A live online summer intensive for choir directors and music educators who want practical strategies for stronger rehearsals, more independent singers, and more musical ensembles.
The Independent Choir Intensive
Do your singers rely heavily on the piano?
Do rehearsals sometimes feel repetitive without leading to lasting improvement?
Are you looking for practical ways to improve ensemble sound, student independence, musicianship, and rehearsal flow?
The Independent Choir Intensive is a live online professional development experience designed for choir directors, vocal music teachers, and music educators who want classroom-ready strategies they can use immediately.
Over four live sessions, we’ll explore vocal pedagogy, musicianship, rehearsal technique, ensemble independence, and practical systems for building stronger choirs.
This intensive is not just about “fixing notes.” It is about helping singers listen actively, understand music more deeply, and contribute more confidently within the ensemble.
Founding Cohort Registration: $197 USD / $275 CAD
Dates: June 30, July 2, July 7, and July 9
Time: 10:00am–12:00pm Toronto time
Format: Live online sessions
Total Instruction Time: 8 hours
Includes: replay access, downloadable resources, handouts, rehearsal tools, templates, and live Q&A
Online Choir Teacher Professional Development Designed for Real Classrooms
This intensive is designed for real choir classrooms and real rehearsal challenges.
The focus is practical, not overly academic. Participants will leave with immediately usable rehearsal strategies, vocal pedagogy tools, musicianship routines, planning templates, and systems for building stronger, more independent singers.
Whether you direct a developing ensemble, teach mixed-level singers, or want more efficient rehearsals, this intensive will help you strengthen your choir program with practical tools you can actually use.
What You’ll Learn
Session 1 — Why Choirs Become Dependent and How to Fix It
Learn how common rehearsal habits can unintentionally create passive singers, and explore practical ways to develop more independent musicians.
Topics include:
• reducing piano dependence
• building rhythmic independence
• integrating musicianship into rehearsals
• practical sight-singing approaches
• helping students audiate instead of imitate
• developing stronger musical awareness in ensembles
Session 2 — Vocal Pedagogy for the Choral Classroom
Explore healthy, efficient ensemble singing in a practical, classroom-friendly way.
Topics include:
• blend and ensemble tone
• vowel alignment and resonance
• improving intonation
• straight tone vs. natural vibrato
• breath energy and healthy singing
• working with changing voices
• warm-ups with clear pedagogical purpose
Session 3 — Rehearsal Techniques That Actually Work
Discover rehearsal strategies that improve pacing, efficiency, engagement, and musical results.
Topics include:
• rehearsal structure and pacing
• diagnosing problems quickly
• purposeful repetition
• maintaining student engagement
• section rehearsal strategies
• rehearsal troubleshooting
• classroom management within ensemble settings
Session 4 — Building a Strong Choir Program
Bring everything together through long-term planning, routines, leadership, and sustainable ensemble culture.
Topics include:
• creating consistent rehearsal systems
• building long-term musicianship growth
• student leadership and ownership
• concert preparation strategies
• balancing excellence with enjoyment
• building a healthy ensemble culture
• avoiding teacher burnout
The final portion of this session will include live Q&A and participant troubleshooting.
Who This Intensive Is For
This intensive is designed for:
• secondary choir directors
• vocal music teachers
• classroom music teachers
• developing choir programs
• mixed-level ensembles
• music educators who want practical, immediately usable strategies
Whether you are newer to choir teaching or an experienced educator looking to refresh your approach, this intensive will give you tools you can begin using right away.
You’ll Walk Away With
By the end of the intensive, you’ll have:
• practical rehearsal strategies
• purposeful warm-up ideas
• musicianship routines and exercises
• tools for improving blend, tone, and intonation
• strategies for reducing piano dependence
• rehearsal planning templates
• ensemble troubleshooting ideas
• a clearer framework for building independent singers
Included With Your Registration
All registered participants will receive access to the live online sessions, replay recordings, downloadable handouts, and a curated choir resource bundle designed to support the work we do during the intensive.
Included Resource Bundle — Over $150 USD Value
Your registration includes a collection of choir and musicianship resources that connect directly to the strategies explored in the sessions.
Included resources:
- Musicianship Lessons 1–3 Bundle
- Solfege Canons Resource
- Vocal Workout Bundle
- Choir Warm-Up Assignment
- Ensemble Identity Statement Activity
- Year of Parent Letters
- Choir Organization Bundle
- SAB Carols Resource
These resources are designed to help you move beyond ideas and begin implementing practical systems, musicianship routines, and rehearsal strategies in your own choir program.
Optional Personalized Support
Participants will also have the option to send in a short video clip or specific choir/rehearsal question ahead of time.
This could include:
- a tuning or intonation issue
- a sight-singing or rhythm-reading challeng
- vowel, blend, or tone concerns
- rehearsal pacing struggles
- student independence issues
- a question about building musicianship into rehearsal
Selected examples may be addressed anonymously during the intensive as part of our practical troubleshooting and Q&A.
This is completely optional, but it allows the intensive to respond to real challenges participants are facing in their own choir rooms.
About the Instructor
I’m Shana Swain — a secondary music educator, vocalist, pianist, collaborative musician, and curriculum creator.
My teaching background includes choir, vocal music, piano, music theory, musicianship, and classroom music in both classroom and private teaching settings.
I’m passionate about helping students become well-rounded musicians — not simply singers who memorize notes, but musicians who can listen, read, respond, and sing with confidence and understanding.
Registration
Join the founding cohort of The Independent Choir Intensive.
This first live offering will be intentionally limited to allow room for interaction, questions, discussion, and practical application.
Registration Fee: $197 USD / $275 CAD
Your registration includes:
• four live online sessions
• replay access
• downloadable handouts
• practical rehearsal tools and templates
• live Q&A opportunities
• curated choir resource bundle valued at over $150 USD
After completing your registration, you will receive confirmation and additional details. The meeting link and resource bundle will be sent before the intensive begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will sessions be recorded?
Yes. Replay access will be available for registered participants.
Do I need to attend live?
Live attendance is encouraged so you can participate in discussion and ask questions, but replays will be provided.
Is this only for experienced choir directors?
No. The intensive is designed to support both newer and experienced music educators.
Is this only focused on vocal technique?
No. Vocal pedagogy is one component, but the larger focus is building stronger, more independent, and more musical ensembles.
Is this practical or theory-heavy?
This intensive is highly practical and classroom-focused. The goal is to provide strategies and tools you can immediately apply in rehearsals.
Looking for Something More Personal?
If you’re looking for individualized support as a singer, musician, or music student, you can also explore my Personalized Music Coaching options.
Private coaching may include support with:
• vocal technique
• musicianship
• piano
• performance preparation
• confidence and musical growth
• audition or repertoire support
Looking for Ready-to-Use Choir Resources?
You can also browse my choir resources on Teachers Pay Teachers for classroom-ready activities, assignments, and music education materials.
Lessons With Shana on Teachers Pay Teachers
