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Dassel-Cokato
Words from the director
Words from the director
Welcome to DC Choirs! I am so excited to be a part of your musical journey, whether it is your first year in choir or your eighth. Music is a passion of mine and it is my goal to share that passion with you. I believe that as teachers, our focus is to teach our students through our subject, so my goal is to teach my students through music. I hope you are excited for this year, and that you are ready to make progress and grow.
What MUSIC can do for YOU
Music aids in personal and social development. It is all about building communication, cooperation, and creativity. By studying music, you are promoting creative problem solving and strengthening the ability to work with others; providing an invaluable link between arts education and workforce development. Vocal music is known to help increase self-esteem by encouraging you to take risks and to be different by thinking creatively. It nurtures the imagination that fuels innovation in today's competitive work force while exposing you to a broad range of perspectives. This gives your the ability to work with people who are different from you. Making music is all about who you can become.
Music can be a positive force on all aspects of life. Students who study music also exceed in other facets of their education, such as math, reading, and critical thinking. You will learn many things as a result of music. These would include the application of the basics, ability to think, skill in communication, the production of quality work, and a connection with the community.
Music specifically teaches the ability to perform, be creative, increase literacy, deepen response, and understand the connection of the arts and culture. Music is the expression of human experience through sound. This is the only subject where students get this experience and for many, music is a release. I want music to be a place where you can let your emotions out and leave the troubles of every day life at the door.
Music is...
Science
It is exact, specific, and demands rhythmic and melody accuracy. It embodies many levels of physics from acoustics to architecture. A choir director's score is a chart or graph which indicates frequencies, volume changes, melody, and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time. In vocal music we also discuss the structure of the vocal cords, how to maintain a healthy vocal instrument and the vocal anatomy used to make sounds and resonance.
Mathematical
It is rhythmically based on the subdivision of the time into fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper. Music theory also discusses a lot of these subdivisions as we learn how to read music and understand its notation. It is disciplined and logical.
Foreign Language
Most of the terms are in Italian, German, or French; and the notation is certainly not English but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas. The semantics of music is the most complete and universal language in the world. In addition, in vocal music we learn to sing in foreign languages as a part of a well rounded music education that connects history with sung poetry.
History
It is the only art form we can hear as people hundreds of years ago heard. Unlike paint, whose image is always there once created, music is perpetually "repainted" each time it is performed. The feelings and thoughts of countless generations are forever cast into sound. Music usually reflects the environment and times of its creation, often even the country and/or cultural feelings. In vocal music we are always discussing composers and the historical significance of why a piece was composed during a certain time period and the overall meaning of the text.
Physical Education
It requires fantastic coordination and control of the lips, tongue, facial muscles, diaphragm, back, stomach, and the chest muscles which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets. In vocal music we always discuss how to breathe accurately in order to sing, as well as how to use abdominal muscles to support the voice.
Language Arts
It is composed of phrases, thoughts and ideas. Its goal is to communicate and to reach a part of us where words no longer suffice. We are singing written texts, interpreting, discussing, analyzing, writing, and composing poetry all the time.
Vocal Music is ALL of these things, but most of all...
Art
It allows human beings to take all of these techniques and use them to create emotion; that is one thing the science and computers cannot duplicate: humanism, feeling, and emotion. Vocal music strives that we recognize beauty, that we have something to cling to, that we have love, more compassion, more gentleness and sensitivity, and more life!
This is why we teach music. Not because we expect to produce music majors. Not because we expect people to play or sing all their lives. Not so you can relax, not to have fun.
But so you will be more human. So you will recognize beauty. So you will be more sensitive, especially to all the thoughts and feelings put into sound throughout the ages. So you will be closer to the infinity of your own heart and soul. So you will have something to cling to. So you will feel the beauty of being alive. And so you will come to know the value of your own self.
"I like Choir, but..."
Here are some concerns students have expressed about participating in Choir, and here are some responses
"It's hard." Students need to be challenged to stretch their limits! For some students, choir is the only class that will always challenge them. This class helps you learn how to make mistakes and move on. Once you become more advanced, you enjoy it even more. Music theory gets harder, sight reading gets more challenging, and choir stretches your limits. Students will feel more accomplished when they sing well at a high level.
"I don't like to practice." Music requires discipline, which is good for everyone. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, and that includes being involved in a musical ensemble. Choir is a TEAM activity, so when one person doesn't try, the entire ensemble suffers.
"Most of my friends aren't in choir." Choir is not just about learning how to sing well and read music, it's also about making new friends who share common interests with you. So, make some friends in your choir class; then you will have even more friends. Your non-choir friends will still like you.
"My friend is dropping out." Think for yourself! Do you like music? Do you enjoy singing and performing? It's YOUR choice.
"I'm not very good." Are you kidding? You are probably better than you think you are. Everyone learns at their own rate. Whatever your level is, just strive to improve. Progress is the goal! Plus, as previously stated, choir is a team sport! We are all working together to blend our sound to be ONE choir, ONE sound. As my one of my teachers always said, "You don't take any class in school because you are already good at it, you take it to improve upon your skills." It's our jobs as teachers to help you succeed.
"I want to be cool and popular." You already are; you're in choir! If you act like choir, music, and performing is cool, and make it fun for yourself, it will be cool. Be confident and proud to be a member of our excellent choir program! You can still be friends with the students who aren't in choir. Who knows? Maybe you will get them to join by just having fun and being successful in choir.
"I want to play sports." You can do both! Concerts are almost always scheduled around sporting events, and if that situation does come up, talk to your teacher!
"Where words fail, music speaks" - Hans Christian Andersen
Much of this information and design is based off and comes from Ms. Weeding's cooperating teachers: Mrs. Jean Enyeart, Mr. Audric Buhr, and Mrs. Terra Larson.
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