MUSC 344
METHODS AND LITERATURE FOR SCHOOL CHOIRS

1. Catalog Entry

MUSC 344. Methods and Literature for School Choirs
Three hours lecture (3).

Prerequisites: Completion of Music 220 with a minimum grade of “C”

A study of instructional methods and materials for teaching choral music in PreK-12 school settings. Includes a survey of exemplary choral literature with treble, cambiata, and mixed choirs and the investigation of performance practices for various style periods and multi-cultural/world music.

2. Detailed Description of Content of Course

1. Methods

a. Standards

i. National Standards for Arts Education (Music)
ii. Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) for Music and for other subjects
iii. Other published curricula for choral music

b. Choral musicianship

i. Vocal development

(a) Treble voices
(b) Cambiata voices
(c) Young voices after the change

ii. Vocal technique, tonal concept, quality of sound
iii. Approaches to sight reading

c. Rehearsal techniques

i. Warm-up procedures
ii. Full ensemble rehearsals
iii. Sectional rehearsals
iv. Small ensembles
v. Group lessons
vi. Individual instruction
vii. Keyboard accompaniments
viii. Working with instrumental accompaniments

d. Personnel matters

i. Motivation, classroom management, and discipline
ii. Recruitment and retention
iii. Auditions and placement
iv. Participation/inclusion
v. Ensemble balance
vi. Seating plans
vii. Individual differences among children (economic, social, racial, ethnic, religious, physical, and mental)

e. Scheduling concerns

i. Rehearsals
ii. Sectionals
iii. Lessons
iv. Performances
v. Summer music programs

f. Material concerns

i. Floor plan
ii. Risers
iii. Storage
iv. Office equipment
v. Technology
vi. Supplies
vii. Music
viii. Folders
ix. Performance attire

g. Diction

i. Review of International phonetic alphabet
ii. Classification of vowels; tongue and lip positions in forming vowels
iii. Classification of consonants

(a) Voiced and unvoiced
(b) Fricatives, labials, plosives, linguals, velars, nasals, dentals, gutturals, and various combinations

iv. European languages

(a) Italian
(b) Spanish
(c) German
(d) French
(e) Russian

v. Asian languages
vi. African languages
vii. Other

h. General acoustics and choral acoustics
i. Instructional technology and other teaching aids
j. Legal and ethical issues

i. Copyright law
ii. Uses of technology
iii. Identifying values (historical, philosophical, sociological) that guide educational choices
iv. Equal access issues (economic, social, racial, ethnic, religious, physical, and mental)
v. Other

2. Choral literature

a. Exploration/identification/reading/evaluation of choral literature

i. Historical and cultural genres

(a) Medieval
(b) Renaissance
(c) Baroque
(d) 18th century
(e) 19th century
(f) 20th century
(g) Multicultural/world music

ii. Literature for various school choral ensembles

(a) Unison chorus
(b) Elementary or middle school two- and three-part treble chorus
(c) Middle school mixed chorus (SSACB)
(d) High school women’s chorus
(e) High school mixed chorus
(f) Literature resources

i. State graded lists and other published lists of literature
ii. Publisher’s catalogs and promotional recordings
iii. Internet resources
iv. Professional journal reviews
v. Reading sessions, workshops, clinics, and conventions
vi. Recommendations of colleagues
vii. Concert programs
viii. Other

c. Concert programming

i. Chronological
ii. Thematic
iii. Multiple ensembles

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course includes reading and listening assignments, discussion, lecture, papers, score analysis, projects, student presentations, construction of a database of choral music literature, exams, and peer teaching exercises.

4. Goals and Objectives

At the conclusion of the course, the student will:

1. Describe and/or demonstrate effective choral instruction, including:

a. Addressing state and national standards in rehearsal
b. Teaching musicianship through vocal technique and sight reading
c. Rehearsal techniques
d. Personnel matters, such as auditions and placement, motivation, recruitment and retention, balance, seating plans, and individual differences among children
e. Scheduling concerns for rehearsals, sectionals, lessons, performances and summer music programs
f. Material concerns, such as risers, storage, music folders, and performance attire
g. IPA and diction in a variety of languages
h. General and choral acoustics
i Instructional technology and other teaching aids
j. Legal and ethical issues

2. Describe and demonstrate ways to

a. Locate choral music literature
b. Assemble a database of choral music literature in a wide range of genres, styles, historical periods, and cultures (Western and non-Western) appropriate for use in school choral programs at beginning and intermediate levels
c. Evaluate and select program materials which meet curricular and non-curricular performance for choral music

5. Assessment Measures

Assessment will include written tests, peer teaching, projects and presentations, assembly of a reference notebook, and construction of a database of choral music literature.

6. Other Course Information

The rewriting of this course is part of the restructuring plan for the Department of Music. By consolidating some of the courses specifically designed for Vocal/Choral Music Education majors, placing some courses on a two-year rotation, and utilizing other existing courses, faculty resources will be conserved, while instruction critical to the professional preparation of Vocal/Choral Music Education majors is retained.

7. Approval and Subsequent Reviews

DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
May 2006 Reviewed E. Fellin, Chairman