Tag: music

Remembering With Music

This past Sunday, Canada remembered the Battle of Vimy Ridge, on its 100th anniversary. In 1922, France gave to Canada the land for the memorial, and the surrounding area “forever and in perpetuity,” and the memorial was unveiled in 1936. The shining white marble standing stark against the skyline, remembers the 3598 soldiers who died during the assualt on Vimy Ridge in 1917, as well as the 11, 285 soldier who died in France during the war, and have no grave. Their names are etched into the marble base of the memorial, and the figure representing Canada looks out across the field of battle.

Music accompanies us during our celebrations, but it is also with us in our most solemn times. It helps us to express ourselves when words simply are not enough. It prefaces, and enhances the silence that follows, when we bow our heads together to remember.

During our tour to France and England in 2003 the Calgary Children’s Choir visited the Vimy Ridge War Memorial, very early one summer morning, when the mist was still hanging in the fields below, and the white marble shone against a crystalline blue sky. We were quiet and solemn; confronted by the sheer immensity of the marble figures against the vastness of the sky, and the silent fields below, feeling the weight of that moment. We gathered on the steps of the memorial to sing; offering up our voices together in song to pay our respects.

The Calgary Children’s Choir returned again to France, and to the Vimy Ridge War Memorial in 2013, a decade later, returning to those steps again, to sing, to be silent, and to remember.

Music not only serves as a testament of reverence and remembrance, but it can act as a portal through time, since music is so intrinsically tied to memory. Many of our choristers have remarked that they think of our visit to Vimy Ridge every time they sing or hear ‘Un Canadian Errant,’ one of the pieces we sang on the steps of the memorial. This speaks to the power of music; that it can transport us through time and space, aid us in remembering fine details of events that occurred decades past, and most importantly, keep in living memory the important deeds of those who have come and passed before us.

We welcome your thoughts, and remembrances in the comments below.

April 10, 2017
Mentorship In Choir

Choir is wonderful for a myriad of reasons, but one of the best reasons is the community it creates. This is not just a community among peers, but among singers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. This creates a wonderful place to develop leadership skills. Here are three ways in which mentorship plays a huge role in our choir community:

#1. Learning Music:
Because we are not an auditioned choir, we accept singers at all stages of their musical development. Sometimes this can be challenging for those without any musical experience, so we encourage our choristers to help out anyone they observe to be struggling. This can mean, helping them to follow along in the music, helping with pronunciation of the song is in a different language, teaching them how to organize their music, or listening carefully to their own part! Learning from our peers is just as important as learning from our director!

#2. Modelling Behavior:
At the CCC we have a buddy system, where one of our younger Calgary Junior Choir members is matched with an older child in the Calgary Children’s Choir. This is a mutually beneficial relationship, where the younger chorister learns the behavior expected from our choristers, and the older child has the responsibility of modelling that behavior. We have always been impressed with how our choristers have risen to the occasion. Having an older chorister to look up to, encourages our younger singers to keep going, so one day they can be the older buddy!

#3. Moral Support:
Part of this supportive choir community, means that there is always someone on whom you can rely. This moral support is imperative in creating kind, generous choristers, who in turn can help others who need it. This is a positive feedback loop, where we encourage our choristers to help out those around them when needed, and then if they ever need support, we can give it back to them. Understanding that support from your choir family is unconditional helps us to create a wonderful, welcoming CCC community!

How else is mentorship in choir important? Tell us in the comments below!

March 20, 2017
How Singing Can Help You Learn More About Language

Singing can help with learning in a myriad of ways, but one of the most subtle aspects of singing is in the acquisition of language. Here are three ways in which singing can help you learn more about language:

#1. Libretto:
Since the language often contained in vocal pieces is commonly in the form of libretto, there is a great deal a singer can learn from language by viewing it in the context of poetry instead of prose. Libretto often takes into account cadence, and emphasis, rhythm and pulse. This causes a singer to think about language differently than most people, because a singer needs to choose which words to emphasize, and which to de-emphasize. Singers also need to interpret what can sometimes be obscure phrases – poetry is after all, subjective. Textual analysis is an essential skill for singers, and can offer so many subtleties to the acquisition of language.

