Hava Nashira May 28 - June 1,
2014
This year marks the start of my
20th year as Songleader for Congregation Etz Chaim. This was also my
20th year attending Hava Nashira, the annual song leading and music
conference held at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc
Created by Debbie Friedman z"l
and Cantor Jeff Klepper among others, Hava Nashira provides the opportunity to
improve your skills as you learn from the finest Jewish music innovators and
composers.
This year’s faculty included Cantor
Jeff Klepper, Ellen Allard, Merri Lovinger Arian, Cantor Rosalie Boxt, Rabbi
Ken Chasen, Cantor Ellen Dreskin, Alan Goodis, Billy Jonas, Shira Kline, Josh
Nelson, Dan Nichols, Craig Taubman, and Noah Aronson.
We learn the latest new Jewish
music from our faculty, have opportunities to attend varying styles of worship
services morning and evening each day, and also have the opportunity to share
our own music with each other during the week at open mic and sharing sessions.
The workshops offered during
this amazing week cover every possible aspect of Jewish music and all that
performing this avodah (sacred work)
entails. These are the descriptions of the sessions I chose to attend this
year.
Thursday Intensive
The “Songleaders Track”
Faculty: Dan Nichols
Ever wonder what the URJ and
Ramah song leaders are doing in their track? Now's your chance to get an inside
look and take home the techniques, the programs and the repertoire that the URJ
and Camp Ramah Songleaders are raving about.
Friday Intensive
Singing, Strategizing, and Selecting Worship Melodies to Make
Faculty: Merri Lovinger Arian
We will sing through multiple
settings of familiar and not so familiar Shabbat liturgy, with the goal of
making these prayer moments soar. Which readings would partner effectively with
which musical settings, and how might we think creatively about effective ways
to “perform” these melodies?
Elective A
The Other Ten Months: Bringing “Camp” Music Back to Our Communities
Faculty: Noah Aronson and Alan
Goodis
We've all heard it. Some of us
have probably said it. How can we use the music of camp in our home community?
Two months of the year are spent in the bliss and warmth of the summer months.
But what do we do for the other ten months? How do those of us who are
synagogue musicians during the year take the repertoire and skills gained from
camp experience and successfully bring them into the synagogue setting? Alan
and Noah will share a repertoire of camp tested songs and skills that translate
well in congregational worship and school settings. Some songs will be new,
some songs you may already know and some you may have completely forgotten
about. Songleaders, Synagogue musicians and clergy will all work together to
sing through the repertoire and develop a use and application guide to connect
the music our young people learn at camp to your synagogues.
Elective B
Whole-body Teaching and Learning: Creating an Instant Choir
Faculty: Judith Silver (British
harmony singing teacher)
Through the medium of teaching
some of her own songs – rounds and harmony pieces – Judith will cover a set of
her most useful ways of helping a group grasp a song with gusto and confidence
without the aid of a safety net (or sheet music!). Some of the techniques can be
used in teaching during worship, others perhaps not… All are fun and may help
you as well as your students/choirs/congregants to pick melodies and harmonies
up by ear more easily. Repertoire/Technique
Elective C
Playing with Others
Faculty: Noah Aronson
As song leaders, music teachers
and prayer leaders, we're constantly put in situations to lead bands and work
with other musicians. This course will teach you the language of how to
communicate your needs to other musicians by showing you how to create quick
and effective band charts and lead sheets. This will help you build confidence
when working with other musicians and will get you started on creating great
musical moments in your communities.
Once again I return from this
experience with renewed energy and dedication to, as I learned in one session,
“engage, elevate and enhance” through my musical leadership. I look forward to
sharing and singing with you in the year ahead.