On May 1st, the Buddha’s Light Choir of Toronto hosted its inaugural "Choral Art Fundamentals" lecture, led by conductor Monie Leung. This event, held at the Markham Buddha’s Light Center, aimed to align with government initiatives to support the elderly community and to enhance multicultural musical quality. The lecture began at 7:30 PM and was attended by 40 choir members.

Ms. Liang's lecture focused on the importance of harmony in choral singing, which she described as encompassing 'vocal harmony,' 'musical harmony,' and 'emotional harmony.' She explained that 'vocal harmony' involves coordinated voicing and breath control, 'musical harmony' requires precision in pitch, rhythm, and tempo, and 'emotional harmony' means aligning the intensity of sound and emotional expression under the conductor's guidance. She emphasized that the fundamental rule in choral singing is to blend voices rather than allowing individual voices to stand out, which demands strong self-control and high compliance.

The conductor also discussed various choir types, including duets, trios, quartets, and large choirs with over 35 members. Regardless of the choir size, she stressed the importance of common characteristics and listening skills — being able to hear and harmonize with the rhythm, beat, and dynamics of fellow singers is essential for achieving beautiful harmony.

Attendees actively participated in a Q&A session, seeking further insights from Ms. Liang. She recommended using a 'metronome' app to improve rhythm skills and emphasized the need for gradual, consistent practice to achieve resonance through coordinated breath control. She reassured attendees that one could learn to sing before fully understanding music theory, highlighting the importance of a keen ear.

In closing, Ms. Liang outlined the basic requirements for joining a choir: a willingness to learn, a positive attitude, discipline, and readiness to follow directions. The session concluded with attendees feeling greatly benefited and hopeful for more opportunities to enhance their musical knowledge.