Regional Programs

There are two regional education programs currently available:

• the Southern Cross Region Arranger's Program" - a home study course to learn more about arranging

• the Director Mentor Program - partnering new directors with more experienced director to provide advice and support

Southern Cross Region Arrangers Program

The Southern Cross Region Arrangers Program (SCRAP) was initiated in 1997 by Alexa Blonner, as a precursor to the International program for arrangers.

The mainstay of the Program is a Home Study Course that commences with the basics of arranging music in the barbershop style and graduates to more complicated aspects. It takes about two years to complete the Course when lessons are completed at least monthly. There are three levels of the Course - Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced with 6 lessons in each level. At the conclusion of the course, graduates are encouraged to pursue their interest further by applying for the International Music Arrangers Program (IMAP).

The Program also issues a Newsletter and provides classes from time to time.

Enrolment is open to all Sweet Adelines members by application, payment of a $25 fee and passing a music theory entry test.

For further information about the Program, contact the current SCRAP Coordinator:

Jenny Fay  

Phone: 08 9242 5997
Email: SCRAP@sweetadelines.org.au 

Graduates of the program:

• Alexa Blonner
• Jenny Fay
• Bev Walters
• Noelene Akeroyd
• Thayer Donaldson
• Gwen Dunn
• Cheryl Lim
• Joan Humphrey

Director Mentor Program

Directors are our Region’s most valuable resource and supporting and nurturing them is paramount to our future success. A regional program called the Director Mentor Program was established in 2005. This program is based on the Sweet Adelines International Director Mentor program, and is one way to develop, nurture and cultivate excellence in directing and chorus musical leadership.

The purpose of the program is to partner an experienced director (mentor) with a director desiring assistance (mentoree) for the purpose of hands-on, personal training, assistance and evaluation for the Director. The chorus is not coached by the mentor; all attention is paid to the Director.

Ways the mentors can evaluate and communicate with the mentoree

• Directors Summer School, January each year (if both are attending).

• Mentor visits a rehearsal (funded by the Region) once a year

• Phone calls (the mentoree’s chorus will be asked to fund a $50 phone card/contribution)

• Face to face catch ups at Regional education events and competition

• Periodically videotape sessions at chorus rehearsal and send to mentor for comments / suggestion / feedback.

The Region also runs a Director Summer School each year to provide focused individual education to our region's primary musical leadership, and strongly promotes the International Director Certification Program, monitored in Australia by CAL member, Fay Baker.