How to plan workshops?
Found in: Time Management, Workshops
Sherri A., California
How do you teach the four workshop songs in only four sessions? Are they extra long sessions? If so, how do you structure it so it’s not too much for them to handle? Or, do you just teach as much as you can with no agenda? In the forums someone had an outline for a week camp. Maybe mine could be two weeks…a total of ten days instead of four, though with less process time in between each session. At least it would break up the instruction somewhat and allow for the potential of more time to process the individual steps as opposed to cramming lots of information into one single session. I really want to do the workshop, but I’m running into these questions in my planning.
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
You can organize it however you’d like. I used to do 6-week workshops. First session was the Information Session and Basics, next four were the songs, final session was any reviewing/finishing that was needed., or if they had all the songs down, an arrangement or improv. Then enrollment forms and information.
Maureen K., California
I have done four songs in six weeks. Ode to Joy usually takes two weeks for me.
Sherrie A., California
I can plan to teach one song each session, but how does that work exactly when it takes more than four sessions to get through four songs in my normal groups? How long do you do each session of the workshop? Does it work okay to have an agenda to get through instead of judging how much to give based on the skill level? Does this work for any age? It seems like beginners, particularly young ones, would struggle with it and perhaps not have as great of an experience with the method. Six weeks could give the needed flexibility, so maybe that’s all I need. I guess I could just try something and learn from it, but I’d love as much help as I can get from those who have already learned something!
Jacqui G., Canada
You will find that your first workshop is a terrific learning curve, very different from teaching a regular class. The idea is to give them a “taste” of the Simply Music method. You really do need to follow an agenda, and expect the group to get through the song. I have only done one workshop – with four keen ladies – and I was not entirely comfortable with the format. It did feel a bit rushed. I ran it over six weeks as Laurie suggested. Each session was just over an hour. The ladies did learn the four songs, had a good experience, and were interested in signing up – but balked at paying full price for the Foundation 1 book, pointing out that they had already learned four of the songs in it.