#2. Placement:
Singers spend a rather astounding amount of time thinking about their mouths. This is important because it means we are able to think not only about producing words and sound, but about how those sounds are produced. Elements of language that most people ignore, such as diphthongs, vowel modification, voiced and unvoiced consonants, and projection are the bread and butter of a singer’s life. Thus, a singer spends an inordinate amount of time thinking about where in the mouth, language is placed, and how to modify that placement to create the best vocal sound.

#3. Pronunciation:
Pronunciation is extremely important to a singer, because of the subtleties of vocal production and its changing relationship with pitch frequencies. Pronunciation becomes even more important when a singer is performing a piece in a language other than their native tongue. Where a sound is placed in English, for example, is quite a bit different than where sounds are placed in French. Additionally, many languages have sounds that aren’t found in other languages. Learning how to create these sounds is a difficult task, but an incredibly important skill for a singer!

How else can singing help in the acquisition of language? Tell us in the comments below!

March 13, 2017
Italy and Music

We are so thrilled to be going to Italy this summer on an exciting tour! Italy is one of the most exciting places for musicians, because it is home to some of the most beautiful art, architecture, and musical history in the world! There are many aspects that make Italy an intriguing place for those who love the arts to visit:

The Renaissance:
The ‘rebirth’ of Western Music took place in Italy, and is considered a cultural movement that pulled Europe out of the Middle Ages, a dark time in our history, where science, and progress were stagnant. Italy was the home of this cultural movement, and experienced an explosion in innovation and artistic pursuits during this time. Many of the beautiful, amazing buildings and art we are fortunate to enjoy now, came out of this rebirth, and we are very excited to get to see all of this beauty during our trip this summer!

Art and Culture:
Italy is home to a great deal of Western art and culture – from the remnants of the immense Roman Empire seen at the Coliseum, the Forum, and the Pantheon, to the modern fashion we see come out of the fashion capitals like Rome and Milan, we are most fortunate indeed that these aspects of our history have been preserved so beautifully, and that legacy of art continue into the modern day. Italy is also home to the City State of the Vatican, which has massive museums, filled with a myriad of art from various eras. In Florence, the Medici family were great patrons of the arts, and that patronage has imbued the city with a wealth of beautiful art.

Italian opera:
Italy experienced a resurgence in importance during the Romantic era, when Romantic Opera came to the forefront once again. Composers such as Bellini, Rossini, and Puccini, all enjoyed huge commercial success, and their operas are considered some of the most beautiful examples of Western vocal music. Italian Romantic Opera was large in scope, and full of beautiful arias, which most people (even those who don’t know much about music!) are familiar with, including ‘Nessun Dorma’, and ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’!

We would love for you to join us this Saturday, March 11th, 2017 for our concert featuring beautiful Italian music!

March 6, 2017
Silent Singing
Singers are often thought to be ‘delicate’ compared to other musicians. But because our body is our instrument, we have to take special care of it. This means that we cannot practice in the same way, or for the same amount of time that other musicians practice. Still, there are many ways to practice our music, that don’t actually involve singing.

Silent singing is one of these methods, and can be practiced in a variety of ways:
- listening to a recording while following along with the sheet music
- language study
- repetition of a specific passage
#1. Different perspective:
Silent practice affords the singer a new perspective on the music. Instead of focusing on vocal production, singers can focus on breathing, placement, their interpretation of the music, the subtleties of language, and much more! Silent practice is beneficial not just when a singer is sick, or their voice is fatigued, but it is an important aspect of practice to highlight other areas of singing!

#2. Language practice:
Language is such an important aspect of music. Even if a piece is written in a singer’s native tongue, there are a myriad of differences between singing language and speaking language. Silent singing allows singers to practice these subtle differences in a focused an deliberate manner!

#3. Anytime, anywhere:
One of the greatest benefits of silent singing is that it can be done almost anytime and anywhere! With headphones on the bus, in a coffee shop, even at the library! This ability to practice in virtually any environment, at any time, means singers can practice just as much as any other musician, just in a different manner.

How else can silent singing benefit us? Tell us in the comments below!
February 27, 2017
The Importance of Singing Earnestly

To be earnest, is to show depth in sincerity and feeling, and in a world of increasing cynicism and negativity, it is an exceptionally important characteristic.

Though singing is sometimes considered a vain pursuit, nothing could be further from the truth. In order to truly convey the emotional range and depth of a musical piece, a singer’s ego must be completely subsumed. This is even more true in a choir, where there is no one important singer; just many voices, blending to sound as one.

