1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Online Resources
For All Ensembles:
(District Page)
Departments
Music Department
MHS Vocal Ensembles
Choose the respective ensemble

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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…

14. 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”

15. 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

16. 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

17. Team-Teaching Incentives
Teaching 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

18. 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.

19. 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!!

20. 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

21. 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…

22. 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

23. 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!

24. Contact: jwoodworth@mtsd.us
MHS extension: 6126
This powerpoint and additional information are posted on the MHS Vocal Ensembles web

25. "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