Program and Information
Introducing the 2025 Harmony Academy program!
*Please note that the 2025 Harmony Academy will not be inclusive of accommodation & meals. More information about discounted accommodation options can be found here.
This program is a draft, and is subject to change. Check back regularly for updates
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT HARMONY ACADEMY – PLEASE READ!
Every delegate at HA will be assigned to a chorus as part of our learning. These choruses will be singing songs from our upcoming NEW releases in our NEW AUSTRALIAN SONGBOOK 2.0! These songs will be part of our Tuesday night concert featuring our featured International guest quartet, First Take!Because of the space considerations this year, we are offering a Quartet Stream, Arranging Stream, Music Education Stream, General Stream, and a Leadership Stream.
Unfortunately, our Directing Stream won’t be able to be accommodated this year. It will be a priority for our next Harmony Academy, however!
For those in the Arranging Stream - (Beginning, Intermediate/Advanced) - YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN ARRANGING SOFTWARE AND COMPUTER!
Here is how to self-select for your arranging level:
- Beginning - Some music theory knowledge, but just want to learn how to do the basics of arranging
- Intermediate/Advanced - You have some existing arrangements but want to understand how to improve your skills, followed by working on the nuanced elements of arranging to bring more creativity and understanding to your arrangements
- Note: due to unforseen circumstances, the Intermediate and Advanced Arranging streams have been combined for 2025.
Music Education - Learn more about the ins-and-outs of the theory behind the music we make!
Quartet - For existing quartets - quartets will have a variety of coaching opportunities from top international coaches, a variety of classes focused on quartet learning, and will serve as section leaders in our three ensembles.
General - A diverse selection of classes to appeal to just about anyone!
Class Blurbs:
Primal Performance - From Monkeys to Music - Mike Kelly
Darwin theorized that humans have 7 core emotional expressions we use to communicate. Mike will show you what our body, faces, and eyes do to communicate these emotions and how to use this knowledge to craft meaningful performances. Bring your smart phone - we are going to be taking lots of selfies!
Vocal Pedagogy - Dr. Jay Butterfield
Explore how the voice is constructed, how it works, and what we do as singers to maximise its qualities to create music! Jay will walk you through an amazing discovery of the human voice!
Care of the Senior Voice - Dr. Jay Butterfield
Is your voice not doing what it used to be able to do? Dr. Jay Butterfield will explain how the voice changes as we age and what we can do to care for our voices and minimise the negative effects of an aging voice.
Vocal Techniques - Vicki Dwyer
Learn how the voice works, how to train the voice to do what you want it to do, and many techniques to maximise resonance, efficiency, and musicality. Vicki's proven approaches are not to be missed!
Musical Interpretation - Ian Mulholland
What makes a piece of music enjoyable, interesting, moving, and entertaining? Let Ian Mulholland guide you through interpreting a song through a variety of ways to unlock the essence of the music and provide a richness of understanding and a wealth of performance and music opportunities.
Breathing Techniques for Stage Fright and Performance Anxiety - Alice Reid
Deep dive with Alice Reid, who will explore with you how breathing works in the body while singing. Then, discover how a variety of techniques will assist you in combatting stage fright and performance anxiety.
Anxiety Management - Abbey Lawless
Explore a variety of techniques to combat stage fright and other performance and music related anxiety with Abbey Lawless.
Tips and Tricks on How to Start and Run a Successful Quartet - Angus Edwards
There is much more to quartetting than singing with three other people! Angus will take you on an exploration of ways to set up and operate as a successful quartet.
How to use Meta Business Suite (FB & Insta) - Ky McIntosh
Do you find managing both Facebook and Instagram accounts a slog? Accidentally opened Business Suite once and closed it out of fear? Ky will show you the basics of how to use this powerful tool to cross-post, schedule, and more!
How to Dress a Chorus Cohesively Without a Uniform - Ky McIntosh
Want to know how to dress a chorus in a way that looks uniform, without requiring actual uniforms that don't suit every body type? Learn how to play with one changeable element (colour, texture, shape) and write a cohesive chorus style guide!
How to Build a Brand Identity - Ky McIntosh
How do you make your quartet or chorus stand out from all the others? Ky will show you how to discover and market your group's public identity through understanding what your core values are and how to promote them in ways that develop your identity.
Putting on a show? Learn how to do this like the pros by understanding the ins, outs, and roundabouts so when the lights come on, your production will be a grand success!
Grant Writing - Paul Adams & Dan Millgate
Unlock the gate to funding for your organisation through grant writing. Learn from Paul and Dan how to organise and write grants that are fit for purpose and effective so that your chances of winning grants are much higher.
Values, Purpose, Vision, and Mission - Defining and Developing Each for Harmony - Paul Adams & Dan Millgate
Let Paul and Dan guide you through defining and developing stated goals specifically for your BHA club. What are things that have been proven to work, and what are some things to avoid?
Defining and Developing Culture in Any Organisation - Paul Adams & Dan Millgate
'It's not a matter of life and death. It's more important than that...' Let Dan and Paul help you take what we do in barbershop and apply it to real life - and vise versa! Explore what culture is, how to define the culture of your club, work, or other group, and how to develop these into positive, successful outcomes.
Unlocking the Secrets of Highly Successful Music Teams - Dr. Jay Butterfield
Jay will share some of the experiences of developing the Parkside Harmony music team, as well as interactions with the music team of the Vocal Majority and other high-performing ensembles. He will also provide key skills that he has developed over decades of musical and administrative leadership.
Unlocking Club Potential - Richard Reeve
Every club is different and Richard Reeve will help you discover what makes your club tick and how to maximise its potential to achive your club's goals.
How to be a Great Tenor/Lead/Baritone/Base - First Take
Learn the skills, practices, and secrets to being a great barbershop singer in your voice part. Each of the members of First Take will share their experiences and practices with you in individual sessions throughout Harmony Academy.
Coaching Under Glass - First Take & BHS Judges
For our quartet stream delegates - get coached in front of an audience by the members of First Take and our BHS judges for insightful and helpful tools. Great learning for the audience, too!
Directing and Conducting - Dr. Jay Butterfield
Learn some basic and intermediate skills in directing and conducting. What's the difference? Why is this important? Explore how to make the person out front effective and artistic with Dr. Jay Butterfield.
Beginning Arranging - Emily Moriarty
For beginning arrangers - discover many tools to help you in your arranging journey. From selecting music, understanding ranges, and creating embellishments, Emily will guide you toward understanding the building blocks of great arranging. You might or might have a little or no arranging experience.
Intermediate/Advanced Arranging - Ian Mulholland
For arrangers who are looking for skills to improve their knowledge and understanding and develop some of the top skills for arranging. You might have some arrangements already, so this will help you develop your toolbelt! Ian will guide you through the processes that will help you enhance your existing arranging skills.