Singing earnestly requires complete commitment to the piece of music, and to communicating the emotional breadth of that piece. To be earnest, requires a certain vulnerability, that be hard to access while in our difficult teenage years, and even more difficult to access during a performance, when we are acutely aware that all eyes are on us.

Still, the ability to sing with earnestness, is what allows us to truly connect to music. It gives us permission to put aside what we are personally feeling in order to communicate the emotion conveyed in the piece. Singing earnestly allows us to show how much we enjoy and are moved by music, without fear of judgement, or reproach. Earnestness, while it can feel vulnerable, is instead, the most freeing of emotions, and is an essential aspect of truly moving music.

Why do you think it’s important to sing earnestly? Tell us in the comments below!

February 13, 2017
Maturity In Musical Taste

Musical taste is something that develops continuously throughout your life. Hearing different genres, from different periods in musical history, allows your ear, and your taste to synthesize what it likes about certain types of music, and what you dislike.

Because of the prevalence of pop music, (it’s called ‘popular music’ for a reason!) much of what choristers are used to hearing when they start singing in choir, is what is currently popular on the radio. While pop music is fun, and can be complex in terms of instrumentation, and often contains interestingly synthesized sounds, pop music is inherently simplistic. This is why it is popular – simple melodies, catchy rhythms, easily remembered lyrics, all help to cement pop tunes in our minds.

Many choristers have never heard true choral sound, many don’t know how to differentiate the sounds of different musical instruments, and increasingly, many are used to the synthesized sounds so commonly heard in pop music. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, choir, and early childhood musical instruction affords choristers increased exposure to a multitude of different musical styles, and this exposure aids in accelerating maturity in musical taste.

Choristers are introduced not just to classical music, which is strikingly more difficult than pop in complexity, they are introduced to folk music, music from other cultures, sometimes sung in different languages, electroacoustic music, sung speech poems, soundscapes and much, much more.

This diverse instruction aids in choristers understanding and appreciation of not only more complex forms of music, but an inherent understanding of how such forms of music are created. Music theory and music history help to inform these opinions, as well as in-depth discussions of text, and compositional context. These are important skills in analyzing music, and this deeper understanding of music, helps choristers form informed opinions about their musical preferences.

How else does choir shape your musical taste? Tell us in the comments below!

February 6, 2017
3 Ways In Which Choir Makes You More Adventurous!

Choir is an excellent place to test out uncertain waters. It is safe, and communal, and supportive, and it’s a great place to become more adventurous!

#1. Weird warmups:
Singing makes many demands of us, and nowhere is this more true than when it comes to strange warmups. We are often tasked with creating sounds rarely heard by human ears, making odd faces, windmilling our arms, wandering around whilst our eyes are closed, singing on various vowels, all of which can feel slightly disconcerting. All of these strange activities help make us better singers, but participating in something that makes us feel slightly uncomfortable, can also help us discover how to push through our own self-imposed limitations.

#2. Meeting new people:
Choir is an excellent way to meet new people, because it is, by definition, a group activity! It is also an activity in which new people are constantly being introduced. The CCC accepts new members all year, so there are often new friends to be made, and we regularly work with local musicians, composers, and sometimes other members of the Calgary arts community, like dancers, puppeteers, and actors! Constantly being introduced to new people is an adventure in and of itself, and a great way to become more adventurous!

#3. Travel:
We are very fortunate that we get to travel every few years as a choir (including a tour to Italy this summer!) Travel is almost always a rewarding experience, but traveling with the choir is a different kind of reward. It teaches us how to be independent, how to be problem-solvers, how to communicate in other languages and how to enjoy other different cultures. It opens our eyes, and our minds to different experiences, and ways of life.

How else can choir make you more adventurous? Tell us in the comments below!

January 23, 2017
Fear In Singing

Fear is a common emotional response in singing, and it’s a difficult emotion to combat. Here are three ways to re-frame fear in singing:

#1. Fear can be positive:
Fear as a human emotion, is actually there for good reason. It prevents us from things that may harm us. While singing is not actually harmful, the social fear of rejection is often what our body and mind object to. But fear of singing can also serve a useful purpose, in telling us how important music is to us. Fear before a concert can help us realize how important doing a good job is to us. It can also tell us if we haven’t prepared well.

