Workshops

Essential elements of worship acoustic guitar playing are covered for group and vocal accompaniment. Topics include using the right chord shapes, chord harmony, creative use of capo, alternate tunings, and strumming patterns. From CCM to Gospel, know your place in the sonic spectrum and how to be most effective in your ensemble. This class is a must for the modern worship acoustic guitarist.Requirements: Bring your own guitar.

This course will discuss how to go beyond playing the skeleton bass lines and add your personalized lines. If you dreamt about playing a gospel chop bass line, this will help you to understand how to start creating one. This course also will talk about many different styles of gospel music, especially in Toronto, Canada, to prepare for your first gospel bass guitar engagement in the future! Bring yourParticipants with advanced bass guitar knowledge will benefit from this course the most. Requirements: Bring your own bass

Learn, from one of the best, the harmonizations and techniques that make a gospel song sound, well…gospel! Participants will learn how to apply ALL secondary and complex chords i.e. minor 7ths, 9ths, 13th#11ths, flat 9, diminished chords, etc, to facilitate the “gospel sound”. You’ll enjoy exploring and understanding chord structures and secondary dominants used in gospel music. Participants with advanced keyboard knowledge will get the most out of these sessions. Requirements: Bring your own headphones.

This session will provide you with tips on how to improve your role as a worship leader. Learn how to go about your preparation to lead worship and your approach to how you practice. Find your unique way to flow between songs to create a cohesive setlist.In addition, we will discuss how you can become an efficient communicator through your worship. Improve how you choose songs to improve the worship service flow and the time following the message.

JT Kim invites all bass players to this intro to Gospel Bass guitar. The intense use of the number system is one of the most fundamental things in gospel music. The participants will learn and have a chance to apply it to the music and experience how it can enhance their understanding of music. And then, participants will learn how to efficiently learn “the skeleton bass line”, the most stripped-down version of the bass line, so they can build their own personalized bass lines. Requirements: Bring your own bass

The pandemic has decimated a lot of music programmes and church worship teams. In this session, you will learn how to rebuild your team through practical examples. Explore tools you can use to build camaraderie with people who often seem to have less time and motivation to be together. Learn how to create synergy with your team/group!

Gospel musicians don't use print music, but they do communicate with each other. Have you ever heard a Musical Director (MD) shout out seemingly "random" numbers while playing--and the rest of the band knows just what to do?Musicians all over the world use what's called "The Number System" in live settings and the studio to communicate musical changes quickly. Allow Corey Butler to open this exciting performance tool with you!This 90 min workshop aims to teach you this amazing tool so you can 'Speak Musician' too!

Gospel music has a singing history, and singing is one of the most encouraging and powerful experiences that can bring us together.  Gospel choir music down through the ages has always been an exciting way to make community.  Join us in this fast-paced, participatory workshop where you will be able to interact and sing with other participants as we create ONE SOUND together, singing selected favourite songs from throughout the gospel music legacy!!! This workshop will be an incredible experience you won’t want to miss!

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Being able to play and sing week after week in a space where you are constantly learning and being mentored by others is such a gift. There are so many nuances if you are serving in music ministry. There are also unique competing responsibilities surrounding being both an ‘employee’ (often without pay) and a regularly attending church member.Pastors, music teams, congregations - how can we support our Music Leads? What are the attributes of an effective Music Leader, and what considerations, characteristics, and skill sets support a God-honouring and impactful service? Join seasoned church musicians Stephen Lewis, Cassandra Powell, Natalie Stewart, Myron Butler and moderator Karen Burke, and others as we discuss learning to ‘read the room’, setting the atmosphere, effective resources, and more! Bring your questions! Anyone who is in a music leadership position will learn from the best!

The creative process can sometimes be a challenging one, and songwriting can sometimes be frustrating and lonely. Why not try collaborative songwriting? This workshop presents an opportunity to partner with both budding and avid songwriters to create an original piece of music. In this first session, singer/songwriter Renee Rowe will challenge you to explore themes, genres, melody, lyrics, and song structure. Presented in a ‘hands-on’ format, participants will be encouraged to ask questions and take a close look at the songwriting experience.

A continuation of Collaborative Song Writing – Part A, this session will encourage songwriters to work together to put ‘meat on the bones’, and assess your lyrics and other choices to see if you can produce something you can be proud of! You can ask questions about your work, such as, “Now that we have lyrics, does it change the feel of the song?” Let Renee Rowe help to guide you through this unique songwriting experience. Upon completion, you will be a co-writer of what promises to be an amazing, inspired musical creation!

