Ensembles




Symphony Orchestra

The Symphony Orchestra was started in 2004 by the then Director of the Conservatoire, Atigala Luvai. This orchestra was the first in Kenya to be open to players of any ability and any age, and as a result, has had significant impact in instrumental education in Kenya. After the introduction of the Prelude Orchestra for beginner players by the current Director, Corrine Towett, the Symphony Orchestra now comprises of intermediate to advanced players, also including teachers of the Kenya Conservatoire of Music. The orchestra has performed extensively in Kenya and toured to Kampala and Dar-salaam, as well as hosting leading international conductors, including Dr Vijay Upadhyaya from Vienna and Dr David Choi from the USA. The orchestra rehearses every Saturday during term time between 4 and 7pm and currently comprises of students from 14 years and upwards. The current orchestra is fast approaching a standard symphony orchestra in size and instruments. The repertoire of music varies each term depending on the theme chosen by the committee, but there is always music to challenge and please everyone.




Prelude Orchestra

The Prelude Orchestra, which began in January 2012, serves as a cadet orchestra for students who have been performing on their instruments for a short time. There is no age restriction or audition process to join and the players normally join within their first year on their instrument. The aim of the orchestra is for students to have a platform where they can learn more about playing their instruments from others, improve the speed in which they learn and learn to play as part of an ensemble. It is therefore open to all instruments and aims to be like the Symphony Orchestra with regards to instruments, but performing music of a lower level to suit the ability of the players. Many graduates of this orchestra then progress to join the Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra, currently made up of stringed instruments and a trumpeter, rehearses every Saturday from 2-4pm in the Conservatoire Ballet Studio. Sign up today!




SingOut!

In this course, participants will learn the various elements of choral music. The sessions explore skills in various genres of music that are beneficial to the participants. Core skills in choral musicianship, sight singing and choral directing are also developed. The aural classes enable singers to enhance their perception and execution of rhythm, pitch and tonal structures.

Aims of the Programme

  • Teach basic music skills to make more literate singers
  • Improve sight reading proficiency
  • Help choir members to become better singers by:
    • Equipping them with the skills necessary to achieve and maintain good vocal health
    • Teaching participants on how to develop their voices and those in their own choirs
    • Teaching and encouraging better voice production techniques
    • Teach essential choir directing skills
    • Introduce them to the best choral conducting techniques
    • Prepare them for the Associate Board of Royal schools of Music (ABRSM) choir syllabus evaluation
    • Form a semi-professional chorus at the Kenya Conservatoire of Music, made of appropriately trained singers

Programme levels

There are three levels to the Sing Out! Programme;

Beginner – Bronze

Learning Outcome
At the conclusion of this course the student will:

  • Recognise and name staff notes on both the treble and bass clef
  • Recognise key signatures on the staff up to two sharps and two flats
  • Perform given rhythms at a beginner level
  • Perform major and minor scales to sol-fa notation
  • Sight-sing given melodies at beginner level
Intermediate - Silver

Learning Outcome
At the conclusion of this course the student will:

  • Recognise and write various major and minor scales up to four sharps and flats
  • Perform given rhythms to an intermediate level
  • Sight-sing melodies to an intermediate level
  • Perform melodic and harmonic minor scales
  • Be able to apply their developing musical knowledge and skills to music making, whether it be sight singing, practical performance, or conducting
  • Be able to accurately identify melodic, and rhythmic structures prescribed by the Auralia ear-training computer program at intermediate level
Advanced - Gold

Learning Outcome
At the conclusion of this course the student will:

  • Recognise and write all major and minor scales
  • Perform given rhythms to an advanced level
  • Recognise and comfortably sing through chromatic passages
  • Perform other scales including Blues, Pentatonic etc.
  • Sight-sing given melodies to an advanced level
  • Have aural recognition of chords, rhythms, intervals, scales, modes and embellishments
  • Have mastered the foundational knowledge on the materials, structures, and processes of tonal music.
  • Be able to appropriately interpret a given melody and to direct a performance of the same
  • Be able to accurately identify melodic and rhythmic structures prescribed by the Auralia ear-training computer program at the advanced level