Kudowa 2007 - Reports
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Poland:
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by Airi Tokola und Saara Kiiveri
EVTA is the umbrella organisation of the European voice pedagogues. An international voice pedagogical week was arranged in Kudowa, Poland, on Sept 16 - 23, 2007 as a pilot project. There were participants from twelve European countries. The principal lecturer of voice of the Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Airi Tokola, and her student, Saara Kiiveri, participated as the Finnish delegation. There were teachers and students from schools representing various levels, ranging from music schools for children up to music academies. The ages of the students differed from 16 to 28 years.
The aim of the project is to promote the exchange possibilities between professors and students from various countries and to offer pedagogical education for the teachers. Another aim of EVTA is to offer more and more concentrated events to its national members; this week served as a first test. The encouragment and broadening of conversation concerning vocal pedagogy in general and eschange of experiences across national border lines were also important goals.
The president of EVTA, Prof. Norma Enns from Hannover, Germany, served as the project leader. She had, in co-operation with her international team, organised the content and the scheduling of the week very well. There was a multitude of activities for the whole week, and in addition to the pedagogical content, there were cultural excursions included, for example to the mountains nearby; there were also a lot of concerts and performing opportunities, very beneficiary for the students.
In the beginning of the course we were working with Prof. Elisabeth Bengtson-Opitz in the group, where each teacher was teaching another colleague’s student in front of the whole rest of the group. It was a highly interesting an experience for everybody present. Different methods of teaching provoked some intense conversation within the group; the idea of “team teaching” didn’t prove to be entirely successful due to the heterogeneous character of the participants in the group.
Later in the week we were working with Prof. Gerhard Faulstich; in his group a teacher was teaching his/her own student while the rest of the group observed the situation. An evaluative conversation was followed, for example on the subject of the teacher’s physically touching the student and how this is regarded and reacted to in different countries and different pedagogical cultures. The result of the conversation was that the cultural differences and the sensitivity of the various kinds of students need to be seriously taken into consideration when approaching new students.
The traditional master-apprentice method was represented by Prof. Helga Meyer-Wagner. It was extremely interesting to see how much an experienced opera singer had to give to the student in a teaching situation, in which the principle “learning to sing by singing” really came true.
A project of this magnitude required a lot of workby executive members and persons from Kudowa making the arrangements and the applications for the EU grant. It was fantastic that it was possible to obtain EU-based financial support for this project, which meant among other things that the expensive two-way flights between Oulu and Prague were fully covered. That made it possible for us from the Nordic countries to participate in this project in the first place. Lots of thanks to the EU!
We would like to express our gratitude to all the people in charge of arranging this event, as well as to all other participating teachers and students; we found it extremely valuable to get outstanding pedagogical help and gain new friends and colleagues from all around Europe. We warmly support the further organisation of such events in the future.
Airi Tokola, Principal Lecturer of Voice, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Saara Kiiveri, Voice Student, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Finland
by Eugeniusz Sasiadek, President PSPS, Poland
The invitation to the Vocal Pedagogy Week in Kudowa Zdrój, that was organized by the European Voice Teacher Association, was extended by Maria Czechowska-Królicka who is a member of the EVTA Executive and the Polish PSPŚ. In my opinion the idea of the Project was very useful for all of us and I would like to thank Mrs. Czechowska and congratulate on her active work.
I would also like to congratulate the EVTA management and the President – Norma Enns for the realization of the Project in Poland.
I have two big impressions connected with the Vocal Pedagogy Week. The first on is regret that so few teachers from Poland were interested in taking part in the Project. As hosts we could have invited more Polish teachers, but in spite of Mrs. Czechowska’s and my efforts, there was a small group of 5 Polish teachers. The Week was a great possibility to enrich vocal knowledge and make wonderful friends.
