[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 59-03, July - September, 2005 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Becoming a music director

By Don Pyper, Ontario District Vice President Chorus Director Development

I would like to focus on the Director Of the Future (DOF)  program. If you have ever wondered where all our directors come from, be assured that they come from within our chorus membership ranks.

They are started when someone says to them, why don’t you direct the “Old Songs,” or “Keep The Whole World Singing” tonight.

It’s as simple as that. Its not important that you have a degree in music or even a lot of singing experience. You’ll know when it happens. You just enjoy the experience of helping a group of singers perform a song.  

If you are a person, or know someone who has a desire to try this, get your chapter to help send him to the DOF class at COTS on January 6 – 8, 2006, at Geneva Park in Orillia. I promise you that the experience will make a new person out of him.

The instructors, Mac Dallman and Paul Tamblyn, are very user-friendly and among the best in the business of making you feel great in your new venture. We need you to challenge yourself and become one of the directors of the best districts in the Barbershop Harmony Society.

We are also providing ongoing training to our present directors through the CDWI (Chorus Director Workshop Intensive) program. We are busy organizing  a workshop in the Ottawa area and another in the Newmarket area for the fall (date TBA). If you are a director who would like to participate, contact  Don Pyper at drpyper @ sympatico.ca .      k