#2. Using Your Instrument:
Many peoples’ fears in music come from a lack of control. We are afraid to sing, because we are uncertain about what sound might come out of our mouths. We are afraid of poor tone, of voice cracks, of running out of air, and a myriad of other problems. And yet, the only way to mitigate these problems is to use our voices. In every other instrument there is the expectation of a learning process, and yet with our voices we believe we either have a good voice, or we don’t. This is a fallacy. Allow yourself time and space to learn to use your instrument properly, and you will start to see great results!

#3. Support:
One of the best ways to get over a fear of singing, is through a positive support system. An introduction to singing through choir is a great way to accomplish this. Because choir is a community of like-minded people, whose voices are stronger together, singing in a choir takes a great deal of pressure off of the individual. Choir is also social, and we are much more likely to try new, and difficult things, if we feel we have strong social support behind us!

How else can you combat fear in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

January 16, 2017
Welcome to 2017!

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2017!

We are very excited to start 2017, because we have so many wonderful things happening in this new singing season.

-Rehearsals begin again on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017!

-At the end of January we will be heading out to Camp Horizon once more for a Winter Retreat!

– On March 11th, 2017, we will be having our annual concert at the Rozsa Centre!

-Then, in May, we are thrilled to be celebrating our 30th Anniversary. You can read more about the founding of the Calgary Children’s Choir here. We are very excited to be welcoming back alumni and celebrating 30 wonderful years together with both current and former choristers!

-We are also looking forward to the summer, when we will be going on another international tour, this time to Italy!

There are so many wonderful events to look forward to in 2017! We’d love to know what you’re most excited about this year! Tell us in the comments below.

January 2, 2017
Celebrating With Song

Holidays are a time for celebration, and there are few things more celebratory than music! Singing in particular offers a great way to manifest that celebratory feeling:

#1. Communication:
Celebration is all about communicating a feeling experience by many people at once. Music offers that ability in a manner that transcends language, culture, and religion. Making music is one of the most ancient and respected of human endeavours, and it plays an essential role in our celebratory tradition!

#2. Community:
Singing offers a feeling of belonging; many people at once offering up a song as a an observance of the festivities. Singing as part of a group enhances this feeling even further; particularly since choral music is all about creating, and serving a community. Music increases feelings of cohesion and community, and singing as part of a community enhances those feeling (and even prompts physiological changes in the body!)

#3. Expression:
Words offer another important layer to music, and singing allows for the expression of musical celebration to be even more evident through the important use of text. Expressing ourselves both through music as well as language allows us to communicate the reason for the season as effectively as possible!

How else can we celebrate with song? Tell us in the comments below!

December 12, 2016
The Sounds of Silence

Choir, and music in general is all about how to organize sound, so it seems incongruous to discuss the importance of silence in singing. But silence is an exceptionally important aspect of music, and here are three reasons why:

#1. Audience:
In classical settings, unlike more popular music concerts, the audience is expected to be quiet while the musicians are performing. This is so that everyone has the same opportunity to hear the subtleties and nuances of the music, so the musicians are not distracted by unnecessary noise, and because classical musicians rarely use electronic amplification.

#2. Applause:
Applause is generally the way an audience shows appreciation for the music they’ve just heard, but in some cultures, the audience expresses their appreciation through silence. This stems from the belief that applause interrupts the mood the music has just created. Applause is also often not used for music performed in religious ceremonies, or music that is part of a larger multi-movement work.

#3. Enhancement:
Within the music itself there can be silence as well. For a choir, the effect of singing acapella (without accompaniment) creates a feeling of greater intimacy with the audience. The composer can often use rests and pauses to great effect – using sudden silences as punctuation, or to enhance the emotional aspect of a given performance.
Listen to the emotional, and musical effect of small pauses between each phrase in our performance of ‘All Too Soon’:

How else can silence be important to music? Tell us in the comments below!

November 14, 2016
The Benefit of Sectionals

We spend a lot of time discussing how important it is to sing as a group, to listen to the other parts, and to blend seamlessly, but it’s just as important for sections of the choir to break off sometimes and have their own time in a sectional, separate from the rest of the choir:

#1. Bashing notes:
At its most basic function, sectionals provide the opportunity for everyone in that section to really learn the notes and the rhythm. This is the significantly less glamorous aspect of choir, singing the same section of a piece over and over again, until everyone has the note, but it serves an important function. Not everyone learns at the same rate, and some choristers need more time within their own section to really feel confident in their part

#2. Section unity:
Going off in different sections of the choir is important because of the social aspect as well. There is something about identifying as a part, soprano, altos, tenors, or basses, that makes choristers feel like they belong. This is important in their singing as well. By knowing the people in your section, and their voices, you know who to rely on in the more difficult parts of a piece.