My second reflection refers to the language of communication on classes. I have noticed that today the main language of communication within an international group is English not Italian, which has been very popular among vocalists for many years. I would like to encourage Polish teachers to learn English as the language of the contemporary vocal art.
by MARIA CZECHOWSKA-KRÓLICKA, Boardmember PSPS and EVTA
From the 15th to 23rd of September 2007 the EVTA organized the Vocal Pedagogy Week in Kudowa Zdrój in Poland. Teachers – all members of the EVTA - and their students were invited to participate in the project. The idea to invite the project to Poland came initially during executive meeting in Wrocław in autumn 2005, when we discussed organizing vocal workshops for all member countries of the EVTA. Thanks to the President of the EVTA, we did not need to wait for the Vocal Pedagogy Week very long. Every member of the executive was given responsibilities. My job was to prepare the list of songs in Polish and German together with Helga Meyer-Wagner.
The Vocal Pedagogy Week was planned in all details very well. All the groundwork was led by Norma Enns. As the Polish coordinator of the project, I was responsible for phonetics of the Polish songs. In July 2007 grants from the European Union. were approved. Wojciech Helinski from Glaciensis Foundation from Kudowa was the local organizational coordinator.
Although the Vocal Pedagogy Week was concentrated on singing and vocal pedagogy, there were also movement classes taught by professional dancers specialized in renaissance dances - Wojciech Badziak and Agnieszka Kadłubowska, and local actors from Polanica Zdrój – Joanna and Marek Mazuriewicz.
Besides actors and
dancers there were pianists who were helping the teachers on classes: Katarzyna Makowska, Ella Susanek and Janusz Dąbrowski. We were impressed by
their professionalism and knowledge of the music literature.
Communication in the classes was supported by two translators: Joanna Polak
(English) and Agnieszka Syrek (German). Polish teachers were responsible for
teaching the Polish songs with foreign students.
There was also opportunity to see the city of Kudowa Zdrój and the surrounding country. Everyone visited a local folk museum with an old windmill, the Błedne Rocks and the town of Wambierzyce. On the trip to Pstrążna participants visited and listened to a short concert in the protestant church situated in the mountains. They could also see old domestic objects for spinning and try a fresh trout served at supper restaurant at the fishponds.
Fortunately, the weather during the week was sunny and the atmosphere among participants was getting more and more friendly every day. The week of hard work was finished with a final concert, which took place at the City Theatre of Kudowa Zdrój. On the concert all the student participant presented one song that they had been working on during the week. The final piece (Scenes from Faust by Schubert and Przasniczka by Moniuszko were performed by all participant and a local choir STA ALLEGRO whose conductor and director is Przemysław Kuklis. After the concert all participants received certificates from the EVTA President Norma Enns.
I am sure that this first Vocal Pedagogy Week in Kudowa was a great opportunity to meet wonderful teachers and to observe interesting teaching methods, ways of performing and singing techniques. I think it was a very rich experience for all of us and there is no doubt that it is worth continuing in future.
We would like to thank Wojciech Helinski for his hard work and Professor Eugeniusz Sasiadek for his support, also thank you to the Kongres Zentrum and Mr. Dariusz Kobol from Kudowa for lending instruments.
Comments from one of the accompanists
by KATARZYNA MAKOWSKA, pianist
It was a very interesting experience for me to take part in the Vocal Pedagogy Week in Kudowa in September, to meet so many wonderful people: teachers, students, singers. I learned one important thing during the workshops: there are a lot of the methods of teaching, a lot of kinds of voices and individualities, but the result is one: artistic expression and musical truth.
Greetings and best wishes
Before and after:
Anticipating Kudowa:
by Georges Regner
Originally I hadn’t considered participating in the vocal pedagogy week – I am eight years away from retirement and my studetns are all under 17 years of age (except for my daughter, who cannot take time off from work). In addition, I began building my studio in Olten just three years ago, so no one has had more than three years of lessons. However, there was no one else from EVTA:CH who was able – or willing to go…
Travel: Saturday, September 15 – easyjet cancelled the flight for Saturday – my student, Marion will need to fly on Friday. I can arrange for my Swiss colleague, Nora Tiedcke, who is attending the council meeting, to fly with her on Friday. Marion’s school is prepared to extend her permission to Friday (the principal is proud of the fact that one of his students will be able to participate in the week!) At 16 and with only two years of lessons, she will be the youngest participant. She is very intelligent and oen-minded, so it should be no problem.
