DAHS Choir

Concert Choir

Concert Choir is a non-auditioned, open level ensemble. The ensemble is ideal for students who have limited or no previous experience in a choral setting and want to learn about basic choral singing through performance. Students sing in unison, 2 part, and 3 part harmony with focus on basic vocal technique including blend, balance, intonation, range, diction, and musicality. A variety of musical styles and periods are explored. Students are introduced to beginning music theory, sight-reading skills (rhythmic and tonal) and stage presence and performance skills.

In Concert Choir, we will:

• Sight Read (using Solfege)

  • Semester 1: Review C Major, stepwise patterns

  • Semester 2: C Major, stepwise and arpeggio patterns

• Perform 3 concerts.

• Self Assess & Group Assess concerts based on WSMA rubric.

• Reflect on their understanding of music and composer through the lens of:

  • Historical context

  • Literary Analysis 

  • Cultural Studies

• In depth focus on the following musical concepts:

  • Basic Italian music terms (crescendo, decrescendo, accelerando)

  • Ties vs. Slurs

• (optional) Solo & Ensemble Unit

  • Prepare solo or group event off of the WSMA List

  • Perform solo or group event at Mock Solo & Ensemble and/or District Solo & Ensemble

Camerata

Camerata is an audition-based, intermediate level ensemble. This ensemble is ideal for students who have a minimum of one year of high school choral experience and want to further explore choral singing through performance. Students sing in 3 part, 4 part, and 5+ part harmony with focus on advancing vocal technique including blend, balance, intonation, range, diction, and musicality. A variety of musical styles and periods are explored. Students will continue to study intermediate level music theory, sight-reading skills (rhythmic and tonal) and stage presence and performance skills.

Prerequisite(s): Grades 10-12. Audition and instructor placement required. 

In Camerata, we will:

• Sight Read (using Solfege)

  • Semester 1: Review C Major, stepwise and arpeggio patterns

  • Semester 2: C Major, F Major dotted rhythms, stepwise, and arpeggio patterns

• Perform 3 concerts.

• Self Assess & Group Assess concerts based on WSMA rubric.

• Reflect on their understanding of music and composer through the lens of:

  • Historical context

  • Literary Analysis 

  • Cultural Studies

• In depth focus on the following musical concepts:

  • Basic Italian music terms (poco a poco, piu mosso)

  • Dotted rhythms

• (required for Laude Credit) Solo & Ensemble Unit

  • Prepare solo or group event off of the WSMA List

  • Perform solo or group event at Mock Solo & Ensemble and/or District Solo & Ensemble

Bella Voce

Bella Voce is an auditioned based, advanced treble ensemble - only for Soprano and Alto voices. This ensemble is ideal for students who have a minimum of one year of high school choral experience and want to explore advanced choral singing through performance. Students will sing in 3 part, 4 part, and 5 part divisi harmony with focus on advanced vocal technique including blend, balance, intonation, range, diction, and musicality. A variety of musical styles and periods are explored. Students will continue to study advanced level music theory, sight-reading skills (rhythmic and tonal) and stage presence and performance skills. 

Prerequisite(s): Grades 10-12. Audition and instructor placement required.

In Bella Voce, we will:

• Sight Read (using Solfege)

  • Semester 1: Review C Major, F Major dotted rhythms, stepwise, and arpeggio patterns

  • Semester 2: C Major, F Major, G Major, Bb Major dotted rhythms, stepwise, and arpeggio patterns

• Perform 3 concerts.

• Self Assess & Group Assess concerts based on WSMA rubric.

• Reflect on their understanding of music and composer through the lens of:

  • Historical context

  • Literary Analysis 

  • Cultural Studies

• In depth focus on the following musical concepts:

  • Key signatures & Time Signatures

  • Arpeggios (do-mi-sol, do-la-fa, sol-ti-re)

• (required for Laude Credit) Solo & Ensemble Unit

  • Prepare solo or group event off of the WSMA List

  • Perform solo or group event at Mock Solo & Ensemble and/or District Solo & Ensemble