#3. Listening:
As we’ve discussed before, listening is just as important as singing in a choir. Breaking off into sectionals forces choristers to listen in a different, and often more nuanced way. No longer are choristers trying to hear their part against others, and blend their voices within a myriad of different timbres; instead they must contend with the difficulties of unison singing – blending their voice with others that have similar timbres, ensuring that rhythms and pitches are crisp and clear.

How else do sectionals benefit choristers? Tell us in the comments below!

November 7, 2016
Atmospheric Music

Happy Halloween!

In honour of this spooktacular day, we thought we would discuss how important music can be in the creation of atmosphere!

#1. Creating tension:
Try watching a scary movie without the sound, and suddenly, it becomes significantly less terrifying. This is because music and sound are used to great effect, in enhancing tension. By using dissonance (pitches close together), music can create a sense of suspense, and discordance that can be used, usually quite subtly, to heighten the emotional aspects of a scene.

#2. Mimicry:
Instruments can be used to great effect to mimic terrifying sounds. Wind instruments are extremely successful at making ghostly winds, and fluttering, and violins can be used to mimic screaming sounds. Percussive instruments like cymbals, clavicles, chimes, are very versatile at mimicking familiar sounds. These instruments can be used within pieces, or as their own sound effects to create a sense of creepy familiarity!

#3. Leitmotifs:
Leitmotifs are musical phrases, designed to represent a person, place or idea. In the movie Jaws, the sinister shark is represented by a minor second interval, played over and over again. The viewer becomes attuned to those pitches, and understands that whenever they are played, it means the shark will make an appearance. This greatly enhances the scary atmosphere of the movie. Leitmotifs are often used in horror films to foreshadow the villain’s arrival!

How else does music contribute to creating an atmosphere? Tell us in the comments!

October 31, 2016
Discipline In Singing

One of the most important aspects of learning music, is the discipline that it requires. Studying music is not like many other pursuits; it requires continual and dedicated time, patience, and discipline.

#1. Little by little:
Music, like learning a new language, is best done in small, but consistent portions of time. The repetition required to really understand musical concepts, means that it is essentially impossible to ‘cram’ for music. The most successful musicians and singers understand that music is a daily practice; a habit to be worked on every day for concerted period of time. Singing is best practiced little by little, every day.

#2. Accumulation of knowledge:
Music is one of those areas of study in which there is always something more to learn. And musical knowledge always builds on more basic concepts learned first. Thus, in music and in singing, it is necessary to develop fundamental skills first, and then build on those skills, challenging yourself with more difficult music, as you gain the necessary skills. This requires dedication and discipline, and an understanding that the study of music is never really finished.

#3. Process over product:
Singing is most effectively learned when you focus on the process of singing, and not the final product. Because the nature of singing is inherently variable, a piece of music is never sung the exact same way twice. This can be difficult for beginning singers, because we live in a ‘results’ obsessed society. Understanding your instrument, how it works, what factors affect it, and how your emotions, and perspective influence your instrument, are much more important to beginner singers than whether any given performance sounded the way you wanted.

How else is discipline a necessary component in the study of music? Tell us in the comments below!

October 17, 2016
The Importance of Early Music Education

Every day we learn more about the many benefits of music education. There have been numerous studies in recent years highlighting the myriad ways in which learning music can benefit people in both mind, and body! Nowhere is this more evident than in early childhood:

#1. Sound is natural:
Sound is everywhere. It is as much a part of our natural world as anything else. Teaching children to feel the beat, or hear pitches organized in a certain way, feels as natural to them as learning to identify the colours they see around them, or to count the number of blocks they’re playing with. By teaching them musical concepts at an early age, we reinforce that music and sound are a natural part of our lives, and we provide guidance to our children about how to navigate those sounds.

#2. Fundamentals:
By teaching small children the fundamentals of music early, we ensure that by the time they are old enough for junior choir, or even private lessons in a particular instrument, they possess an inherent understanding of the fundamentals of music. Learning music at such a young age, also helps children develop a fundamental understanding of language, how to use their bodies and even basic mathematical concepts!

