Singer Handbook 2016-2017 Contact Information Columbus Children’s Choir Phone: 614-220-5555 760 E. Broad St. Fax: 614-220-5657 Columbus, Ohio 43205 Staff: Jeanne Wohlgamuth, Artistic Director [email protected] Dr. Kerry Haberkern, Managing Director [email protected] Laura Spires, Program Manager [email protected] Conductors: Jeanne Wohlgamuth, New World Singers [email protected] Sarah Santilli, Santa Maria Choir [email protected] Molly Rule, Pinta Choir [email protected] Tracy Conway, Nina Choir [email protected] Matthew Parker, Isabella Choir [email protected] Katie Thorton, Young Musician’s Class [email protected] 1 Philosophy Mission Statement: Fostering the personal growth of children through meaningful experiences in music education and vocal performance The Columbus Children’s Choir sustains a children’s choral program of the highest quality, focusing on the following artistic and educational goals: To instill a love of music in our choir members To achieve a level of artistic excellence necessary to perform in a variety of settings, such as choral festivals, symphonic programs, city, state, and national events, recordings, tours, and concerts To ensure that choir members have the opportunity to gain knowledge and demonstrate literacy in musical concepts and skills To instill a sense of discipline, self-esteem, responsibility, professionalism and commitment among all choir members To provide access to the choir for children from all cultural and economic backgrounds To serve as a model for choral literature and vocal training in the field of children’s choral music, and as an advocacy group for music education in the community To foster new arrangements and compositions for children’s choirs Curriculum The choir is a learning environment designed to provide a rich and rewarding musical experience for each member. Masterpieces of music, from all styles and periods, form the foundation for musical learning and serve as the basis for the curriculum. The directors believe that “children should be led to musical masterpieces” through high quality music literature and that, “for the young, only the best is good enough” (Zoltan Kodály). Concepts about music (melody, rhythm, harmony, timbre, dynamics, form, style, and tempo) and musical skills (singing, theory, sight reading, part-work, memory, etc.) are taught through the music presented in rehearsals. While Columbus Children’s Choir is not a religious organization, the use of sacred music is a significant part of choral education and our repertoire. The conductors teach using the Kodály Philosophy, which aims to develop music literacy while instilling a love of music in each singer. Singers are taught to read, think and hear music through the use of solfa syllables. Singers learn how to use their vocal instrument through exercise, posture, breath, and tone production. The ability to hear music, to conceptualize music, to 2 perceive and respond musically develops naturally from the human voice. Singing skill and musical understanding are essential components of the creative process and a fundamental resource basic to music education. Structure Columbus Children’s Choir is a traditional children’s choir, for treble voices. Enrollment is for an entire season (9 months) and each member is expected to stay active and committed to the program for the entire season, including summer tours. Our choirs exist to develop young singers’ musicianship and vocal artistry. Each singer auditions for placement every year. Singers are placed in choirs according to their vocal and musical skill, maturity, and attendance record. Like reading literacy, musical growth is developmental. Most singers are placed in the same choir for more than one year. Our choirs include: Young Musicians’ Classes: This non-audition group is a pre-choir preparation class for children in grades K – 2nd grade. The classes engage children in songs and games as they begin to discover their singing voice and initial steps to music literacy. Isabella Choir: is an entry level choir for singers with no experience. This choir aims to instill good vocal habits and beginning reading skill in its singers. Literature is selected that will build vocal, reading, and part-work skills. Nina Choir: is an entry level choir for singers with more experience in literacy and vocal skills. This choir aims to instill good vocal habits and continues to develop reading and musicianship skills. Literature is selected that will build vocal, reading, and part-work skills. Pinta Choir: is for older beginning singers who need to further develop their musicianship skills and vocal artistry. Literature is selected that will build vocal artistry and develop reading and part-work skills. Santa Maria Choir: is for older singers with more experience and musicianship skills. This choir aims to refine part-singing and reading skills, and prepare singers for the New World Singers, our premier touring choir. New World Singers: is for exceptionally talented