Being a choral conductor may be a lifelong desire, but more often than not, it is thrust upon you. But no matter what, you can develop the necessary skills. Musical knowledge is important but, surprisingly, not the most important because you are dealing with instruments made of ‘flesh and bones’. Participants will benefit from the 40+ years that Karen has professionally conducted both classical and gospel choirs. Discover what it takes to successfully lead a small vocal ensemble or choir and discover tips to conduct a gospel choir.

Nerves affect us all, and as a singer, you will undoubtedly be faced with how to control your nerves during a vocal performance. This workshop will equip you with practical steps you can implement to overcome nerves and mistakes that happen while singing. After attending this workshop, you will be able to deliver a song successfully while dealing with the inevitable.

Feeling like you don't know where to begin learning Gospel music on guitar? Look no further. This course takes you through the ins and outs of understanding Quartet Gospel guitar playing. It is designed to get you up to speed (literally) on the foundations of playing in this style. In this class, you will learn examples that range from single-note lines, to strumming patterns, to chordal walk-ups to help you get started playing gospel/shout music. You’ll learn the fundamentals and how to apply them to songs. Spice up your playing with essential gospel concepts. Requirements: Bring your own guitar.

Keyboardists! Always wondering why when you play a song on keys, it doesn’t sound as full as you'd like? Are you tired of clashing with the bass player in the band? Learn to play 'PHAT' chords using these essential fundamentals:- Building chords with your left hand- Chords on-top of Chords- Different types of Voicings- Building your chords using the Scales and ModesWe will take a few of our favourite songs and “Phatt’en them up! Requirements: Bring your headphones

Have you ever struggled to harmonize? Ever wondered whether your idea of harmony sounds good or not? If you’ve ever considered what goes into harmonizing, this is the session for you! We’ll give you the tools you need to understand HOW basic harmonies make sense, and you will have the opportunity to present your version.

Ever wanted to anticipate a harmony, be faster at interpreting and memorizing a melodic line, or improve your ability to 'self-correct' as a vocalist? Join this musicianship boot camp specifically for vocalists, where you’ll workshop the necessary skills to empower your vocal ability. Great vocalists can self-correct their tuning and harmonies and understand how to use their voice in partnership with the band—but it starts with good ear training techniques! Strengthen your musicianship as a vocalist and gain the transferrable skills to vocalize creatively.

Are you a performing artist who struggles with stage fright? Perhaps you’d like to improve your stage presence; have you always wished for crowd control but never knew how to command an audience? Or maybe you’re a social media personality or influencer who dreads the idea of recording videos because it means getting in front of a camera.If you can relate to any of these scenarios, Performance Mastery: 7 Ways to Wow Your Audience is for you. This workshop helps you do and be more in front of an audience, whether on stage or on camera, online or offline.Learn performance fundamentals, principles, and techniques to boost your income and gain the confidence to be in control of your performance at all times, no matter the setting.

Do you have a passion for learning the piano but don't have prior knowledge of music? Then this session is for you! Learn how easy it is to learn the piano 'by ear'.In this course, you’ll learn the key ingredient to any modern song – chords. The real secret to the piano is that ALL modern music is made from patterns called chord progressions that you can easily learn to identify. In fact, most songs only utilize 2 to 5 simple chords, and there are only a handful of patterns to choose from.This Piano Course is meant for anyone who wants to dive in and learn how to play their favourite songs without having to learn to read sheet music. If you already can read sheet music or have memorized piano pieces but would like to be able to play by ear and play a song quickly and easily, take up this course! Once you learn the secrets of chording, you'll see it's so very easy to pick up. A great veil has been lifted, and you will finally be able to see! Requirements: Please bring your own headphones

Are you looking for an opportunity to improve your vocal performance skills within a small group setting? If you answered yes, then the PowerUp Chorale is for you!This ensemble will meet multiple times during the conference. Rehearsals will address topics such as blending, diction, articulation, vocal styling, and group interaction while learning repertoire to be performed at the PowerUp Showcase and Finale Concert.It is highly recommended that participants have some previous vocal ensemble experience. There will be possible opportunities to perform solos or duets depending on the selected repertoire. A short survey is required with registration for this ensemble.NOTE: Participants must register and attend ALL THREE rehearsals for the PowerUp Chorale scheduled during the workshop weekend.