#3. Early socialization:
It is very rare that one learns music completely by oneself. Our music programs reinforce the concept of learning with others. Music is a shared experience; learning with others helps children to reinforce the concepts they’re learning, as they watch other children, and learn in different ways from each other. It also helps to socialize children early, preparing them to interact well with others.

You can learn more about our Early Music Education program, the Music Makers here!

How else is early music education important? Tell us in the comments below!

October 3, 2016
Welcome to 2016-2017!

Welcome to our 2016-2017 Singing Season!

We are thrilled to welcome returning and new choristers to another year of wonderful music with the CCC! There are many wonderful events in store this year, including the celebration of our 30th Anniversary!

September 16th-18th, 2016 – Choir Camp
December 10th, 2016 – Christmas Concert @ St. Giles Presbyterian Church 7:00pm
January 27th – 29th, 2017 – CCC & CYC Winter Retreat
March 11th, 2017 – Annual Concert @ The Rozsa Centre 7:00pm
May 12th, 2017 – 30th Anniversary Reception and Rehearsal – 6:00pm-9:00pm – Crescent Heights Baptist Church
May 13th, 2017 – 30th Anniversary Concert Rehearsal
May 14th, 2017 – End of Year Celebration Banquet – 5:00pm – Foothills Alliance Church

(You can refer to our Calendar for more details!)

*In honour of our 30th Anniversary Celebration, we are creating a Legacy Page for the website. We are asking our alumni to send us a short bio, with a photo of you currently (and maybe even one from when you sang with us!) We’d love to know more about our alumni, and what you’re currently up to! Please send bios and pictures to calgarychildrenschoir@gmail.com!

What are you most excited about this singing season? Tell us in the comments below!

September 6, 2016
Spring Concert 2016 Roundup!

Our concert took place at the Rosza Centre on Saturday, May 14, and featured the incomparable Jonathan Love as host and collaborator. Much of our music fit loosely into a theme of nature, and more specifically birds – as we performed pieces such as “The Bluebird”, by C.V. Stanford, “Be Like A Bird” by Sheila Wright, and the Beatles’ “Blackbird”. We finished the evening with Haydn’s “The Heaven’s Are Telling”, with Alena Naumchyk on organ, four string players: Tor Ellergodt, Elizabeth MacDonell, Leo Zhang , and Stephanie Huynh, and our very own choristers, Kyla Fradette, Josh Carr, and Emilia Grindlay, who sang the trio in this piece. Kyla Fradette also arranged the Pentatonix’ “Take Me Home” for CYC, and Robbie Downey sang the solo in “Blackbird”.

Our juniors, conducted by Esther Woelfle, were a focused group of singers, who performed two polished pieces with beautiful, unforced sound. And we had a debut performance from our Music Makers (age 4 and 5) conducted by Kathryn Berko, stealing the show on cuteness alone, not to mention a very convincing rendition of “There was an Old Woman”.

Jonathan Love took everything to the next level, by composing poems which linked the pieces together, regardless of topic!! Jonathan was able to teach parts of his poetry to some of our choristers on the day of the concert, and they memorized their individual lines and delivered them without a hitch that evening. An anecdote about Jonathan’s poetry-writing skills: we realized, one hour before the show, that there was a transition in the program with no poem. Not only that, we needed to somehow link the piece “Goin’ Down to Cairo”, an American folk song “play party”, with the rest of the program (mostly about birds and nature). In fifteen minutes, Jonathan had composed a poem for this section. Part of that poem is as follows:

When birds of a feather flock together
What do you think they do?
They don’t conspire on a telephone wire
Or preen like a cockatoo.

Well, the preening’s done. It’s to have some fun
And whenever they get the chance,
They’ll do their nails and splay their tails
And they all have a country dance.

They walk the walk and squawk the squawk
While the bass and the fiddle play
The flappers flap – naturally, perhaps,
And they dance till the light of day

Suffice to say, we all had a lot of fun putting this concert together. The kids worked very hard and enjoyed the great energy, talent, and sense of fun that Jonathan brought to the experience.

We look forward now to our year-end celebration banquet, and plans for next year including our 30^th Anniversary Celebration in the Spring of 2017. Stay tuned for more information about that! Online registration for our 2016-2017 season is now open!

-Marni Strome

(Photos by Christina Jahn)

What was your favourite part of the concert? Tell us in the comments below!

May 16, 2016
Musical Professions: Audio Engineer

This is the sixth post in our series, Musical Professions, in which we will be taking a closer look at the myriad of careers available to those with a background in, and a passion for music!
Many musicians chose to pursue a combination of these musical professions, making them incredibly versatile and well-rounded!

