Chorus
Choral
High School Chorus (Grades 9-12)
This course is open to boys and girls who enjoy singing. The chorus will study and sing a variety of music from past to present. Attendance at concerts, rehearsals, and musical activities that meet after hours is required. In addition, all Chorus students must attend one weekly after-school rehearsal. Standard – 4 Credits – 4 Periods per Cycle – Full Year
Concert attire for the MHS Chorus will be as follows:
Women – long black skirts and white blouses
Men – standard dark trousers/pants, white shirts, tie, black shoes and socks
No jeans.
Benefits to the Student
Membership in the Choral program provides an opportunity for personal growth and development, performance opportunities, friendship and team spirit, educational opportunities, personal achievement, self-expression, stress relief, and so much more.
The chorus promotes:
- Teamwork- The ensemble coordinates individual abilities into one central effort. The ensemble gives the child the feeling of group loyalty and motivation.
- Discipline- the ensemble teaches responsibility. Emphasis is placed on following instructions and teaches the child respect for music and the group effort.
- Concentration- Attention to detail is vital in all education-related projects. Concentration built in a musical ensemble often carries over to other areas, improving study habits and increasing intellectual understanding and curiosity.
- Appreciation- Choral participation encourages respect and appreciation for aesthetic values and the beauty of the music created.
- Leadership
- Poise
- Personal achievement
We are always looking for students who love to sing! Membership is open to all. Come sit in with us on Thursday after school – sing along and maybe you will become our next new member! We welcome all voices: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass. All are welcome.
All singing is taught in a supportive, creative and playful environment. The approach to vocal training and the art of singing is based on physical and cognitive awareness as well as a strong foundation of musical and vocal technique. The goal is to guide you toward achieving your goals, to find joy and creative expression and to integrate healthy singing techniques that free your true singing voice.
- Develop tone, pitch, breath control, intonation, emphasis, volume, posture, relaxation and general voice quality.
- Gain awareness of the physical tensions and habits that are hindering your style and develop your physical, emotional and technical capacity to sing freely.
- Enhance your enjoyment and confidence of singing and unleash your spirit!
Middle School Choral/Vocal
Middle School Chorus meets two periods per week at both the Andrews and McGlynn Middle Schools. Students in both schools perform concerts together and independently throughout the school year. Don’t be in a hurry to classify your voice. You have to learn how to sing correctly before the type of voice you have can be determiined. Some voices are obvious early on in study, others are not. In a rush to classify a voice right away, one can be sent studying the wrong music and straining the voice. Early in studying, it may even be unclear whether you are dealing with a soprano or mezzo voice, a tenor or a baritone. This is not uncommon, and it is nothing to worry about. Just concentrate on learning how to sing correctly, and the voice will expose itself.
Overview
This class is set for students who are in 6th, 7th or 8th grade. It will develop musicianship and vocal skills.
The class focus is on rehearsal skills, performance skills, and there will be a heavy emphasis on technique.
The primary educational goal in chorus is to teach children to achieve high artistic standards through choral singing and performance. Other important benefits of chorus are the nurturing and growth of discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and self-confidence. Through the National and State Music Curriculum the student will be taught fundamental elements of vocal technique and music reading. The successful learner will:
- Produce a clear and pleasant tone, while developing a supported and focused tone.
- Demonstrate correct singing posture and breathing techniques.
- Sight-read simple pitch and rhythm exercises.
- Demonstrate knowledge of solfege syllables and hand signs.
- Sing pure vowels while expanding to singing in different languages.
- Develop an understanding of terminology that is required for music reading.
- Be able to sing in phrases.
- Sing in unison, two, and eventually three part harmony.
Elementary Choral/Vocal
Treble Makers Chorus
Hello Parents and Guardians:
I am excited to be in charge of Treblemakers this year and look forward to teaching your children. We will be fortunate to continue to have Kristen Turner help with the chorus from time to time this year. The Treblemakers Chorus is a chorus for grades 2-5 and is open to students from all of the Medford elementary schools.
What We Do:
- Learn singing/ choral techniques such as breath support, posture, diction etc.
- Learn performance skills. We perform twice a year.