PowerUp Workshop Mass Choir! We're back! There is nothing else like singing in a gospel choir to get your toes tapping and your spirit revived! Open to all, you will be amazed how quickly you pick up the music & lyrics as we work together towards performing as a huge choir at the big finale concert on Sunday evening, Feb. 26, backed by a live rhythm section! (We are wearing ALL BLACK!).Known for her well-paced and energetic rehearsal style, Karen Burke brings her charisma and deep knowledge of gospel music to this large gospel choir setting.Special guest clinician Myron Butler's passion for gospel choirs will shine through as he teaches this large group of PowerUp registrants.No prior knowledge is required - no auditions - just come and join in on this 'whole body singing' experience. Beginning Thursday evening, Feb. 23, and moving throughout the weekend, immerse yourself in the unique experience of singing in a big gospel choir! There is nothing like it! Glory!

If you love singin’ and groovin’ to the latest gospel hits, you will want to be a part of the PowerUp Youth Choir!This exciting session involves marrying great gospel lyrics to energetic hip choreographed moves done only as young people can do, accompanied by a live rhythm section! If you have ever wanted to be part of a Gospel Youth Choir and want to ‘kick it up a notch’, this session is for you.

This interactive workshop has equal relevance to artists and those who have experienced varying levels of stress and are seeking ways to implement the practice of self-care into their daily lives. The session provides individuals with an opportunity to access and adapt strategic care practices which can optimize holistic well-being. Participants will consider the implication of negating a self-care practice and the impact of prolonged stress. They will also engage in mindfulness exercises and a discussion which sources tools to support the enhancement of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

This interactive workshop will explore self-care through improvised and choreographed movement, allowing each participant to navigate through and explore their feelings and lived experiences through the expression of movement. This workshop is an extension of the "Self Care for the Artistic Soul" lecture and is open to beginner-advanced levels. The session provides individuals with an opportunity to access and adapt strategic care practices which can optimize holistic well-being. Participants will consider the implication of negating a self-care practice and the impact of prolonged stress. They will engage in movement exercises and a discussion about which sources and tools support the enhancement of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

This workshop is for the songwriter that is passionate about the gift and the craft of songwriting. In this workshop, you will learn how to strengthen your songwriting skills and further develop your songwriter's voice. This workshop will also delve into some of the mechanics of songwriting that will increase the level of your songwriting.

Have you ever had writer’s block? Do you want to know how to overcome it? In this interactive workshop, you’ll discover unconventional methods for finding inspiration. You’ll also learn the anatomy of a chart-topping chorus (hook) and various song structures to help get your music on the radio.You’ll receive practical tools and resources to help you write lyrics, melodies, and hit songs. Whether you’re just starting or seasoned, this urban songwriting workshop is for you.Urban Gospel has recently been taking the world by storm; learn insider secrets and make great music!

A singer has countless ways in which they can “colour” a song with nuance and stylistic interpretation. This session breaks down some of the mysteries of the current Vocal Styles and provides practical tools that will allow you to express your songs with relevance and authenticity. Presented in a master class setting and using familiar songs, this workshop will greatly benefit anyone who wants to expand and improve how to deliver a song effectively.Please come prepared with a song to improvise or practice ad-libs.

This workshop will cover the basic rudiments of the steel pan, how it is played, and a brief overview of the history of the 'pan.' The pan is indigenous to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, and the history will reflect the culture that gave birth to the 'pan.' The pan will be introduced through the various 'voices' - soprano, double second, guitar, or bass. Attendees will also learn some of the different techniques used while playing and the dynamics of a group ensemble. Much of the teaching will focus on rote playing rather than reading notes - in case attendees are not fluent in sight reading. This workshop intends for everyone to have an enjoyable experience while learning some basic tunes/chords and hopefully stimulate an interest in steelpan playing.

As vocalists, we all want to strive for singing success. We want to be our best and be confident singers and performers. In this session, we will dive into some of the mechanics of singing, discuss the disciplines and practices of a smart singer, and explore ways to ensure the health and longevity of our instrument.

In this workshop you will get insight into various tools you can utilize to increase your vocal range; this workshop will help you see how increasing your vocal range is an important skill for a singer and how increasing your vocal range allows you to express yourself better and be more versatile in your singing.

This workshop will challenge you to embrace the fundamental ‘rules of harmony’ so that you can break ‘em! The key is knowing what rules to break…give your musical ear a chance to explore the possibilities of harmony in this session, where we learn by trial-and-error and gain tools you can use in your own practice or creative environment! If you also take 'Learning to Harmonize,' this workshop will be a great extension!