(Methodology Chorals). Henry Leck, Founder and Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Children's Choir and Director of Choral Activities at Butler University, has influenced thousands of young musicians and teachers through his dedication to choral excellence and the idea that children can perform music with artistry and understanding. This comprehensive text, written with Dr. Flossie Jordan, is an insightful guide for choral directors in the field and in training to help develop the teaching skills, leadership abilities, conducting technique, knowledge of repertoire and organizational skills necessary for success. Chapters include: 1. Going Beyond the Craft of Music Making 2. Vocal Techniques for the Young Singer 3. Director Preparation 4. Musical Expression through Visualization 5. Dalcroze Techniques in the Choral Rehearsal 6. Creating Artistry Through a Kodaly Curriculum 7. The Boy's Expanding Voice: Take the High Road 8. Leadership Style 9. Organization 10. Epilogue As an added bonus, the book includes a CD-ROM with dozens of helpful forms and documents from the Indianapolis Children's Choir covering organizing a children's choir, auditions, governing documents, managing volunteers, fundraising, grant writing and much more!

Written for the collaborative community that supports children's choirs in school, church, and community contexts, Before the Singing is appropriate for artistic directors, conductors, music educators, board members, volunteers, administrators, staff, and university students studying music education or nonprofit arts management.

In shaping choral tone, directors often wish to improve the sound of their choir, but are challenged to pinpoint underlying problems or to guide singers toward solutions. Now, in Prescriptions for Choral Excellence, skilled vocal pedagogue Shirlee Emmons and leading choral director Constance Chase equip choral directors with the practical tools they need to help singers achieve peak choral performance. Drawing on years of experience, Emmons and Chase help choral directors and singers effectively diagnose and resolve problems. They cover topics ranging from breath management and diction to range and intonation, and much more. Beyond describing vocal difficulties, the book provides concrete instructions on how to apply the concepts in day-to-day rehearsal and performance. The numerous practical exercises and planning aides allow directors to maximize both time and talent to elicit the highest potential from their singers. While grounded in the most up-to-date research in voice science, the discussion of vocal anatomy and function is accessible to readers with no previous knowledge of voice science. Going beyond other vocal and choral guidebooks, the authors also apply the most current theories in leadership principles and group dynamics to choral settings, helping directors translate their natural musicality and charisma into inspiring and motivational leadership. A comprehensive and unique blend of practical expertise, voice science, and leadership psychology, Prescriptions for Choral Excellence is an invaluable guide for all choral directors seeking to create memorable and remarkable performances.

Choral Music: A Research and Information Guide, Third Edition, offers a comprehensive guide to the literature on choral music in the Western tradition. Clearly annotated bibliographic entries guide readers to resources on key topics within choral music, individual choral composers, regional and sacred choral traditions, choral techniques, choral music education, genre studies, and more, providing an essential reference for researchers and practitioners. Covering monographs, bibliographies, selected dissertations, reference works, journals, electronic databases, and websites, this research guide makes it easy to locate relevant sources. Comprehensive indices of authors, titles, and subjects keep the volume user-friendly. The new edition has been brought up to date with entries encompassing the latest scholarship, and updated references and annotations throughout, capturing the continued growth of literature on choral music since the publication of the second edition.

(Methodology Chorals). Excellence is not something stumbled upon by accident. You won't achieve great things while flailing about in paperwork nor partake of true musical artistry by folly. Success requires a concrete plan of action: a big-picture plan followed by all the little details that, together, create a complex mosaic that forms a beautiful and intricate picture of choral excellence. This practical text offers a wealth of information for running a choral program. The two successful veteran teachers offer advice for dozens of solutions to issues facing the choral director. Includes a CD-ROM of bonus material, an introduction by Paul Salamunovich, and these chapters: 1. GET READY... The Calendar for the Year, The Choir Handbook. 2. GET SET... Preparing for Class, Herhearsal Structure and Techniques, Selecting Literature, Blueprint for Teaching Choral Literature, Effective Classroom Management. 3. GO! Conducting Concert Dos and Don'ts, Memorization, Contests and Festivals, Programming Themes and Variations, Enrichment Opportunities for Students, The Blessing of Added Extras, Identifying Prospective Audiences. 4. AFTER ALL, THEY DO CALL YOU A TEACHER! Grading Policies, Paperwork, Teaching Sight-Reading and Music Literacy. 5. TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Copyright Law for the Choral Director, The Art of the Interview, Teacher Observations and Evaluations, Professional Resources. 6. HOW TO GET ALONG AND PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS Building Your Support System, The Recruitment and Retention of Choir Students, Effective Publicity and Public Relations. HOW TO DO STUFF Fund-Raising, Uniforms, Music Library Organization and Maintentance. 8. HOW TO KEEP THE TAIL FROM WAGGING THE DOG Show, Pop, Jazz, and Swing Choirs, Chamber Singers and Madrigal Groups. 9. WHO SAYS CHOIR IS BORING? Choir Traditions, Fun and Games, Trips, Tours, Parties, and Banquets. 10. ALL THE REST THAT'S FIT TO PRINT... Topics Overlooked in MusEd 101, The Great Miscellany of It All. 11. VAULTING INTO THE BIG LEAGUES VIPs of the Profession, "You Are Cordially Invited...", International Travel Epilogue, Table of Contents for CD Appendix, Index

Class Voice: Fundamental Skills for Lifelong Singing is a unique undergraduate textbook which can be adapted to needs of any potential voice user, including music education students, voice students who are not majoring in music, and adult learners. By explaining the basics of singing using practical skills and examples, this text is accessible to students with a wide range of talents, interests, and expertise levels. With chapters devoted to skills for singing solo and in groups, instructors can tailor the included materials to encourage students to become thoroughly familiar with their own voices and to identify and appreciate the gifts of others. Learning to sing is a process of trial and error. The warm-ups and other in-class performance opportunities contained in this textbook can raise student confidence and minimize anxiety. The chapters about age and size-appropriate repertoire and issues of vocal health provide vital information about preserving the vocal instrument for a lifetime of singing. Key Features * Warm-up and cool-down exercise routines, including strategies for relaxing and breath management * Repertoire topics divided by language and genre and suggestions about how to use the repertoire to develop specific skills * Issues of diversity, gender, and inclusivity covered in Chapter 9 entitled “The Singing Life” * Suggestions for comparative listening and questions for discussion to encourage deeper learning * Adaptable materials which can be tailored to fit interests in choral music, musical theater, folksong, as well as Classical vocal repertoire * Assignments, evaluation criteria, and assessment forms for midterm and final presentations * A glossary of key terms * A bibliography with resources for research and learning * Information on basic musicianship skill training for those who need it Disclaimer: Please note that ancillary content (such as documents, quizzes, PowerPoints, etc.) may not be included as published in the original print version of this book.