Plans are finalized and registration underway for the 2013 NATS Summer Workshop, which will be held at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash., July 21-23. The theme of this year’s workshop is “Starting The Journey: Creative Teaching Tools for Teens and Pre-teens.” The workshop will feature presentations from Robert Loewen, Patrick K. Freer and Barbara Wilson Arbodela.

Early registration is $195 for NATS members prior to May 1.

Starting young people on a positive vocal path for a lifetime of joyful singing, as vocation or avocation, is one of the most important goals teachers can set in their work. Spokane Workshop presenters will share insights and practical “tricks of the trade” for working with pre-adolescents, changing voices, and young adults in wide-ranging song literature from pop to musical theater to classical.

• High Expectations – High Achievement! Comprehensive yet flexible tools to enhance teaching and learning in the voice studio using The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. The goal of The RCM Development Program is to Inspire the Desire to Aspire; insights on structuring lessons for varied ages and capabilities; strategies and materials to promote creativity, artistry, and a love of music in students of all ages and aspirations; quality preparation for college auditions. Presented by Robert Loewen D.M.
• Keep Them Singing! A guided survey of key elements with adolescent singers focusing on the male and female voice transition, including the voice change process, vocal technique, terminology, part-singing, gender stereotyping and literature selection. Presented by Patrick K. Freer, Associate Professor, Georgia State University.
• Children SING! Tools to help young children discover their low range; helping children sing pop style and even “belt” in a healthy way; appropriate pop and musical theatre repertory for the youngest singers; guiding classically/traditionally trained teachers to a healthy “belt” sound so that they can teach it to students of ALL ages. Presented by Barbara Wilson Arboleda, MS CCC-SLP.

NATS Summer Workshop Home Page