Education Content & Streams
All delegates will choose a primary stream to follow for the majority of their time at Harmony College, according to how they want to participate and what they want to get from the weekend.
We are planning for all streams to have one dedicated session each with the guest educator Blair Brown.
Personal Development stream
This stream is classroom based. As well as for those who want to learn and understand more about Barbershop, this stream is also suitable for those who realise that a weekend standing on risers is not for them, but still want to attend Harmony College.
The first stream option will cover a choice of fascinating topic options from all judging categories: musicality, performance and singing. Full details of classes will be available here from January and you will be asked to pre-select your chosen classes, so we can confirm the timetables.
There is good capacity on all these PD options.
Chorus stream
This stream has the largest capacity and is open to all (no audition). In this stream you will spend the majority of your time singing in a chorus environment, directed by a top LABBS Director, who will be assisted by their chosen team of section leaders, as well as benefitting from a coaching session with Blair! Each chorus rehearses 2 songs, one of which will be the brand new LABBS polecat, Spandau Ballet's "Gold!" (available early in 2026 - we will be in touch with non-members about access to this song). The second song will be the individual choice of each chorus stream leader/Director. You will need to learn the notes and words for both songs to a good standard, in advance of the weekend. At the end of the event on Sunday, you will perform both songs with your chorus to the rest of the college!
As the balanced split for the two choruses can only be determined after enrolment closes, the learning materials for the second song will be provided to delegates of the relevant chorus early in March. The polecat will be available at the same time as it is launched to the LABBS membership.
Directors stream
There are many facets to the Chorus Director’s role - musical, pedagogical, organisational, vocal, leadership – as well as the central specialist skills of leading music through gesture. The Directors Stream will explore a number of areas requested by members of our community of MDs, examining each through the lens of their implications for our conducting.
We will cater for directors at all stages of their journey, from those just getting ready to set out, to those well-established in the role who want to keep their skills fresh and move to the next level.
The sessions will include a mix of theoretical and practical tuition, and a mix of small-group and whole-group activities, to give everyone the opportunity to get support and learn from other directors. We are each others’ best resource, and the wisdom and initiative our peers bring to the experience is integral to the learning process.
Quartet stream
THIS STREAM IS NOW FULL! For full quartets, (women's, mixed or men's) who will spend most of their time receiving dedicated coaching from different category judges, with the latest techniques and approaches to the style. Places are limited on this stream to just 6 quartets, so get your enrolment in early if you want to take part and ensure all quartet members have enrolled within 7 days of each other, to confirm your slot. At the end of the event on Sunday, all quartets will have a (non-compulsory!) opportunity to perform one of their songs to the rest of the college!Extreme Quartetting stream
Following its success at the last LABBS Harmony College, the EQ stream is back! This stream is open to anyone who wants to experience quartet singing outside of a regular quartet, and both newcomers and experienced singers are welcome to apply. Everyone signs up as individuals and learns 6 songs in the "treble voice" (ie women's range) accurately before the weekend. To ensure the required accuracy is achieved, some recordings of your progress will be required.
During the weekend itself you will be put into numerous random quartets and receive education and coaching based around the 3 judging categories of singing, musicality and performance. Sunday afternoon will see everyone assigned another final random quartet and take part in a contest in front of LABBS judges. You may even be selected by your peers to appear in the ‘College Showcase’ which closes the weekend!
It is recommended that participants arrive on the Friday evening for a get-together and sing-through of the songs as a group. There will be a music surcharge on top of your enrolment package of £30, to cover the 6 songs, which is non-refundable. This amount will NOT be included in your online enrolment form total, but will be manually added to your invoice for payment. If before signing up you require more information or have questions about the stream, then please complete this enquiry form. When you are ready to enrol on this stream as your preferred choice, then as well as filling out the college enrolment form, you will also need to fill out this EQ Application form. (There is no need to fill this out if enroling for other streams).
Breakout "Pic-n-Mix" sessions
One session per day is planned in as a palate cleanser from your selected stream. You will be able to choose to attend a class on a variety of random topics, as offered by the faculty and indeed anyone attending who has volunteered to lead one! Simply turn up to the right location on the day, there is no need to book in advance! (See the delegate information page for building floorplans to find the locations). The programme of topics will be available here once we know what they are!Do you have any questions?
Visit the FAQ page or email the Harmony College Dean on harmonycollege@labbs.org.uk
