Choral Soundscapes Middle School Mixed Choirs An Assessment

Choral Soundscapes Middle School Mixed Choirs An Assessment of Ensembles & Repertoire Mike Klucker Robin Romine

Carmel Middle School 7 th Grade Mixed Choir “Homeward Bound” ● Responsive to conductor (1: 15) ● Serious topic and how they respond to it ● Dynamics ● Phrasing ● Highlights a soloist

Why “Homeward Bound”? ● ● ● Form Consistent harmonies throughout Lends itself to being professional Color and blending TEACHING

TWIN FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR “A Change is Gonna Come” Dynamics Soloists Energy Tone ○ Developing ● Blend ● ●

Why “A Change is Gonna Come? ” ● ● ● Highlights soloists Topic too much? Basic tune Needs more from ensemble Choir’s fault or teacher’s fault?

Florida All-State Middle School Chorus “Stuttering Lovers” (1: 42 to end) Mixed (though mostly girls) Facial expressions Intonation Expressiveness (staccato, legato, glissando)

Why “Stuttering Lovers”? Purposeful articulation, especially on the “gimmick line” Playful! Opportunity for movement Repetitive but with harmonic variations Relies on singers to make each verse different Opportunity to perform with an unusual instrument (for choir) Destigmatizes an embarrassing but common phenomenon using Subject is relatable to age group humor

Sandy Springs Charter Middle School “Happy” Mixed choir Sections of unison and harmony some intonation problems Advanced phrasing and rhythm Some stragglers Good diction Bright pop tone

Why “Happy”? Satisfies students’ desire to sing music relevant to them Stills challenges them on rhythmic integrity and phrasing Syncopation Pop phrasing/articulation Sing like a soloist, but uniformly Mistakes can be easily heard - Hard to fake! ● Captures the joy of music and includes the audience Gives lower voices an opportunity to sing the melody