ACGC, in collaboration with Dr. Marc Heeg, The Columbus Maennerchor and Damenchor, and Ruedy Leeman, is proud to present a new digital course for choir conductors!
🎶 Discover the Heart of German Song – for Conductors & Singers AlikeThe German Volkslieder Conductor's Course is a vibrant, in-depth online training program designed for conductors at all levels — from novice to advanced — including those without German language experience. Whether you’re just beginning your journey with German choral music or seeking to refine your interpretation of Volkslieder, this course will equip you with the tools and insight to lead with confidence and authenticity.
Developed in response to growing demand among German-language choral directors, this 18-lesson series includes over 20 hours of expert instruction and is proudly supported by the American Center for German Culture.
While created with conductors in mind, many singers have found the course equally valuable — offering a deeper understanding of the music, language, and style that brings Volkslieder to life.
🎼 A Masterwork by Dr. Marc HeegThis course is the culmination of years of experience and passion by Dr. Marc Heeg, whose clear and effective techniques focus on authentic pronunciation, expressive delivery, and choral artistry. His lessons are brought to life through performances by the Columbus Männerchor and Columbus Damenchor, captured in engaging video lessons produced and edited by Ruedy Leeman.
Why You'll Love It:
Bring your interpretation of German Volkslieder to a whole new level — and let the music speak for itself.
Developed in response to growing demand among German-language choral directors, this 18-lesson series includes over 20 hours of expert instruction and is proudly supported by the American Center for German Culture.
While created with conductors in mind, many singers have found the course equally valuable — offering a deeper understanding of the music, language, and style that brings Volkslieder to life.
🎼 A Masterwork by Dr. Marc HeegThis course is the culmination of years of experience and passion by Dr. Marc Heeg, whose clear and effective techniques focus on authentic pronunciation, expressive delivery, and choral artistry. His lessons are brought to life through performances by the Columbus Männerchor and Columbus Damenchor, captured in engaging video lessons produced and edited by Ruedy Leeman.
Why You'll Love It:
- 🎓 Comprehensive training with step-by-step guidance
- 🎶 Live demonstrations with real choirs
- 🗣️ Language and diction coaching for non-German speakers
- 📚 A lasting resource for rehearsals, performances, and personal study
- 🌍 Perfect for choral directors, voice coaches, music educators, and singers who want to connect more deeply with German folk repertoire
Bring your interpretation of German Volkslieder to a whole new level — and let the music speak for itself.
Conductors and Singers
The German Volkslieder Conductor's Course is an on-line course created especially for novice, intermediate, or non-German speaking Conductors of choral Music for choruses singing Volkslieder, and for experienced conductors to help refine the performance of Volkslieder. Responding to a need recognized by German language choral conductors, the American Center for German Culture has funded the creation of a series of 18 lessons containing over 20 hours of training. Many singers have also expressed great interest in acquiring this course as a means of understanding and enhancing their enjoyment of song.
A Masterwork
The German Volkslieder Conductor's course is a masterwork of Dr. Marc Heeg, archiving effective techniques for teaching performance of Volkslieder with proper technique, diction, and expression. The techniques are illustrated in collaboration with the singers of the Columbus Maennerchor and Columbus Damenchor, through video production and editing by Ruedy Leeman.
What is included?
The Conductor's Course currently comprises 18 videos with lecture, demonstration, performance, interviews and photographs. A future version of the Conductor's Course offering will include the option to purchase a collection of public domain musical scores for the performance of the Volkslieder literature featured in the course. Meanwhile, the current materials will introduce and enhance the conductor's confidence in rehearsing and leading German language choruses in the performance of Volkslieder.
Three parts
The course has three parts. First, brief basic instruction in directing enables all to understand the techniques further illustrated in the training. Then, the course progresses smoothly through increasingly more advanced pieces, of final understanding of the poetic expression of Volkslieder.
The three parts are:
1. "Grundstufe 1: Introduction and Conducting" (Lessons 1-6)
2. "Mittelstufe 2: Die Deutsche Sprache" (Lessons 7-13)
3. "Oberstufe 3: JW von Goethe's influence on poetic interpretation and how that affects the good performance of Deutsche Volkslieder." (Lessons 14-18)
Grundstufe 1 Introduction & Conducting (Lessons 1-6) |
Mittelstufe 2 Die Deutsche Sprache (Lessons 7-12) |
Oberstufe 3 Goethe's influence (Lessons 13-18) |
Complete Conductor's Course (Lessons 1-18) |
$99 |
$99 |
$99 |
$249 |
per unit |
per unit |
per unit |
per unit |
Introduction and Conducting (Lessons 1 -6) |
Die Deutsche Sprache (Lessons 7-13) |
Goethe's influence on poetic interpretation and how that affects the good performance of Deutsche Volkslieder. (Lessons 14-18) |
Complete Course (Lessons 1-18) |
Lessons 1-6 are a brief basic instruction in directing enables all to understand the techniques further illustrated in the training. |
Lessons 7-13 progress smoothly through increasingly more advanced pieces, while navigating the intricacies of the German language. |
Lessons 14-18 showcase a final understanding of the poetic expression of Volkslieder. |
Enjoy the all 18 lessons in the complete conductor's course! |