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Ensemble Vocal Technique and Musicianship Skills for the Young Choral Singer, ages 9-14.

2008 Ford Scholars Project Description

Description of the Project:

Music programs are rapidly being cut from American public schools despite the wealth of research which shows that music instruction only benefits young children in terms of higher reading and math scores, improved spatial reasoning, the quality and quantity of their writing, social benefits and behavior, and more[1].    Often, the only musical activities available to many children are programs offered outside of regular school curriculums such as the Summer Choral Festival held at Vassar College, and the Poughkeepsie Boys Choir/Summer Music Program held at the Catharine Street Community Center in downtown Poughkeepsie.  

The Ford Scholar will embark on a two-part research project with the opportunity to work directly with young singers in both the Summer Choral Festival and the Catharine Street Community Center Summer Music Program; firstly, the student will research approaches to vocal technique for children with a focus on creative and innovative warm ups or “exercises” that can be used to improve vocal technique for young singers; secondly, the student will help design a systematic and imaginative approach for teaching musicianship skills to young children that includes ear training and sight singing as part of the daily or weekly rehearsal.

Teaching musicianship skills to young children is often neglected due to the limits of rehearsal time.  Conductors are typically working toward a performance and often feel that there is not enough time to work on sight reading, ear training as well as the repertoire itself.  Teaching musicianship skills will actually help improve the speed and efficiency of learning music over the long term thus is it imperative that it be a part of each rehearsal, especially if there is no opportunity for a separate musicianship skills class.

One of the goals of this project is to create a document that can be used and disseminated to other music teachers and instructors in an effort to include these important elements, vocal technique and musicianship skills, in every rehearsal.  


Anticipated Activities During the Summer:

Part One:  There are a vast number of articles, books and videos that describe various methods to this complicated and some-what controversial subject of teaching vocal technique to children.  The student will research this subject to produce a document that contains annotated exercises gathered and cited from various sources as well as creating their own set of exercises that address pitch-matching, breath support, air-flow, resonance, range, sustained singing, agility, and flexibility. These exercises are designed for use at the beginning of a rehearsal, usually a 10-minute segment (depending on the length of the rehearsal and the exact age of the children), which will prepare the group for the technical difficulties that arise in choral repertoire.  The student will have the opportunity to test out their research at both the Summer Choral Festival and the Catharine Street Community Center before deciding upon which exercises are best for the final document.  

Part Two:  The goal of this section is to produce a creative and imaginative set of theory exercises that will be fun for children.   The student will focus on creating a series of “theory games” in which the students work individually as well as together to improve their sight reading and ear training skills. Working directly with Professor Howlett, the student will research and design 10-15 sets of musicianship skills classes, with each being approximately 30 minutes in length.  From these exercises, a shorter, 5-10 minute segment will be constructed, one which is designed to be used within a weekly choral rehearsal over the course of a semester.  The student will lead musicianship skills classes during the Summer Choral Festival under the supervision of myself and Susan Bialek ’86, music teacher at Dutchess Day School in Millbrook, and co-director of the Summer Choral Festival at Vassar.  As well, there will be opportunities to teach at the Catharine Street Community Center.


Preferred Student Qualifications/Skills:

By summer 2008, the student should have taken courses in the Vassar College Department of Music including voice lessons and Musicianship Skills (musi206 and musi207).  If the student has not taken Musicianship Skills at Vassar but can show proficiency in these courses, the student will certainly be considered.  Experience with Sibelius or Finale is helpful but not required.  

This project is designed for a student who has a love of singing, choral music, and children, and understands the importance of teaching at this level.  Please address these ideas in your application.


Anticipated  Follow-up Teaching/Professional Activity for the Student:

As mentioned earlier in the proposal, the student will be able to work with children throughout the summer at the Summer Choral Festival and at the Catharine Street Community Center.  There is also the possibility of continuing to work with the Cappella Festival Treble Choir, a group that meets at Vassar on a weekly basis throughout the academic year.  

[1]   For a brief overview of these benefits as well as additional links to articles, please go to http://www.americansforthearts.org/public_awareness/artsed_facts/highlights/music.asp.