The Montgomery High School

Vocal Family

Jeffrey Woodworth – artistic director

Doug Radziewicz – assistant director

(vice versa at UMS)

Concert Choir, MHS Chorale, Chamber Choir

Choraliers, Men’s Ensemble, Vocal Jazz

Where We Are Now

Over the past 7 years, we’ve grown from a fledgling program of two choirs with one teacher to:

3 Curricular Choirs with Progressive Advancement

3 Co-Curricular Choirs + Student A Cappella

2 Teachers for all choirs 7-12 grade

1 Vocal Family with a close student community

What We’ve Been Up To Thus Far…

Concert Choir

Individual Voice Placements for parts. The voice is constantly changing til late 20’s. Once a year is a minimum to check

Beginning Octavo Reading (BINDERS!!!)

Beginning Rhythm/Solfeggio

Literature starts this Friday

What We’ve Been Up To Thus Far…

MHS Chorale

Divisi Voice Parts (SSAA, SMC)

SGO’s (Singing/Writing)

Winter Concert Literature

First Assessment is forthcoming

What We’ve Been Up To Thus Far…

Chamber Choir

Divisi Voice Parts (SSAATTBB, SMCTB)

Carols for December

Winter Concert Literature

First Assessment is forthcoming

What We’ve Been Up To Thus Far…

Choraliers (all-girl) / Men’s Ensemble

Second week of rehearsal

Still open to additional singers!!

Choraliers – T: 5:00 – 6:30

Men’s Ensemble – T: 6:30 – 8:00

Both groups non-auditioned clubs

What We’ve Been Up To Thus Far…

Vocal Jazz

Auditions in two weeks

12 singers (3 per part)

Does not cut into PM time, lunch rehearsals regularly

Online Resources

For All Ensembles:

www.mtsd.k12.nj.us (District Page)

Departments

Music Department

MHS Vocal Ensembles

Choose the respective ensemble

Online Resources

Ensemble Pages

Practice Tracks (.mp3) for independent work

Forms (Handbook) and Handouts

Links to Surveys or Additional Supplements (including this ppt)

Decimated Paper Consumption

Performance Dates

Select Ensembles Concert (Chamber) – Nov. 19 – 7pm

UMS Winter Concert (Chamber) – Jan. 21 – 7pm

MHS Winter Vocal Concert (All) – Jan. 22 – 7pm

Spring Vocal Concert (All) – Jun. 1 – 7pm

End-of-Year Gala (All) – Jun. 11 – 7pm

Region Choir Auditions – Dec. 13 – JP Stevens HS, Edison

All-State Auditions – either Apr. 11 or 13 – Location TBA

Vocal Program Core

We are here to nourish your child’s well-being; in four critical ways:

Nourish healthy vocal technique.

Nourish their knowledge of visual/aural skill.

Nourish abstract thought and affect.

Nourish their need for community.

Healthy Vocal Technique

Bel canto singing – head voice dominant

Resonant singing / rounded singing

Voice parts are based on where the head voice lies

Chest Voice is used sparingly

Singer’s breath is used

Power is established using the Singer’s Formant (the “ring”)

Ensemble style of blend and balance

Healthy Vocal Technique

Body-mapping and singing alignment

Increased accessibility of registers and changes in registers (passagio)

Tuning and Blending according to the music

Breath/Voice connection (onset)

Projection

Bel canto INCREASES skill set but does not take away from other vocal styles

many, many more…

Aural/Visual Skill

Ear Training – the ear/brain connection and ability to accurately reproduce sound through the internal ear (audiation)

Reading Skill – increased fluency of what is theoretically written (pitch & rhythm) and the structure of the repertoire

Sight-reading – ability to, as accurately as possibly, perform a line of music with limited assistance “at first sight”

Abstract Thought / Affect

A broader perspective of the “infinite variety” of vocal music (varying styles, genres, periods, cultures, languages) and the growing canon of choral music

Connection to the music’s message and semantic value.

Ability to critique and analyze music using discipline-specific terminology (walk the walk, talk the talk)

Engage in discussion

Community!Support group within a row, a section, an ensemble and as a program (including Council)

Healthy socialization as a part of the art form

Safe environment where ideas are valued and considered

Equality in terms of respect

Equality in terms of expectation

Rapport left to right, and front to back

Growth of involvement (beyond the bell)

Many close bonds and friendships were borne here

Team-Teaching IncentivesTeaching vocal music is multi-tasking (piano, conducting, modeling)

Simple Vigilance (four eyes are better than two, four ears are better than two)

Accompaniment = conducting freedom

Sectionals – small group (voice part, gender, small quartets, individual) provide more detailed examination and better time management

Cohesiveness in sending school (UMS)

Individual Assessment to track and foster goals/growth

Additional Opportunities

Region Choir (auditioned in December) – brings together students from: Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex & Monmouth Counties. Rehearses in January, concert within a month of rehearsals

All-State (auditioned in April) – students from all across the state. Concerts are the following year

Students have gained entry into these, All-Eastern, All-National Choirs consistently.

Additional Opportunities

Choraliers, Men’s Ensemble, Vocal Jazz

Spring Musical – each year a high-calibre performing opportunity. Previous shows: All Shook Up, Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, Aida

Coffeehouses – Student-run, student-performances. Takes place in the foyer in the evening. Fundraises for the program.

Trips – Previous destinations: Quebec, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic. Next year is our turn!!

Program Advancement Options

Chamber Choir (mixed), Chorale (all-treble)

Both groups are auditioned and therefor balanced in terms of voice parts

Placements are done each February/March

Every 9, 10, 11 grade Concert Choir member does placement (many don’t know they are “ready” or “qualified” for this opportunity)

Allows for growth

Regardless we consider the music commitment as long term, not transient

What Can Parents Do??

ADVOCATE (that doesn’t mean you have to sing with them!)

If you can, support their interest in private instruction (ensembles never teach enough individual technique)

Music is a well-respected institution in Montgomery Township

Do you have a young son who sings?!?!

Art is a graduation requirement but…

Colleges Look for…

The “Well-Lopsided Student” – students who show a commitment (similar to sports) and focus

Common Application Supplements – even if not majoring in music, there are scholarships and benefits to gifted non-music majors

AP’s, SAT’s, ACT’s aren’t all there is. The interview is prevalent and social skills are important; they want their potential students to fit into the institution’s fabric

MHS Choir/Orchestra Parents Organization

NEW initiative spearheaded by myself and Debbie Meola

Provide opportunity to support the program outside the classroom

Create opportunities to build financial support for trips and other events

Please sign up!

Especially if you have accounting experience/interest!

Contact

Contact: jwoodworth@mtsd.us

MHS extension: 6126

This powerpoint and additional information are posted on the MHS Vocal Ensembles

web page @ www.mtsd.k12.nj.us

"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the motion of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."

- St. Augustine