- Learn a variety of repertoire- folk music, Broadway tunes, multicultural works, and more
- Have fun!
Where and When:
Chorus will be held on Thursdays from 3:00-4:00 at the McGlynn Elementary School auditorium.
Arrival:
Please plan on dropping your child off at the McGlynn at 3:00 sharp. Due to dismissal traffic, it will be difficult to drive in front of the school prior to 3:00.
Dismissal:
Please plan on picking up your child outside the auditorium at 4:00.
Absences:
Attendance is taken seriously in Treblemakers. Since rehearsal is only once per week, a student misses ample music learning when he/she is absent. Thus, students are allowed a maximum of three excused absences. Excused absences include a doctor’s note. If more than 3 excused absences occur, a follow-up will ensue.
Length:
The chorus will be held throughout the school year. The concert dates and end date are to be determined.
Contact:
Please contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns throughout the year: cfroomer@medford.k12.ma.us. Also, if you have an email, please email the address to me, so that I can keep you updated via email.
Thank you,
Chrissy Froomer
Elementary Music Teacher
McGlynn Elementary School
For more information please visit the Treble Makers webpage.
Elementary Music
Elementary music classes meet once every three weeks. The program consists of a variety of concepts including: Singing, Instrument Playing, Improvisation/Movment, Reading and Notating Analysis, History and Culture.
Course Description: Students participate in a forty-five minute general music class every third week. Students perform, create, read, respond to music, and make music connections. Dalcroze methods are incorporated into each class. The Dalcroze Eurhythmics offers a unique approach to improving musical performance. It is an effective and established creative approach to musical training. It develops awareness and skill in co-ordination, musicianship, solo and ensemble performance for musicians, dancers and others. Experiencing Eurhythmics brings the benefits of concentration, artistry, ensemble skills, memory co-ordination, body awareness and creativity and is of particular value to instrumentalists, vocalists, professional performers, general music educators, coaches, teachers, pupils and therapists.
Resources: Songs and Activities
There is a growing collection of resources available for young children. Here are a few suggestions as a place to begin.
Videos by Music Rhapsody: Babies Make Music, Kids Make Music, and Kids Make Music, Too!
The Wee Sing series on cassettes are very good and available through most book stores.
Collections of traditional children’s songs by John Feierabend:
- The Book of Bounces
- The Book of Wiggles and Tickles
- The Book of Tapping and Clapping
- The Book of Simple Songs and Circles
- The Book of Lullabies
- ‘Round and ‘Round the Garden: Music in My First Year! (CD or Cassette also available)
- ‘Ride Away on Your Horses: Music, Now I’m One! (CD or Cassette also available)
- Frog in the Meadow: Music, Now I’m Two! (CD or Cassette also available)
- Baby Massage by Peter Walker
- Exercise Program for Young Children, 4 weeks – 4 years by Suzy Prudden
Resources: Picture Books to Sing With Children
- Abiyoyo: Based on a South African Lullaby by Pete Seeger, Michael Hays (Illustrator)
- America the Beautiful by Katharine Lee Bates, Neil Waldman (Illustrator)
- The Cat Came Back by Bill Slavin
- Hush, Little Baby by Shari Halpern (Illustrator)
- I Know an Old Lady by G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)
- Inch by Inch: The Garden Song by David Mallett, Ora Eitan (Illustrator)
- It’s Raining, It’s Pouring by Kin Eagle, Rob Gilbert (Illustrator)
- The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani
- Mary Wore Her Red Dress, and Henry Wore His Green Sneakers by Merle Peek
- My Favorite Things by Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers, James Warhola (Illustrator)
- Old MacDonald Had a Farm by Holly Berry (Illustrator)
Peanut Butter and Jelly: A Play Rhyme by Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator)
- Roll Over! A Counting Song by Merle Peek (Illustrator)
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Joanne Oppenheim, Kevin O’Malley (Illustrator)
- She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain by Kathleen Bullock
- The Star-Spangled Banner by Peter Spier (Illustrator)
- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Pam Adams
- What a Wonderful World by George David Weiss, Bob Thiele, Ashley Bryan (Illustrator)