We have come to realize the need for online content given the COVID-19 pandemic, and moving forward, teachers will likely blend their teaching in the future with a mixture of in-person and online learning. With this new virtual classroom, James Jordan and other recognized teachers and authors can visit as guests in your classes.

This collection of videos draws from a variety of sources. A series of lectures given by James Jordan are designed to partner with his Evoking Sound text and demonstrate the unique pedagogies he has developed over his thirty years of teaching conducting at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Other Jordan lectures detail the teaching of patterns in a sequential way that accurately reflects the forward movement of sound in legato and non-legato contexts.

Another series of videos explain the history of Laban Effort Shape and its application to conducting teaching and artistry. In yet another series of videos, two of America’s most respected conductors—Eugene Migliaro Corporon (instrumental) and James Jordan (choral)—enter into a collaboration, using cutting-edge technology to illustrate their teaching principles for learning the basics of conducting technique.

In addition, you can virtually join Meade Andrews, internationally recognized Laban teacher, as she leads students through Laban Movement classes. Hear Gary Graden detail the pedagogy of chant improvisation. Experience Weston Noble and his approach to standing choral singers in ensemble. Join Mark Moliterno, recognized voice teacher and yoga instructor (www.theyogavoice.com) for a yoga class that connects the role of breathing to human expression. Bring Simon Carrington into class to explain his approach to music literacy and musical performance. Watch Sabine Horstmann demonstrate the vocal technique sequences she created based on Frauke Haasemann’s legendary teachings regarding vocal technique. Even listen in on a conversation between three of the most influential figures in choral music of the past thirty years—composer Morten Lauridsen and conductors Paul Salamunovich and James Jordan.

CONDUCTING VIDEOS

Conducting Choral Warm-ups with Voice Science in Mind: Reinforcing Healthy Vocalism

James Jordan has been at the forefront of Choral-Warm-Up Pedagogy for over 30 years beginning with his landmark publications with Frauke Haasemann. But during that time he has never discussed, taught or taught the gestural art of conducting choral warm-ups that support the essential elements of good vocalism. The specific content of these lectures includes explanations and demonstrations of conducting the following specific challenges for every conductor:

• On the Breath Singing
• Breath Impulse Gesture
• Enabling Musical Line through understanding the horizontal aspects of gesture
• Conducting Vocal Onset
• Conducting Vocal Offsets
• Conducting Leaps
• Helping Vocal registration
• Centered Conducting
• The Use of Laban Effort Shape Gestural Vocabulary To Empower Singers
• The Role of Body Architecture and Centering In Conducting Warm-Ups
• Aware Listening For Vocal Issues
• The Importance of Hand position and Arm Architecture

Evoking Sound: Teaching and Learning Body Architecture and Patterns (SV-1111)
(3-Part Video Series)

In this video series, James Jordan offers three virtual lectures for use by both conducting classes and individuals. In these videos, he shares how he sequentially builds conducting technique, beginning with the legendary approach to pattern architecture taught by Hideo Saito. Jordan also discusses the importance of acceleration and deceleration within conducting patterns and provides thought-provoking ideas on how to relay information to ensembles in the horizontal part of the beat using the beat patterns of Toscanini as a foundation for discussion. In combination with Evoking Sound (Second Edition), these lectures share a sequential pedagogy that will effectively advance both conducting classes and individual conductors.

Streaming Videos in this Series:

Part 1:
Body Architecture – Essentials of Body Mapping for Conductors

Part 2:
Vertical and Horizontal Beats: Building Basic Conducting Technique – The Teachings of Hideo Saito

Part 3:
The Pedagogy of Conducting Patterns

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The Practical Application of Laban Efforts in Combination to Conducting Gesture (SV-1107)
(3-Part Video Series)

In this video series, James Jordan offers three virtual lectures that explain the history of Laban Effort Shape and its application to conducting technique and artistry, including his landmark set of etudes that connect Laban Effort Shape to Harmonic Rhythm.

Streaming Videos in This Series:

Laban, Part 1:
The Conductor’s Gesture – An Overall Introduction

Laban, Part 2:
A Recipe for the Development of Expressive Conducting Technique – Harmonic Rhythm and Chant

Laban, Part 3:
The Action/Reaction Principles of Conducting

Related Book Resources:

Move Well, Avoid Injury - What Everyone Needs to Know About the Body

Learn what everyone needs to know about the body in fifty informative and life-changing sections prepared by two masters of Body Mapping and Alexander Technique, Barbara Conable and Amy Likar. Through understanding how our bodies are designed, and therefore how we should best move our bodies, this eye-opening video contains techniques that have already helped thousands avoid repetitive stress injuries, posture problems, and other chronic ailments that can be truly debilitating. The helpful animations and clear descriptions on this DVD can truly change lives.

The Conductor's Gesture - Streaming Video (SV-8096)

Dr. Andrews details a sequential curriculum for the practice and development of expressive conducting technique, all demonstrated on the Streaming Videos included with the book The Conductor's Gesture - G-8096.

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Body Mapping and Architecture (SV-1112)
A Discussion Between James Jordan and Eugene Migliaro Corporon

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Designing Expressivity (SV-1114)
A Discussion Between James Jordan and Eugene Migliaro Corporon

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The Anatomy of Conducting (SV-1113)
A Pattern Workshop with James Jordan and Eugene Migliaro Corporon

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The Musician’s Breath (SV-844)

In this video, James Jordan examines The Breath Impulse Gesture as the Preparatory Beat, delving into why and how the breath is the “delivery system” for human and musical ideas in performance.

