"Music gives us a purpose and guides us through life. It expresses our feelings and inspires us to strive for beautiful change." - Alondra Flores (Senior 2020-2021)
Class Description
SHS Choir is a home for every type of student at South High School. We welcome beginners and experienced students to choir. If you are a student that doesn't know what elective to choose, we want you to give this class a chance because it is more than a class. This is a group of diverse, welcoming, and humorous students. Each class period is filled with smiles, laughter, focus, and desire for greatness in musicianship. We do everything together, support one another, and lift each others confidence.
Lori Marie Rios -Guest Conductor
Grand Night of Music 2020
"I would recommend others to join because it's fun to be in this class. It's really fun to sing, you would become close to everybody, it just feels like family, and the class is easy." - Ava Thompson (Freshman 2020-2021)
"Choir is really fun, easy, a great way to make friends, and people who want to learn to sing can learn in choir."
- Yvette Orozco (Sophomore 2020-2021)
About me
My name is Sharyn Absher and I am entering my 5th year as a music educator. I grew up in Bakersfield, CA and graduated from Golden Valley High School in 2012. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from California State University Bakersfield in 2016 where I was awarded the Most Outstanding Student of the School of Arts and Humanities due to my exceptional GPA and contributions to my community. I received my Masters of Music in Music Education from Arizona State University in 2019 where I taught K-6th grade general music and beginning band for 2 years. I currently teach Choir and String Orchestra at South High School and hope to continue growing and transforming the music program at South High, giving students the best possible music experience they can receive at the high school level.
Treble Day 2019
Treble Day @Harvey
Tenor/Bass Day 2019
Tenor/Bass Day @Harvey
"Boys should join choir to learn, have fun, discover a new talent, and develop their voice to a new level. Over time you will form a bond with your classmates. It doesn't always have to be about singing, but about expanding your knowledge. Boys may think choir is for girls but boys also join to help with personal problems. Choir can relax you in many different ways, even if its just singing or being around the people your comfortable with. You don't have to hide who you are in choir...you can be honest with others and with yourself. Choir is a very fun experience to look forward to. The journey of learning to become a wonderful singer is a journey you can take by joining choir." - Jasmine Ortega (Freshman 2020-2021)
Artistic Perception
Processing, analyzing, and responding to sensory information through the language and skills unique to a given art. Students demonstrate an increasing understanding of the language symbols and notation unique to music. This understanding allows an increased sensitivity to the contrasts, subtleties and meanings in music and texts. The elements of music are applied in rehearsal, increasing over time, and culminating in performance.
Creative Expression
Creating, performing, and participating in a given art. Students will demonstrate an increasing understanding of the role of dynamics, articulation, melody, harmony, text, and correct vocal production in the quality of the final product in music. Students will become increasingly independent in their ability to apply the principles of notation, symbolism, and vocal production to rehearsal and performance.
Aesthetic Valuing
Responding to, analyzing, and making critical assessments about works in a given art form. Students will develop an increasing ability to recognize musical styles in performances by themselves and others. Students will develop an increasing ability to recognize and analyze excellent performance and respond with increasing appreciation.
Historical & Cultural Context
Understanding historical contributions & cultural dimensions of a given art. Students will understand the cultural, social, and historical setting unique to each composition being rehearsed and performed. This understanding will be demonstrated by variations in performance style and technique according to the demands of each composition.
Connection & Application
Connecting and applying what is learned in a given art form to learning in other art forms, subject areas, and careers. Students will develop an increasing appreciation for the importance of teamwork, discipline, commitment, and independent study in choral music. This understanding will be applied to endeavors in other subjects and activities.
Objectives
Students will develop a deepening understanding of the social and cultural activities which influenced each composition being studied.
Students will learn to value the unique expressive content of the music being studied.
Students will develop increasing accuracy in sight singing.
Students will develop an increasing knowledge of music notation and terminology.
Student will develop an increasing ability to interpret the music score with sensitivity.
Students will develop an understanding of proper vocal production and (1, 2, 4)
Students will develop discipline, dedication, and loyalty to the ensemble of which they are part.
Students will gain an increasing sensitivity to the performances of their own and other ensembles.
Students will gain an increasing ability to respond to the artistic demands of music independently.
Students will develop an appreciation for the expressive efforts and the motivational forces which influence composers.
Students will demonstrate an appreciation the joy and pleasure of excellent musical performance, both their own and that of others.
Students will develop an increasing awareness of the varied means of expression exhibited by composers through the ages.
Students will develop an increasing appreciation for the importance of teamwork, discipline, commitment and independent study in choral music. This understanding will be applied to other endeavors in other subjects and activities.
Course Content
All areas of course content are taught throughout the year in a developmental continuum, which gradually increases in depth and breadth.
Compositions are presented which are of sufficient difficulty to provide challenges for all students. These compositions provide the basis for teaching all of the following content areas:
Music theory includes the study of notation, music terminology, ear training, interval recognition, and the piano keyboard.
Music history provides the social and cultural setting, which influenced the compositions being sung.
Vocal techniques includes the study of breathing, vowel formation, articulation, consonant formation, and application to the compositions being sung.
Sight singing is an ongoing process of increasing auditory and vocal acuity, both in melodic and harmonic part singing.
Performances decorum and rehearsal discipline provide the basis for a sophisticated, mature, aesthetically pleading presentation of the composition being studied.
Ensemble performance techniques include the maintaining of a vocal part and the recognition of the manner in which each part fits with the others with regard to balance, blend, and timbre.
The Choir studies between 15 and 30 compositions each year, from a variety of eras and styles.