In this workshop you’ll learn basic principles of gesture and stick technique, dynamics, articulation, energetics, score preparation, and rehearsal psychology. You’ll learn to prepare and conduct “from the inside out” as you work with colleagues in a warm, supportive environment focused on experiential learning, discovery, and reflection. Hone your skills and develop self-awareness as you learn to better support and engage your students in the rehearsal process.

“Your workshop has changed not only my conducting and teaching, but how I listen to music. It was a HUGE gift that keeps on giving. Thank you for everything.”
- Karina Wilson, violinist, Orchestra Director, St. Michael’s High School

“It starts with me being subtle. I realize if they are not delivering what I want, I should look at my own conducting first. I have a better feeling for how to pace a rehearsal so as not to lose the focus of the musicians.”
- Suzanne Birrell, Band Director

Here’s a question for you: out of 100% of the time you’ve spent practicing, what percentage of the time was spent practicing your instrument and repertoire, and what percentage was spent practicing performing? This workshop provides an introduction to teaching the elements of performing: how to give and receive attention, how to identify ideas and opportunities for expression in the music, and how to share those ideas and feelings with others. Through fun and easy whole group, small group, and partner exercises, using simple musical materials, you’ll learn how to provide your students with the key experiences, understandings, and tools that will help them to meaningfully prepare for performance opportunities. Works for teachers, too!

“Thank you! I feel like you helped me find that confidence again in performance that I lost when I was a kid.”
- Katrina Trujillo-Lucero, Santa Fe Public Schools Music Teacher

How can a painting provide opportunities for music learning? In this workshop we’ll engage with the visual elements of a painting as a way to teach music basics like pitch, dynamics, articulation, and mood. Looking closely at a painting is also a great way to stimulate the imagination: dramatic narratives, dialogues between similar and different visual elements, and opportunities for movement can all be translated into music. You’ll come out of the workshop having explored a variety of structured ideas that you can adapt to your teaching style and the needs of your students. Sound like fun? It is!

“I just wanted to personally thank you for the amazing workshop yesterday. It really opened up something in me that has been dormant for a while now. Thank you for helping me remember the magical, juicy sparkle that all of the arts stem from! It was food for my soul.”
- Michelle Artiaga, Santa Fe Public Schools Music Teacher

What does it take to connect your voice to your instrument? How can you teach students to make a “singing tone” and phrases that have a living shape? Which vowels and consonants are most useful for teaching note shape and articulation? Working with vocal style is an effective way to teach articulation and to help students develop a beautiful, personal sound. Fun, meaningful, transformative work!

Once upon a time, in a string orchestra classroom in El Paso, Texas, students became fascinated with how to play words on their instruments as we explored the first phrase of “America the Beautiful.” How to make the first “O”? And what about the hard “B” that connects to not one, but three vowels in “beautiful?”

If improvisation is something you’d like to explore with your students, this is a perfect opportunity to get started, using familiar music basics in creative ways! You’ll learn simple approaches to improvisation that you can integrate into your teaching through whole group, small group, and individual exercises. We’ll look at ways to help students review music basics in ways that are fun and interesting, as they learn to create their own music and to express themselves.

During the workshop, we’ll draw on aspects of language and story, easy movement and gesture, everyday expression, and dramatic situations - it’s all relevant!

Whether it’s discovering new approaches to music, visual art, or poetry, trying out new presentation styles, adding reflection, or exploring experiential learning, music, visual art, and arts-oriented classroom teachers will have the opportunity to work with colleagues in a warm supportive environment.

“Oliver made me think about things I have been doing a long time in different ways. I think the content of this workshop can be done over and over without getting redundant.”

- Ricardo Hernandez, Director, Capital High School Band, Santa Fe, NM

What do you do when a student has difficulty matching pitches or singing a simple melody?

In this workshop we’ll explore an easy approach, currently under development, to helping students who are struggling connect their ears to their voices, and we’ll use this as a jumping-off point for a discussion of best practices for effective, compassionate ways to help students who face these challenges.

Bring your students to a local art museum or gallery for an arts experience featuring visual art, music, and/or poetry, presented by Oliver Prezant and Friends, including artists, poets, and musicians.

All of the workshop offerings listed here, as well as workshops exploring other aspects of music, visual art, and poetry, can be presented as in-class workshops for students and in-class mentoring for teachers.

Introduce students to the compositional process by having a level-appropriate piece composed especially for them. Music basics that you’re teaching can be integrated into the piece, e.g. specific rhythms, melodic gestures, and textures.

In addition, a class visit can be an opportunity to discuss how the piece is put together, approaches to composing original music, and student composition projects, individually, or as a group.

Just for you! Spend an energizing late afternoon or weekend hour at the Teacher Oasis at a local art gallery or Museum. Enjoy visual art, poetry, music, good conversation, refreshments, and a few choice art insights provided by staff and special guests. Relax, reflect, refresh, and revitalize with the arts!

Header: Katie Harlow, Jerry Weimer, Carla Kountoupes, photo by Oliver Prezant. Conducting workshop with Dana Winograd and Oliver Prezant, photo by Oliver Prezant. Practicing Performing workshop, photo by Oliver Prezant. Discovering the Music of Visual Art workshop for band students, photo by Clarissa Riggins, featuring artwork by Mary Vernon: Wall With Mirror, 2022. Oliver Prezant with violin, photo by Ruthanne Greeley. Oliver Prezant giving a workshop, photo by Kacy Crews. SFPS Band Teachers in a professional development workshop, phot by Dhamaris Mendez. Oliver Prezant conducting, still from video by Jonathan Lowe. Field Trips, artwork by Cassandra Black, photo by Oliver Prezant. In-Class Workshops, still from video by Oliver Prezant, featuring artwork by Mary Vernon, Wall With Mirror, 2022. Footer: Prelude Talk at The Santa Fe Opera, photo by Ruthanne Greeley.