: The conference will begin at 5:30pm on Sunday, July 10th, with registration; a simple shared meal (provided), and our official opening. The conference will end midday of the following Friday, July 15th.

Conference Fee:

$455 for AWME members ($40 discount!), $495 for non-members

(registration fees exclude housing, meals, or transportation)

For information on housing, meals, or transportation, please contact Diana Bright.

For more questions or information, please contact Andrea Lyman.

PLEASE NOTE: In the event that we do not have the required minimum number of participants to support the conference, registered participants will be notified by April 18th, and all payment will be returned. If we do have a minimum by April 15th, we will continue to take registration and payment until June 1st.

________________________________________________________________________

Register now! – Our minimum number of participants has been met! We welcome all registrations through June 25, 2016.

Cancellation Policy:

• $350 up until deadline
• $200 from May 15-June 25th
• Non-refundable after June 25th

Would you love to be able to READ MUSIC?

There are still places available if you would like to join this course…

Testimonial:

“Tonalis has the most wonderful and effective methods for teaching you how to read and understand music. They go far beyond mechanically reading music; they enable you to feel and embody it. I learnt more in one day with Tonalis than I had done in decades of music lessons and choir singing.” –(Sophie Baker participant on Tonalis ‘Inner Life of Music’ Training)

For more details & to see the leaflet use this link.

Fees:

• £74 (for booking by May 15th), £82 (by June 15th), £88 (thereafter)
• Couples, OAPs, and Group Bookings (3+): £68 / £73 / £78
• Saturday Attendance Only: £48

Tuition Fees:

• 1 installment, £475
• 2 installments, £495 (i.e.2x £248)
• 3 installments, £520 (i.e.3x£174)
• Discounted Fees = £20 deducted from the Fees for Early Booking by June 1st.
• Work Scholarship Fee: £65 off the above fees. A LIMITED number of Work Scholarships are available to help with setting up and clearing away, etc. Priority is given to students and people on Income Support. Please check availability.

Discover Everything You Need to Lead and Inspire Children’s Singing

Come and explore:

• Voice Education – for Teacher & Child,
• New Multi-sensory Song Teaching Methods,
• a New Progression for Teaching Part Songs,
• How to Help Children who cannot Pitch Match,
• the Boy’s Changing Voice in Adolescence,
• and much more . . .

This Course will inspire everyone involved in Children’s Singing and is appropriate for participants with ALL levels of vocal and musical experience.

For more details & to see the leaflet use this link.

Fees:

• £190 (for booking by May 15th), £200 (by June 20th), £210 (thereafter)
• £180 for Waldorf Teachers; £170 for STUDENTS & 2 TEACHERS FROM THE SAME SCHOOL (both by June 1st)
• Work Scholarship Fee: £135 A work scholarship is available to students and the unwaged.

Sing your heart out on an unforgettable weekend of life enhancing music, and explore new ways to create balance and harmony in your life through song!

For more details & to see the leaflet use this link.

Fees:

• £74 (for booking by May 15th), £82 (by June 15th), £88 (thereafter)
• Couples, OAPs, and Group Bookings (3+): £68 / £73 / £78 (dates as above)

New Horizons for Choir Leaders and Choir Singers

Take the Whole Course or come to individual Workshops:

• 20 – 21 August: Sing Freedom – How to make your Choir Sound Great & New Warm-ups for Choirs
• 22 August: Tuning In – Questions of Intonation & Blend
• 23 August: Explore New Multi-sensory Song Teaching Methods
• 24 – 25 August: The Art of Choral Conducting

For more details & to see the leaflet use this link.

Tuition Fees:

• 1 Day: £50
• 2 Days: £77 (by June 1st), £85 (thereafter)
• 4 Days: £150 (by May 20th), £158 (by July 1st), £168 (thereafter)
• Whole Course: £215 (by May 20th), £225 (by July 1st), £235 (thereafter)
• Concessions (for 6 days): £200 for Full-time Students, O.A.P.s & People on Income Support (with evidence) when booked by June 1st.
• Work Scholarship Fee (for 6 days): £155 A LIMITED number of Work Scholarships are available to students & the unwaged. (Please check availability & apply with evidence.)

Re-Imagine!

This New Training course will help you to Sing Your Songs in ways that are filled with Imagination, Soul and Musicality

It offers you New Pathways to develop:

• Expressive Singing,
• Vibrant Performances,
• and Deeper Levels of Musical Meaning

This is a modular, part-time course – to start Easter 2017 → Duration: 15 Days – 3 Weekends & 3 three-day Modules

For more details & to see the leaflet use this link.

Tuition Fees:

• 1 installment, £565
• 2 installments, £590 (i.e.2x £295)
• 3 installments, £615 (i.e.3x£205)
• Discounted Fees = £20 deducted from the Fees for Early Booking by September 1st.
• Work Scholarship Fee: £75 off the above fees.