Working languages: Polish, German, English – Marion’s father speaks Polish – a bit of good luck!
Morning programme:
- Movement class: that’s something for me – I’ve been negligent in that area lately!
- Morning pedagogy class (vocal technique)
The aim of Swiss music schools is not necessarly to produce professional singers for a career, but rather to promote general interest in making music (as an amatuer). Marion is an average student in this context. How wil she stand up to students who have had different training? For her own selections, she has chosen both popular an classical pieces.
Afternoon Programme:
Artistic theme and concert repertoire
- Marion will prepare the required song with her father,she will learn the music using a CD.
- Concert repertoire: There is a list of songs that includes songs on the themes of spinning, fishing, water, texts from Goethe’s Faust in German an Polish.
Marion has prepared the two „Mädchenlieder” by Brahms. She sings them with clean tone and good intonation, but still somewhat tentatively!
Participants’ Fee
- The city of Olten has agreed to contribute to financing – I just need to put in an application.
I am very happy that Marion, her parents, her school and the music school are so positiv about this project. She agreed immediately, her parents agreed, having assured themselves that shewas excited about it herself) –at her school, where she will miss more than a week of classes, her principal and vice-principal agreed immediately – and last of all, my own superiors at my music schools and in the city council gave a green light. We are all very curious to see how the week will go.
Olten, July 2007
Olten citizens participate in the first European Vocal Pedagogy Week
by Georges Regner
Written for the „Journal EVTA.CH Nr 6 (Mars 2008). Extract published in the „Neue Oltner Zeitung” No 47 (21.11.07) and in the „Schweizer Musikzeitung” (Dec. 07)
It was not only an honour, but also a major challenge to which the president of the European Voice Teachers Association (EVTA) had extended the invitation. Switzerland was the only country that sent a school student age 16. All other countries were represented by potential, beginning or advanced students preparing for a professional career – with the exception of Italy, which sent a pop singer, who wanted to learn about classical singing.
Most participants arrived on Friday – many of the teachers had also been sent by their national organisations as delegates to the EVTA council meeting on Saturday, September 15. The students had an extra day to get acquainted. Rehearsals were planned for Sunday morning in preparation for a Get-Acquainted Concert under the Motto, Mi chiamono….”
Different levels and different expectations
Poland presented its best sutdents in a first concert. There were those, who were ready to debut at a small theatre. The representatives from Latvia, Sweden and Holland showed excellent skills. Paolo Guerrini from Italy quickly won the hearts of the audience with his interpretation of a pop song. Marion Uebelhart from Olten convined the audience with „I am his Child“ by Moses Hogan. The teachers who participated in the project were not sure whether the differences in levels of training and and styles would be helpful or a hindrance. The initiators had considered it important to represent the work of 80% of teachers of singing. In Switzerland, Germany and Austria less than 20% of singing students are oriented to strictly classical music and professional singing.
Work begins – and the first conflicts
Our serious work started on Monday: movement class at 8:30 in the theatre; 10:00 the pedagogy programme, 13:00 lunch, 15:00 Master Classes; 16:30 Coffee break; 17:00 Language Coaching und individual lessons; 18:30 supper and after that the eveing programme.
For the pedagogy programme, the students and their teachers were divided into three groups; each group worked with each master teacher for two days. Marion Uebelhart and her teacher, Georges Regner began the wekek in Elisabeth Bengtson-Optiz’ group with the motto „Team teaching”. The concept was open to various interpretations. The fact that each teacher has his/her own opinion on teaching, on the student and on what should be worked at first and how to do it, led to initial confusion, disappointment and crises. The students were asked about their reasons for singing, but their answers were not always taken into consideration by colleagues. Two days later, we experienced a similar situation when we moved to Gerhard Faulstisch’s class on „Pedagogical Analysis”. Most university teachers seem to take posture, breathing, tonal onset and articulation into consideration (as if the students are objects to be taught). The tip to observe the interaction between teacher and student, to note the communication, etc. was often ignored!
