The Big academy
A SCHOOL OF CHORAL SINGING
The decades of experience in managing and conducting amateur choral ensembles by Marco Toso Borella and his team has led to the consolidation of a deep-rooted and effective method of learning and ensemble work.
The Big Academy is in fact the set of educational and training tools that the Penelope cultural association makes available to every member, and which over the years is implemented with increasingly updated systems.
Video lessons, tutorials, vocal warm-ups, live streaming of all rehearsals to follow from home, and recordings of both vocal and instrumental parts: a wide range of tools that expand learning opportunities and methods, allowing everyone to achieve great results
It is an INCLUSIVE vision of choral singing, which aims to involve a vast number of people in the artistic experience—especially those who have never had the chance or opportunity to study music but have always been passionate about it
With the Big Academy, everyone can sing!
History of Music
The boundless knowledge of director Marco Toso Borella enriches the understanding of the historical and artistic context of any piece in the repertoire.
During rehearsals, there is no shortage of historical insights that allow the choristers to better understand the performance of a piece starting from its conception, its author, the style, and the value that a particular piece has within a historical era.
He thus also explains the reason for choosing a piece or an author in the repertoire, making them discover or rediscover artists and composers through his unique and engaging style.
Explanations and focuses that also translate into exclusive video lessons reserved for members.
Vocal Coaching
Francesca Bellemo’s decades of choral and solo experience, as well as her technical training, allow her to identify exercises, techniques, and “tricks” to share with other members of the choir, aimed at the optimal performance of the pieces by such a large number of choristers.
Dealing with amateur choristers, her job is to translate concepts into simple and understandable terms even for people who do not have technical skills or cannot read music, devising vocal solutions that are easy and within everyone’s reach.
In particular, she takes care of preparing the soloists’ voices, guiding them in the personal growth of their potential.
Training also continues at home with video lessons and tutorials dedicated to vocal warm-ups and with section or small group lessons.
Performance Coaching
With charm and elegance, Eleonora Toso Borella takes care of the choristers’ choreographic preparation, explaining the movements that accompany the singing and training the choir to move and breathe as a single organism.
Hands, feet, shoulders, and head are the protagonists of a continuous coordination that is responsible for the “wow” effect of the Big Vocal Orchestra and Vocal Skyline concerts.
Movement becomes an amplifier of emotions as well as a gym for “choral practice” where self-discipline and not only auditory but also visual listening to others are trained.
The choristers thus learn not only to move in time performing simple choreographies but also to enter and exit the stage, to give life to particular scenic effects, and to perform in front of a particularly close audience (as in the case of immersive concerts).
The parts of the lessons dedicated to the study of movements are translated into video tutorials with which the choristers can practice at home.
The Big BACKSTAGE
Un concerto-spettacolo della Big Vocal Orchestra o dei Vocal Skyline inizia molto, molto prima dell’apertura del sipario.
Il lavoro silenzioso di organizzazione dietro le quinte è una gigantesca macchina operativa che consente ai coristi di pensare solo a cantare.
Brani, arrangiamenti, scrittura di testi, scenografie, effetti video, coreografie, tutto viene ideato e organizzato dal team con ampio anticipo.
Per ogni concerto, c’è un sopralluogo, uno studio per l’allestimento tecnico, incontri e gestione di pratiche burocratiche.
Tutto questo viene raccontato con dei simpatici video “dietro le quinte” nella sezione The Big Backstage, riservata agli iscritti.
The Big FRONT ROW
Every rehearsal of the group is also broadcast live on ZOOM for all those who are unable to participate in person. The recording of the rehearsal is then uploaded to a dedicated section and always accessible to all members, who can thus comfortably review the parts and rewatch the lessons at will.
The Big Front Row is a front-row seat at rehearsals.
It is an important component of our working method because it allows each member to have all the necessary tools for study according to their own learning pace.
