So you're looking for music leadership resources…
Check out these sites on the web:
A Guide To Community Singing Leadership
By Michelle Morgan, Published by Community Music Victoria
American Choral Directors Association
Represents the serious side of singing together. There are some useful pages on this site, particularly the forum under repertoire and standards.
ANCA
Membership organisation for choirs. Public Liability insurance and other resources available.
Australian Choral Conductors Education & Training (ACCET)
Aims to be in the forefront of choral education and training in Australia by (among many other ways) providing information on choral repertoire, literature and arranging, especially of Australian choral music.
APRA
The association which collects and distributes Australian and New Zealand copyright royalties for music creators and publishers from around the world.
Tony Backhouse
Singer, composer, vocal arranger, musical director, workshop leader and author, Tony Backhouse, founded the Cafe of the Gate of Salvation gospel choir, the male quartet the Heavenly Lights, and the community choir The Honeybees. His website includes info about CDs, downloadable audio tutorials and songbooks for sale as well as his publications about leadership.
Candy Verney (UK)
“If you are interested in leading singing groups and choirs, or seeking to build your confidence in this area, this series of workshops will cover all the basics and much more”.
ChoralNet
As quoted from their website, “The internet centre for choral music”:
”Community: ChoralNet operates two primary mailing lists -- Choralist and ChoralTalk, for choral musicians to exchange ideas, make professional connections, and learn about choral music. ChoralNet also has three forums (bulletin boards), with email options, which provide a place for interaction among specialized choral communities such as those in Europe and Latin America. Together, there are an estimated 10,000 subscribers to these lists. Finally, ChoralNet provides links to other choral communities and organizations worldwide, both electronic and live, and over 5,000 choir websites. Over 3,000 individuals visit the ChoralNet website daily and read over 9,000 pages.
Community Choirs in Australia survey
The Music In Australia Knowledge Base conducted this interesting survey in 2013.
CMVic North East
Peer support network for community singing leaders in North East Victoria, Australia.
Community Music Victoria
Hey – that’s us! We've got three CD/songbooks and one set of online songs in our store that are easy to teach, easy to learn rounds chants and songs for community singing. And also check out resources and support for community singing leaders and community music leaders.
Creativity Australia
To make it easier for communities to start their own choir, Creativity Australia is offering a limited number of seed funding grants as well as training for leaders of social inclusion choirs.
From the Front of the Choir
Chris Rowbury’s insightful blog posts
Gippsland Singers Network
Peer support network for Gippsland Community singing leaders (Victoria, Australia). Annual residential weekend at Wilsons Promontory.
Helen Yeomans
Helen is a UK based choir director and composer – her website is a treasure trove of choir repertoire and resources and now with a masterclass series of how to write songs especially for group singing.
Music Australia
The “Music: Count Us In” program is “Australia’s largest music program, supporting teachers from more than 2000 schools to deliver inventive, creative and enjoyable music lessons in the classroom”.
Musica Viva
Professional development and resources for music teachers and more
Natural Voice Network
British network of voice teachers who share a common ethos and approach to voice work. They believe that singing is everyone's birthright and are committed to teaching styles which are accepting and inclusive of all, regardless of musical experience and ability. The link above will provide you with a connection to the page of their website which list multiple singing leadership skills publications. They also run courses.
Rise Up and Sing
How to Lead Groups in Song (in 10 easy lessons)
Scotland Sings
Choir Leaders Training Manual by Ali Burns and Christine Kydd (free download)
SIng Yarra Ranges
A network promoting accessible community singing based in the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley (Australia).
The Sum of the Parts
Ukulele group leadership skills
The Ubuntu Choirs Network (Canada)
“This dynamic and comprehensive program will provide participants with the tools and training necessary to form, manage and direct a community choir”.
Victorian Orff Schulwerk Association
“The largest provider of professional development in music and movement in Australia”. Mainly an association of teachers and supporters of music education.
Total Choir Resources
Tools, tips and training for choir and singing group leaders. Podcasts, warm ups and downloadable pdf's of songs are all available!
Voiceworks
A series of books published by Oxford University Press. Peter Hunt is the inspiration behind this series of handbooks providing repertoire and teaching resources for choir leaders. Peter Hunt believes that everyone can sing, and his books support the leaders who make this a reality
Fay White
Workshops and songbooks for singing leaders.