…and the atmosphere was good anyway!
Almost all the students made very good progress during the week. The relationships betwent them were open, honest and warm. They helped each other, not only with language coaching, but also with technical insecurity oder misunderstandings, crises and doubts. They took the partially uncomfortable conditions and changes in programme in their stride. Their criticism was well-founded. They wished, for example, that the movement class be moved ahead so that they could shower and have breakfast afterwards. Unfortunately, this could not be changed. The „easy walk” through rock formations, which was organised by the Polish hosts, was actually challenging for many participants but also very impressive and contributed to the good atmosphere. The singing at the trout-beer-and-vodka supper was also contagious. One could have been upset about the poor condition of the pianos, but the excellent pianists were able to make us forget it!
Meals and accomodation – the weak points
Restaurant prices are fortunately very low, since the planned meals in Hotel Polonia were not exactly the best quality. In the „Residenz” the morning and evening buffet was exactly the same (including cornfalkes in the evening!). The students were in a kind of yoth hostel – luckily in the newer part…until they were sudeddenly informed on Saturday morning, that they needed to move into unrenovated rooms for the last night. That was too much for even the steel nerves of the organiser and EVTA President!
Good concerts and loving students
For Marion, who had sung a solo in public only once efore the week, the three concerts during the week were a real challenge. Unfortunately, they were in the theatre, which has also nto yet been renovated (it had been planned to have at least one concert in the very attractive Café Sissi). All participants made excellent progress during the course of the week. All of the teachers and the three senior teachers: Elisabeth Bengtson-Opitz, Helga Meyer-Wagner and Gerhard Faulstich who were involved deserve a big „Thank you!” for their energetic work. The tireless, always friendly and diplomatic presence of the person mainly responsible for the project, was exceptional. Norma Enns was the heart of this first vocal pedagogy week. Significant was also the willingness to help each other, the friendships and very collegial behaviour of the students, that helpd make the week a success. Their openness and curiosity, sensetiveness and charisma contributed to the success of this experimental week. It will be worth the effort of reviewing the concept and changing organisational details for a repetition somewhere else.
The canton school and the city of Olten were helpful in every possible way, in making it possible for Marion Uebelhardt and Georges Regner to participate in this first European Vocal Pedagogy Week. We would like to express our appreciation to them.
The student’s viewpoint
by Marion Uebelhart
Along with the usual baggage and my music, I took a lot of apprehension along on this trip. I was afraid to sing in front of an audience, afraid of the level of the other students, and yet, at the same time, I was fiull of anticipation. I was curious about the other students from all over Europe, some of whom had taken a very long journey in order to participate in this week.
After the first concert, many of my fears were replaced by joy. I knew that I could expect an interesting and productive week, even if it would be tiring. I was especially surprised by the other students who were open and friendly without exception.
On Monday morning we delved into the work at hand, and, as I ran into the first problems, my fear and trepidation came back. Fortunately everyone was very understanding sinde I was the youngest student, so I tooke a short break. The atmosphere was generally very relaxed and open, maybe partly due to the spontaneous organisation as well. In the end, I decided to collect as many helpful hints and tricks as possible and went back to work. Then I made rapid progress and I had more fun singing than I had ever had before. There was more information than I could absorb and I learned a breat deal in a very short time. I was able to profit from the professional knowledge of all the teachers and found the different methods very interesting. But the students also taught me a great deal, as I observed how they practised. We had several concerts to sing, so that my nervousness almost completely disappeared by the end of the week.
I took many valuable tips, first experience with the stage, very diverse experiences, a much wider spectrum of repertoire and new friends home with me.
I would like to thank all those, who made it possible for me to take part in this interesting and profitable week.
Marion Uebelhart