Developing Collective Vocal Improv
At Labo Diva in Nantes (44)
with Line Tafomat
This training is designed for singers, musicians, choir directors, music teachers, music instructors/educators/facilitators, and performing artists who wish to explore or deepen their practice of circlesongs and co-improvisation, as well as the conducting of vocal groups in improvisation.
Designed in three complementary but independent modules, it explores the structure of circlesongs, collective playing, listening, spontaneity and the guidance tools for supervising collective vocal improvisation.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
- Deepen the practice of circlesongs, as a leader and chorister
- Explore the dynamics of co-improvisation and instantaneous musical interaction.
- Develop/refine the basic skills of leading and facilitating a vocal improvisation group.
- Strengthen listening, adaptability and creativity in a collective context.
- Understand the pedagogical tools that enable the structuring of vocal improvisation in real time.
TARGETED SKILLS
- Participate actively and with ease in a collective vocal improvisation.
- Integrate the main structural elements of a circlesong and/or co-impro
- Create and enrich coherent vocal motifs, in rhythm and harmony.
- Develop a vocabulary of improvisation to interact with other singers.
- Understand and use principles of conduct to guide a vocal group without freezing the improvisation.
- Experiment with different approaches to musical leadership, from letting go to active structuring.
DATES :
- 25-28 September 2025 (Thursday to Sunday) : Module 1 - CIRCLESONGS
- 30 Oct - 2 Nov 2025 (Thursday to Sunday) : Module 2 - CO-IMPROVISATION
- 11-14 Dec 2025 (Thursday to Sunday) : Module 3- CONDUCTING AND FLOW
IMPORTANT
Individual work is an integral part of the training. To ensure that the training is not purely theoretical, trainees undertake to create practice groups to practise and integrate the concepts covered throughout the training, between each session. If necessary, we will help you to create a practice group near you.
Line Tafomat is a vocalist, facilitator and educator, with a passion for a capella singing, groove, collective musical practice, vocal improvisation and teaching.
Eclectic, globetrotting and grounded, she has embodied an organic approach to music through collaborations with a wide range of artists on a national and international scale. She has also learnt from inspirational teaching artists, including Bobby McFerrin, Allan Wright, Mauricio Sprovieri, Musica do Circulo, Leela Petronio and Laurent Kraif.
In France, Europe, La Réunion and Brazil, she trains trainers and works with musicians and non-musicians, both amateurs and professionals of all levels.
Line has been awarded the PFI certification ‘Encadrer les pratiques vocales collectives en musiques actuelles’ and has also been a certified Musica do Circulo facilitator since January 2023.
Prerequisites :
- sense of rhythm:
- easily maintain a tempo
- recognise/feel the beat, the cycle
- recognise/feel the subdivisions
- accurate singing (overall)
- good ear
- reproduce a melody at a given pitch
- create a melody
- sense of harmony
- reproduce a 2nd voice at a given pitch
- Create a harmonised 2nd voice
- have significant experience of circle songs and/or vocal improvisation and/or polyphony (choir, vocal ensemble) and/or collective musical practice (orchestra, harmony, instrumental ensembles)
Target audience :
- Enlightened amateurs (you like music, you sing often and music is not your profession - or not yet...) and professionals (you like music, you sing often and music is your profession or directly related to your profession)
- Singers, vocalists, choir members, performing artists, choir directors, ensemble directors, music teachers, music organisers/speakers/facilitators, educational managers, educators, etc.
Practical details :
- ‘Non-residential’ means that participants are responsible for their own accommodation and meals
- The course is dense. In order to assimilate and practise everything seen during the face-to-face and online training sessions, trainees undertake to create regular practice groups dedicated to their own training at least once between each session
Equipment required:
- For in-person sessions :
- writing materials (notebook, pencils)
- water bottle
- blankets, slippers, cushions - whatever makes you feel comfortable
- lunch picnic (sessions 1 to 5)
- breakfasts (session 6)
- Throughout the course
- a computer with a suitable configuration for work online, in particular for online sessions using Zoom software
- a free download of Zoom software for online meetings (to be downloaded before session 1 at the latest)
- a suitable internet connection for working online during the inter-sessions
- video recording equipment with sufficient audio quality to film your own sessions (camera, telephone, etc.) with a stand or tripod. It is up to the trainee to try this out beforehand or to ask for help/assistance from others.
Assessment methods :
- a 5 to 10 minute video recording clearly showing the student in a solo and group vocal improvisation situation
- conducting a 20-minute teaching sequence of improvised collective vocal practice led by the trainee
- design and written presentation of a 3-hour improvised collective vocal practice lesson plan
- set up and conduct a 1h30 teaching sequence. This last test will lead to validation of the training course described above.
How to register :
- CV
- Letter of motivation
- two audio recordings of 3‘ minimum to 5’ maximum including at least one vocal improvisation
- if necessary, a telephone or video interview of about 20 minutes may be requested
Cost of training : Training eligible for funding under the heading of professional training (Afdas, Fif-pl, Uniformation, etc.)
- funding under the heading of professional training: €3000
- significant reduction granted in the case of self-funding: €1080
Refund conditions :Please note:
In the case of self-funding, option to pay in three instalments between September 2025 and December 2025. First instalment of €300 as a non-refundable deposit, payable on the date of registration.
- In the event of cancellation by the training organisation, 100% of the sums paid will be reimbursed.
- In the event of cancellation by the trainee more than 30 days before the start of the course: 20% of the total cost of the course + €400 non-refundable deposit - except in cases of force majeure or if someone on the waiting list can replace the trainee.
- In the event of cancellation by the trainee between 30 days and 15 days before the start of the course: 50% of the total cost of the course + €400 non-refundable deposit - except in cases of force majeure or if someone on the waiting list can replace the trainee.
- In the event of cancellation by the trainee less than 15 days before the start of the course: the full amount of the tuition fee + €400 non-refundable deposit - except in cases of force majeure or if someone on the waiting list can replace the trainee.
- Failure to attend one or more sessions or leaving before the end of the course: no refund
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