Week 1

Day 1.

After the meet and greet we got straight down to work, starting with a holistic warm-up for the music / voice class. The coach explained the importance of every move, and the way the voice works within the body. We then warmed the voice up with some scales, were introduced to the international hand signs and had a talk on Kodaly.

Next we got down to the serious business of Broadway and started work on two pieces.

Time to give our voices a rest and start brushing up on our theory using the dicing with music method, which takes the mystery out of sight-reading in a fun way.

Next class and a warm-up of a different kind; “the dance class”.

Into a new hip-hop routine, time went by so fast and we burned lots of calories

Next comes the Art class.  Time to unwind, relax and learn all about colours, the groups they are divided into and how they are made. Today we got to know something of Egyptian Art and started to work on a piece while comparing it to different styles and getting to know and understand different painters. All to soon its time to go home.

Day 2.

Today we start with the dance class.  After a good warm-up we add to yesterdays work and polish the two sections. Learning about the style needed to dance hip-hop.

Music class went straight into a new Broadway piece that was voice and dance.  Yesterday was voice and drama so after getting the singing well on the way it was back to dance class to get a start on the moves. This style of show dance is so different from the hip-hop that each move, although it looked simple in reality, took hard work to capture in the right style.  We were all ready to relax and to work some more on the artwork we started yesterday.

Day 3.  

To day we started with Art, putting finishing touches to work.  Meanwhile solo voice classes took place. each of us having a session in turn. It was a great chance to improve technique and get personal advice.

Hip-hop class and some more moves, but also getting the right facial expressions and most importantly learning to hear and feel the beat from the very first beat of the music. . Everybody took a turn to watch and this was a real eye opener. When you get it right it brings the whole piece to life.

Back to music this time as a group and back in Broadway singing / drama

We ended the day looking at different mediums used by Artists and trying our hand at sculpting with clay.

Day four:

To day we started with musicianship, singing at sight and the introduction of the key board to help make us as independent as possible.  After singing at sight we then played it on the keyboard.  We worked on pitching intervals up and down the scale to help improve our ears.  Now we get to play the dicing with music game!

Dance class and we are working hard on stage performance. We are past learning the steps of this piece, it's time to really dance.  A video is made so we can see how we were getting on and judge what we need to work on to improve our style.

Broadway class: Time to start casting and to tighten up the drama and block stage moves.  Second piece is song and dance so after we have worked with the voice coach we are back dancing.

End of first week.

Week 2

Day 5:

Music class first this morning and after a warm-up we get straight to work on a new Broadway piece.  We are learning to hold a part, as we will be singing in parts in this new piece.

Hip-hop and we start another new routine and last weeks work is paying off; it comes together a lot faster as our bodies become more accustomed to dance.

Art class and today we get to choose a hand craft.  Everybody picks something different which is great as we get to see and learn much more, looking at and learning from our class mates work.

Day 6:

We get to work painting and working on our craft while solo lessons are taking place.  There's no hanging around, everybody has so much to work to do.

Next class and we add to the new routine started yesterday, and talk of safety in dance. Knees should always be aligned over foot to avoid knee strain.

Music class and we work on sight reading and singing at sight. We are divided into three groups and start reading and singing in parts. It sounds good when at last we get it right.  Voice technique is worked on next, before we know it its time to go home.

Day 7:

We start with singing this morning, taking up where we left off yesterday.  After some ear tuning we start work on drama, learning stage craft and using some props to bring the piece to life.

Dance Class: Last steps add to new routine.  We refresh and polish our other routines.  In Art we each make a colour wheel.   We learned about the American painter Jackson Pollock and studied some of his work and then set to work to produce a piece in his style.

Day 8:

This morning we started with dance and polished all the routines, then everybody was asked to make up steps to fill eight bars.  We split into two teams.  Not as easy as it sounds but we got there in the end.  A video was made so we could see the finished dances.

Music theory we worked with whacko sticks and played scales and some tunes for fun.  Then we learned a two-part song.  Working on Broadway songs in-group and some solo work to improve technique.

End of week two.

Week 3

Day 9:

We started to day with still-life drawing.  Next dance class, and after a warm-up we refreshed the work of the past two weeks.  Then on to start a new hip-hop routine.  We ended the day with a Broadway class and went over the new pieces for this week, both the vocal and drama; giving us lots to choose from for the solo work that we will start tomorrow.

Day 10:

Today we start with Art, and start on a new project.  At the same time solo work in both voice and drama take place.  Everybody is getting a chance to slip out of the Art to work into a private session, keeping everybody busy all the time.  We finished the day with a good dance session, revising and adding new steps.

Day 11:

We started revising all our dances and then we started a new dance from a Broadway show.  The rest of the day was spent between solo lessons in music and drama, and new Art projects.

Day 12:

Today we started with music class and learned a West Indian song, which we sung in rounds.  Then more solo work/Art running at the same time.  We ended the day working on our dance Routines.

End of week three.  

Week 4

Day 13:  

We started with music and drama, going through the work of the past three weeks.  In art we turned to Australia and worked in the Aborigine style.

In dance we spent time tightening up our spins and turns, going through all the routines we have learned .

Day 14:

We start with dance today, learn a new Latin dance and run through other dances.

Music and drama /Art; everyone getting time to work one to one with coaches.

Spending time finishing and sorting out our Art work for display.  Working on name plates for our displays. Going through a run of the last day showcase.

Day 15:

Today our first class is performance technique as we get ready for our last day tomorrow.  Everyone is encouraged to perform tomorrow but only if they wish to do so.  Dicing with music is not about putting on a show, but bringing out the best from each student and hopefully giving the student the hunger to want to learn more, in what ever field they choose: Art, Dance, Drama, Music and Voice.

Dance is next! Everyone has the steps off by now, it's time to add some flare.  Art, Music and Drama next, giving everybody a chance to work one to one with coaches.  Everybody chooses what they want to perform tomorrow.

Day 16:

Last day we start with solo work and Art, then putting the last touches to the dances.  The running order for the showcase is put up and we do a full run through.  The parents and friends arrive at three.  The showcase starts; the students have prepared an Art exhibition and 11 Acts the makings of a good show!