This is a 3-week course scheduled for the following dates and times:
Thursdays, March 12, 19, and 26, 2026
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PST
What You’ll Learn
Transform the way you experience harmony—from guesswork to genuine musical understanding.
Most singers learn harmony by rote, note-by-note, without developing the inner hearing that makes it feel natural. This workshop changes that.
Drawing on Music Learning Theory, Kodály principles, functional voice training, and 30+ years of classroom, studio, and choral experience, Dr. Darren Wicks will guide you step-by-step through how to teach harmony—not as a theory lesson, but as a living musical language your students can feel, predict, and create with.
Whether you teach CCM, classical, musical theatre, or work with choirs and groups, you’ll gain a practical, repeatable framework you can use immediately with singers at any level.
Why This Workshop Is Different
Most harmony workshops provide quick fixes—interval tricks, memorised lines, or “hold your note against mine.” This series builds audiation, the internal musicianship that makes harmony effortless, creative, and reliable.
You’ll develop:
· A clear understanding of how harmony sounds, feels, and moves
· A robust pattern vocabulary in both major and minor
· The ability to teach harmony without relying on music theory
· A pathway your students can follow from beginner to confident harmoniser
This is harmony as musicianship—not imitation.
Who This Is For:
· Teachers wanting stronger musicianship tools
· Voice teachers seeking effective, embodied ways to teach harmony
· Choir directors and ensemble leaders
· Any teacher whose students freeze, drift, or guess when asked to harmonise
About Darren
Dr. Darren Wicks is an IVA Educator, voice teacher, jazz pianist, researcher, and choral conductor with over 30 years of experience in music education. He runs a busy home studio, teaches voice and choir at Brunswick Secondary College, and conducts the Melbourne Soul & Gospel Choir. Darren holds a Master of Music and a PhD in Vocal Pedagogy, with specialized training from master teachers across the United States, including extensive study with African American vocal artists in gospel and contemporary styles.
As the author of the “Vocal Voyages” newsletter series for the Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA), Darren bridges academic research and practical studio teaching, helping voice educators develop reflective practice and deepen their pedagogical expertise. His research focuses on adolescent voice teaching competencies, and he is a sought-after presenter at workshops and conferences. His work as both a jazz pianist and choral conductor gives him a unique perspective on harmony, improvisation, and ensemble singing—skills he brings directly into voice teaching to help students become complete, confident musicians.