Also in this video, Mark Moliterno guides viewers through a Full Yoga Session for Singers, demonstrating yoga practices that can provide access points to understanding breath, free points of tension, and “holding” in the breathing process.

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Discovering Choral Improvisation through Chant and Melody (SV-1094)
Singing Technique and Structuring with Gary Graden

This innovative video is a masterclass of choral improvisation, showcasing how choral improvisation is not only intrinsically beautiful but also both accessible and a key to building musicianship in a choral setting. Conductor Gary Graden works with choral singers at The Choral Institute of Oxford and demystifies the improvisational experience, empowering musicians to listen to and trust one another through their singing.

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The Empowered Choral Rehearsal (SV-828)
Simon Carrington in Rehearsal with the Westminster Williamson Voices and James Jordan

Simon Carrington spent 25 years with The King’s Singers, the internationally acclaimed choral ensemble celebrated throughout the world for achieving the highest levels of excellence in singing. Now he brings his wealth of experience as a choral conductor to the mechanics of directing vocal ensembles in this phenomenal video. Carrington’s overriding passion for engaging every singer in the ensemble is revealed in detail as visionary choral educator James Jordan gives Carrington the reins of The Westminster Williamson Voices of Rider University's Westminster Choir College. Sit with the ensemble and observe as Carrington takes these highly trained singers through a complete rehearsal.

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Inside the Westminster Conducting Institute (SV-972)
Masterclasses with Charles Bruffy, Bruce Chamberlain, Vance George, James Jordan, and Weston Noble

Imagine being “inside” masterclasses with some of the world’s most respected and admired choral conductors! Watching this video, you can gain entrance into the world-renowned Westminster Conducting Institute held each summer on the campus of Westminster Choir College. Founded in 2001 through the vision of James Jordan, the Westminster Conducting Institute has established the standard for the training of conductors at all levels of development. In addition to conducting study, the Institute presents approaches to analysis, movement, new choral literature, and groundbreaking pedagogies.

Dialogues (X-77300)
Musical Conversations between Composers and Conductors Morten Lauridsen, Paul Salamunovich, and James Jordan

How valuable would it be to be able to listen in on a conversation between three of the most influential figures in choral music of the past 30 years—composer Morten Lauridsen and conductors Paul Salamunovich and James Jordan? All three share important information about the performance, rehearsal, conducting, and interpretation of Lauridsen’s works, which have become central to the canon of choral literature.

Lighting a Candle - Elaine Brown's Address to Westminster Choir College (May 1988)

Elaine Brown, one of the most influential choral conductors of the twentieth century, inspired thousands of singers and conductors through her work with the Temple University Choirs, the Westminster Choirs, and choirs at The Juilliard School and Union Theological Seminary. Her groundbreaking work with Singing City in Philadelphia empowered choral singing in America to a high level of social consciousness and reinforced the value of singing together.

This is a standalone streaming video resource of the DVD included in Lighting a Candle: The Writings and Wisdom of Elaine Brown.

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REHEARSAL TEACHING AND LEARNING VIDEOS

Discovering Choral Improvisation through Chant and Melody (SV-1094)
Singing Technique and Structuring with Gary Graden

This innovative video is a masterclass of choral improvisation, showcasing how choral improvisation is not only intrinsically beautiful but also both accessible and a key to building musicianship in a choral setting. Conductor Gary Graden works with choral singers at The Choral Institute of Oxford and demystifies the improvisational experience, empowering musicians to listen to and trust one another through their singing.

Related Book Resources:

The Empowered Choral Rehearsal (SV-828)
Simon Carrington in Rehearsal with the Westminster Williamson Voices and James Jordan

Simon Carrington spent 25 years with The King’s Singers, the internationally acclaimed choral ensemble celebrated throughout the world for achieving the highest levels of excellence in singing. Now he brings his wealth of experience as a choral conductor to the mechanics of directing vocal ensembles in this phenomenal video. Carrington’s overriding passion for engaging every singer in the ensemble is revealed in detail as visionary choral educator James Jordan gives Carrington the reins of The Westminster Williamson Voices of Rider University's Westminster Choir College. Sit with the ensemble and observe as Carrington takes these highly trained singers through a complete rehearsal.

Related Book Resources:

Choral Vocal Technique (SV-901)
Sabine Horstmann Demonstrates the Vocal Technique Sequences of Frauke Haasemann

Frauke Haasemann and her teachings regarding vocal technique have become legendary. Thousands of choral conductors have benefited from her books and workshops. Her primary student in Europe, Sabine Horstmann has published and recorded her creative exercises based on the teachings of Frauke Haasemann. On this video, Horstmann demonstrates the vocal technique sequences covered in her book, which in the past have been difficult to convey on just ink and paper. This video provides an overview of choral vocal technique for choirs at any level of development. The sequential exercises Horstmann demonstrates can serve as the central part of vocal training for any choir.

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Choral Blend (SV-628)
Achieving Choral Blend through Standing Position

In this video, Weston Noble lectures and demonstrates about matching voices for a seamless choral sound. He discusses the beginning of his experimentation with standing arrangements, Robert Shaw’s use of this system, minimizing vibrato, improving singers’ listening skills, the use of the altos-in-front choral arrangement, and the use of the “flip-flop” to achieve different choral textures.

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The Conductor’s Gesture: Movement Language (SV-8096)
Laban Movement Classes with Meade Andrews

In this video, Dr. Meade Andrews details a sequential curriculum for the practice and development of expressive conducting technique.

Related Book Resources: