Festive Favourites: Interpreting Modern Christmas Songs (BSL/ISL CPD)

Sunday 15 November | 11:00–13:00

Festive Favourites: Interpreting Modern Christmas Songs

Session Description

From chart-topping classics to contemporary festive hits, modern Christmas songs often rely on storytelling, humour, nostalgia, cultural references, and emotional connection. These features can create both opportunities and challenges for sign language interpreters.

This practical session will explore approaches to interpreting popular Christmas songs while maintaining meaning, tone, and audience engagement. Participants will analyse a variety of modern festive songs and consider how performance choices, register, rhythm, and visual expression can enhance interpretation quality.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Recognise the distinctive features of contemporary Christmas music.

2. Analyse lyrics containing humour, metaphor, idiomatic language, and cultural references.

3. Explore techniques for conveying mood, character, and emotion in musical interpretations.

4. Consider how rhythm and performance style influence interpretation choices.

5. Develop effective strategies for interpreting modern Christmas songs for Deaf audiences.

Music and lyrics will be sent out in advance of each session. Sessions are interactive, exploratory, and hands-on, with plenty of time for discussion, demonstration, and peer feedback.

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About the Trainer

Paul Whittaker OBE is a Deaf musician, performer, and educator with a lifelong passion for making music accessible. A graduate of Oxford and the Royal Northern College of Music, Paul has worked extensively as a pianist, organist, and music leader.

For over 25 years, he led a national charity supporting Deaf people in music, before becoming a freelance performer and trainer in 2015. In 2007, he was awarded an OBE for Services to Music.

Paul has interpreted major musicals including Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera, and performed at high-profile events such as the BBC Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival. He currently leads BSL choirs across the UK and is the BSL Leader for Rock Choir.

Series Details

• CPD Points: 2 x Structured

• Trainer: Paul Whittaker, OBE

• Language of Instruction: English

• Notetaker: Not provided

• Cameras: On

• Participation: Active – collaborative and hands-on

• Recording: Sessions will not be recorded