Audio Engineer

An audio engineer is responsible for using technology to improve the production quality of recorded music. They also do live sound mixing during live performances at concert halls, theatres, and arenas. Audio engineers require a high degree of technological proficiency, excellent aural musicianship skills, and a great deal of patience!

There are also sound and audio engineers who hold engineering degrees, who work primarily in acoustical engineering, creating new sound technologies such as perfecting instruments, collaborating with architects to create buildings that best amplify sound, and even in the medical application of sound and music, such as the field of psychoacoustics.

Here is an interesting video depicting a day in the life of an audio engineer:

What other aspects of music are audio engineers involved with? Tell us in the comments below!

May 9, 2016
Musical Professions: Musicologist

This is the sixth post in our series, Musical Professions, in which we will be taking a closer look at the myriad of careers available to those with a background in, and a passion for music!
Many musicians chose to pursue a combination of these musical professions, making them incredibly versatile and well-rounded!

Musicologist

Musicology is the study of the history of music. It is a fascinating field, because musicologists require a deep understanding of music theory, and how it relates to the development of different types and forms of music.

Musicologists also study the sociological side of history as well; how large changes and upheavals in society shape the artistic output of a particular era. They are also interested in the individual personalities of great musicians and composers and how those characteristics helped to develop the great music which has survived for centuries.

Those who are interested in pursuing a career in musicology generally require an advanced degree in Music; at least a Masters degree, and more commonly a PhD. Musicologists often teach their subject, at the university level, but their expertise are often needed in other areas as well. Musicologists often make excellent critics, and reviewers, and contribute to journal articles and textbooks as well.

Have you considered a career in musicology? Tell us in the comments below!

May 2, 2016
Musical Professions: Music Therapy

This is the third post in our series, Musical Professions, in which we will be taking a closer look at the myriad of careers available to those with a background in, and a passion for music!
Many musicians chose to pursue a combination of these musical professions, making them incredibly versatile and well-rounded!

Music Therapy

Music Therapy is a fascinating music profession because it is multi-disciplined, requiring training in both music and medicine. Those who have become certified music therapists can work in a variety of settings from hospitals, to clinics, and hospices, with a myriad of different patients, suffering from various conditions.

Music therapy is considered an allied medical health profession. Those who work in the field of music therapy, use music to aid in the treatment of patients suffering from a variety of conditions. Different therapy regimes are applied for different conditions, and are extremely individualized. Treatments can include group or individual music sessions, improvisational sessions, receptive music listening, textual analysis, songwriting and more.

Since music therapy is used to treat extremely diverse medical conditions, from acquired brain injuries to victims of abuse, this occupation requires an incredible versatility, patience, compassion and flexibility. Here is a link to university music therapy programs in Canada.

Have you heard of Music Therapy before? How else might music benefit this occupation?

April 18, 2016
Musical Professions: Composer

This is the second post in our series, Musical Professions, in which we will be taking a closer look at the myriad of careers available to those with a background in, and a passion for music!
Many musicians chose to pursue a combination of these musical professions, making them incredibly versatile and well-rounded!

Composers

There are several different kinds of composers, and we’ll examine just a few today. Many composers undertake a variety of different composition techniques. Composers are generally well versed in musical theory, with a deep understanding of structure, and musical phrasing, to convey their ideas in the best, and most musically interesting manner.

Singer/Songwriter:
This type of composer usually also specializes in an instrument, and often composes music that they can perform themselves on that instrument. Many singer/songwriters choose not to write their music down using classical notation, but remember chord changes and lyrics in their head, or on a lead sheet. This gives them the ability to be spontaneous in their performance and to improvise if they wish!

Film Composer:
We discussed famous film composers more extensively in this post, but composing for film, or scoring for film, as it’s more commonly called, is an incredibly interesting musical profession. Film composers need to write music that is in direct service to the story being told on the screen. The music can also often reveal essential parts of the story, in a very subtle and nuanced manner, as is the case in the most recent Star Wars film. Film composers need to be very sensitive to storytelling techniques.

Arranger:
This is a type of composer who specializes in creating new, interesting arrangements of music that has already been composed. This can be using music composed by someone else, that the arranger is re-imagining, or it can be folk music – passed down aurally, the original composer unknown. An arranger is a unique kind of composer, because they are taking material that already exists, and giving it new life!