young singers in 5th - 12th grade with treble voices. This choir aims to challenge its members with a wide range of literature and performance experiences. Singers in this choir have demonstrated excellent vocal artistry and musicianship skills, as well as a fine sense of responsibility and behavior. This choir is the main touring group of the Columbus Children’s Choir, those accepted into New World Singers are expected to tour. 3 Rehearsals Location: 760 E. Broad St. Columbus, Ohio 43205 Columbus Children’s Choir is located within, but not affiliated with, Broad Street Presbyterian Church. When you come to the choir space, please enter through the doors located on the east side of the building, across from the courtyard. You cannot access the rehearsal space through the main church doors. Parents are expected to park and escort their singer to their rehearsal room. Parking is only allowed in the designated lot, and not in the driveway at the side of the building. Those with accessibility issues should contact the office to arrange for an escort. Singers need to be in their seats 10 minutes before the start of rehearsal. Choir Managers will be present at each location at least thirty minutes before call time. If a Choir Manager isn’t present you must stay with your singer until one arrives. Columbus Children’s Choir will not be responsible for children left before a Choir Manager is present. Please do not arrive more than 30 minutes before the start of rehearsal. We cannot guarantee that the space will be open, or that a Choir Manager will be present to monitor the safety of your singer. Behavior: Columbus Children’s Choir is noted for its members’ excellent behavior. The choir believes that self-discipline is more valuable than imposed discipline. It is the responsibility of each member of the choir to follow established expectations, not only so that the choir can achieve its goals, but also so individual needs can be respected. Upon enrollment, each member assumes responsibility for following the prescribed expectations. Additionally, the choir expects that parents will support their child in this effort and will also support the choir by respecting the expectations. A member of the choir must take responsibility for his/her actions at all choir functions and singing opportunities made available through the choir. The behavior of each member impacts the effectiveness of the choir as a whole. Any member whose actions demonstrate a failure to meet his/her responsibility may be asked to leave. If a choir member inadequately handles his/her own responsibilities in these regards, the choir may make its own determination of what it considers to be in the best interest of the choir. The Artistic Director makes all final decisions regarding a member’s place in the choir. Destruction of property is not tolerated and may result in dismissal from the choir. Any damages caused by a singer are the fiscal responsibility of the parents. Behavior is considered during auditions for the following season. 4 Rehearsal Schedule Young Musicians’ Class I 10:00-10:45 am - Saturday Young Musicians’ Class II 11:00-11:45 am - Saturday Isabella Choir 9:00-10:30 am - Saturday Nina Choir 10:00-11:30 am - Saturday Pinta Choir 6:15-8:15 pm - Tuesday Santa Maria Choir 6:30-8:30 pm - Tuesday New World Singers 9:00-11:00 am – Saturday 6:30-8:30 pm - Tuesday Attendance We expect that rehearsals and performances take a high priority in the lives of our singers and their families as a significant amount of material is covered at each rehearsal. Concerts are the outcome and culmination of our rehearsals. Because we are a team, important musical factors such as balance and blend are affected by the absence of even a single performer! We want each singer to enter performances feeling confident and prepared. Singers are expected to attend all: Rehearsals Dress Rehearsals Performances scheduled six weeks in advance Tours Fund-raising events Absences: Singers are allowed three absences during each semester (September – December & January – April). New World Singers are allowed a fourth absence in the second semester. If your singer will be absent for any reason you must notify your choir manager or the office prior to the absences. Excessive absences, inability to demonstrate knowledge of the current repertoire, and inappropriate behavior, may be grounds for dismissal from choir. Excused absences will be approved on a case by case basis. Excused absences must be submitted in a rewritten request to the director at least two weeks prior to the absence. Homework All singers are expected to practice their music at home. Practice at home includes breathing, vocal exercises, and work on the pieces you’re learning. From time to time, specific learning assignments are given to help members in memorization and confidence for a performance. 5 Completion of these assignments will be evident in the choir rehearsal and may be checked on an individual or small group basis.