I was really pleased and honoured to receive a scholarship from Harmony Foundation (Keep Harmony Alive Foundation) in order to go to Director's College 2008 at Coventry. After completing the application form I thought that there would be far too many entries for mine to be successful!
I am a primary school teacher with music as a responsibility and also sing and play trombone in a traditional jazz band on the Island called the 'Unity Stompers'. I joined Wight Harmony on the Isle of Wight after their 'Learn to Sing' course in October 2006 and have truly enjoyed singing baritone with them. I have always admired men's harmony singing and finally my dream came true. I was really amazed to be asked by the chorus to look at going to DC2008 and so on a wet Friday winter's afternoon, I took an amazing opportunity to enhance my limited directing skills.

Delays on ferry and train didn't stop me arriving on time to check in to a lovely hotel, having some dinner and attending the opening speech. I am always totally amazed by the organisation that goes towards making a Barbershop occasion, be it a convention, Harmony College or this Director's College (I've been fortunate to attend all three since beginning my barbershop singing). It shows their attitude to getting things right because an external assessor was present to look at barbershop 'ways' and how they might be shared with other musical genres.

The guest speaker for the weekend, Royce Ferguson, was an amazing orator and inspired me with his insight of singing and directing. I wanted all my friends on the Isle of Wight to hear him first hand.

As a novice (with a mini-stream basics of directing up my sleeve), I met with the other novices and our coaches who then laid out the procedure of the weekend. Three workshops on the Saturday would take us through the basic directing patterns onto feeling the best beat to direct and then on to a more free-hand approach. There was so much to think of apart from dealing with nerves as the approaching video session loomed on the Sunday. This was to be the first steps in a long journey for me as I am not a natural 'front man'. Confidence doesn't come easy. I felt comfortable amongst all the great coaches like Paula, Alison, Rob, Nick and Kevan. They really did work hard with us all and made each of us feel positive. The day went really quickly and soon the evening session arrived when we sang the college song (For all we know). The most profound message I received from Royce regarding directing was 'less is more', something I will take back with me to work on. Other stimulating thoughts were 'empowering the chorus', not singing over them, always staying positive……, the list goes on. I may be years away from acting on these effectively but they are certainly wonderful aspirations for a novice director to have.

My videoing session wasn't too bad - lots to work on and lots of positive points to build on. Personal thanks all round but especially to Paula, Kevan and Alison, the lads of Retro and Cadence - what a patient lot, and to Mike Lofthouse and all the team of DC 2008.

Thank you again to all concerned.
Dave Bryant. (baritone) Wight Harmony, Garden Isle (Isle of Wight)