What other kinds of composers are there? Tell us in the comments below!

April 11, 2016
Musical Professions – Music Teacher

This is the first post in our newest series, Musical Professions, in which we will be taking a closer look at the myriad of careers available to those with a background in, and a passion for music!
Many musicians chose to pursue a combination of these musical professions, making them incredibly versatile and well-rounded!

Music Teacher

There are several different kinds of music teachers:

Private lessons:
This usually involves one on one lessons with a teacher who specializes in a specific instrument. Students choose a specific instrument, and their teacher instructs them in how to play the instrument, what techniques to use, what repertoire is best, and often how to perform in public on that instrument. Private lessons can also be taken in music theory, and history.

Music in school:
Musicians who work within a school board system have a variety of different responsibilities. Many of these teachers are band or choir teachers, and must develop curriculum both for musical classes, as well as extra curricular musical activities. These musicians have often earned a degree in Education, in addition to their musical qualifications, and they must be well-rounded musicians, able to assist and guide their students, in a variety of musical pursuits.

Extracurricular musical activities:
These musical activities are usually extra curricular, and can take a myriad of different forms; community choir, youth orchestra, etc… The music teachers who create these programs have to be self-motivated, and engaged in the community, because they’re often creating brand new programs to serve a musical need not met in the school setting.

Music teachers can have a very big impact on their students; explaining difficult concepts, often from a very young age, and encouraging and inspiring their students to continue with their musical studies.

Have you ever thought of being a music teacher? Tell us in the comments below!

April 4, 2016
Studying Music At University

Many of our choristers have gone on to study music, or arts related programs at University, and there are a variety of different career paths you can take to make music an even larger part of your life. We’ll discuss musical careers in greater detail in an upcoming series. Many of our choristers have also gone on to study other fields, but have kept music as a part of their university experience, through university choirs, or attendance at musical productions at their universities. Here are several of the benefits to studying music in university:

#1. Several paths:
There are a multitude of different degree programs that relate to music in university. The Bachelor’s of Music (BMus) is a performance based degree. The Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A. Mus) allows students to explore a more diversified degree, with more courses in music history, music theory, composition etc… A Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) allows students to pursue a variety of different subjects within the Arts programs; dance, drama, music, and art. There are also much more specific music programs, such as Music Therapy, or Sound Engineering, that combine music with science and technology!

#2. Exploring options:
Because music is such a varied field, it is often a requirement in most music programs to take a variety of different options. Singers, for example, are often required to take several language courses. This opens up opportunities for exploration of other areas of study, or even for study abroad programs. Musicians are also often required to take courses in other areas of the arts, such as dance, drama, art history etc… These options can really expand the scope of what being a musician means, and has led to some very interesting multi-discipline collaborations!

#3. Community:
One of the most wonderful aspects of music is the community it engenders. The musical community at universities are often a tight-knit group, since musicians have many classes together, as well as masterclasses, rehearsals, and concerts together. This community aspect spreads outside of those majoring in music though, many universities offer choirs that students in any degree program can join. There are also often recitals and concerts that are steeply discounted (and sometimes free!) for students. Studying music at university doesn’t necessarily mean majoring in music – there are some wonderful opportunities to get to know other students through musical activities!

What do you think about studying music at university? Have you considered it? Tell us in the comments below!

March 21, 2016
3 Ways In Which Music Makes You a Better Problem-Solver

Music has untold benefits for those who study it, and one of those great benefits is the ability to solve problems in creative and unique ways:

#1. Perspective Shift:
Music, and in particular singing, demands the ability to understand things from other perspectives. The ability to approach a problem from multiple perspectives is essential. Creative solutions require adaptability, and innovation, and this can often be achieved by studying a problem from different angles.

#2. Breaking It Down:
Solving a problem is not like turning a switch on and off. It is about the ability to take something large, and break it down into smaller manageable pieces. Learning a new piece of music is very similar. Though we aim to learn how the piece works together as a whole, particularly larger works need to be broken down into smaller, manageable parts, so that we don’t get overwhelmed or discouraged.

#3. Discipline:
Keeping with a problem, even when it’s frustrating, is an essential skill. Musicians are used to this process when learning a piece of music. It’s never perfect the first time, which is why musicians must practice the same piece of music multiple times.

How else might music make you a better problem-solver? Tell us in the comments below!

March 14, 2016