Chorus is open to fifth and sixth graders. The rehearsals 30 minutes long and are held during Academic Choice Time (ACT). All students are welcome regardless of ability. They just need to come with the desire to improve.
Generally we sing in three parts, unaccompanied. Repertory includes rounds, partner songs and part songs from a variety of traditions, including spirituals, sea chantys, and tunes from a variety of world musics. Mr. Owens, a published composer of choral works for school age groups, also composes and arranges for the chorus.
A big component of our rehearsal is our warm ups. During warm ups the singer makes the transition from the speaking voice to the singing voice. Our warmups are based on the vocal pedagogy of Dr. Brenda Smith of the University of Florida, and are also known as voice building for choirs.
A voice building warmup consists of four parts: relaxation, posture, breathing and resonance. Relaxation involves stretching and vocalizing based on techniques Mr. Owens learned from speech language pathologist. We also employ "Brain Gym" strategies to enhance mental function and listening.
Posture is straightforward: there is a correct way to stand. Imagery, however can be employed to reinforce the learning experience and to make posture fun. Breathing is largely achieved through imagery. Finally resonance can be achieved by a variety of strategies such as humming and chewing an imaginary wad of caramel or vocalizing with hands covering the ears. The hands are gradually stretched awy for the ears; the sound grows as if by magic.
We finish warm ups with traditional vocalizing with the keyboard to apply the above concepts to actual singing, and perhaps a range extension excercize when the music to be rehearsed warrants it.
All of this takes about one third of the rehearsal. The balance of the time is generally spent intensively learning one song. We finish by doing our best job singing what we learned that day. After a brief cool down everyone departs for the buses.
After many years of using these methods, the children have begun to socialize themselves into the expectations of the group. They take real pride in their efforts, which shows in their outstanding performances in our concerts and WCSU district choral festivals.
