Our staff is a team of enthusiastic professionals who enjoy teaching children. Their expertise and dedication help us develop age-specific music and art programs to address the many stages of child development.
Singing in the choir helps children:
- Develop ability to read and understand music
- Learn music of different styles, time periods, and countries
- Acquire strong vocal skills
- Improve confidence to perform on stage
- Develop self-discipline and responsibility
- Make new friends
- And much, much more!
The main goal of choral education is teaching each child correct singing technique. During choir rehearsals we do special vocal exercises that help children develop strong singing skills. Each member of the choir gets personal attention from conductors. When necessary, the conductors and vocal coach work with choir members individually or in small groups.
Children's Choir is structured to place children into one of its many choirs according to age, musical ability, and singing experience. The choirs perform both as separate choirs and as a combined choir.
The youngest children (K-2) start singing in the Sunny Smiles Choir and the Creative Notes Choir. These children begin learning the basics of choral singing. The students explore their singing voices and gain confidence singing alone and with others. They learn breathing techniques, proper singing posture, and how to follow a conductor. Using singing games and folk songs from many different cultures, students learn to read and perform simple rhythmic and melodic patterns. Students will prepare repertoire for and perform in one or two concerts per year.
Voices Choir is for advanced beginners in grades 2-4. This ensemble is for children who are already comfortable with their singing voices and want to increase their musical knowledge. These children build their music reading skills and develop healthy singing habits. They learn proper breathing techniques, singing posture and tone production and develop basic musical artistry using dynamics and articulation. This group focuses on building a beautiful unison sound and begins developing part-singing skills. This choir sings sacred and secular repertoire in a variety of languages, and from a variety of historical periods, including folk music, art music and contemporary popular song.
There's another intermediate-advanced level choir for children grades 4-7. These singers learn to develop vocal strength and sing with a healthy tone quality. This is accomplished by work with a vocal coach one-on-one and in groups. They are also trained in sight reading and solfege. Rehearsals include the development of listening skills for more accurate intonation, vocal blend and balance. The goal of this level is to increase independence in music reading and sing more difficult repertoire with confidence. The Swallow Choir members have an opportunity to travel and meet with other choirs in a yearly tour.
At the end there's an advanced, select choir. Only the finest singers in grades 7-12 are admitted to this group. These singers develop strong vocal skills by work with a vocal coach and by singing advanced repertoire. This group demonstrates outstanding music abilities and responsible behavior.
