Tag: music education

5 Ways To Cultivate Community In Choir

We are so very fortunate in the CCC to have a thriving community of not just present choristers, but alumni as well. Creating a sense of community, and belonging, is very important to us, and we work hard to make sure that the only requirement for inclusion in the CCC is a love of music! Here are 5 ways to help you cultivate community in choir:

#1. Join!

The single best way to help you cultivate community in choir is to join! Choir is tailor-made for celebrating our community, and at the CCC we pride ourselves on being welcoming, inclusive, and open to everyone who loves music! If you want to sing for the joy of it – come join us!

#2. Attend camp:

We purposely open our year with a camp – away from the city, and out in beautiful Bragg Creek, so that we can really bond as a group before we get into the busy singing season. This is one of the best ways to really form relationships with other choristers, because we spend all day together, for a whole weekend! Our children’s choir and youth choir also go on a winter retreat in January!

#3. Buddy up!

At the CCC we are all about mentorship! We are proud to have a long legacy of choristers who take care of one another, and so we have a buddy system, where the older choristers mentor the younger ones, and in turn are mentored by our Youth choir members. Being a good buddy is an excellent way to foster a community feeling, so lean into it!

#4. Learn from your neighbours:

Although we seat our choristers by section, getting to know the people sitting next to you in choir is a great way to meet new people. Have a chat with the person next to you (before choir starts, or at break!), and you’ll learn so much about them. Choir is all about listening, and learning from those around you, so make sure to absorb everything you can from those around you – no doubt they’re doing the same!

#5. Stay awhile:

Many of our choristers stay for years (sometimes even decades!) in the choir. We have medals that we give to choristers who stay in the CCC for 5, 10 and recently 15 years! It can be difficult to stay in one activity for a long period of time, especially when there are so many interesting activities out there, but we promise if you stay with us for a while, you will make some life-long friends, gain a new appreciation of quality music, and some essential life skills!

What are some other ways to cultivate community in choir? Tell us in the comments below!

March 19, 2018
The Importance of Music Theory In Singing

Music theory is often a chorister’s least favourite part of choir. But learning to read and understand the technical aspects of music, though difficult, is ultimately extremely rewarding.

#1. Musicianship:

Singing requires an excellent understanding of the relationship between notes, because unlike other instruments, singers do not have keys, or strings, to manipulate to elicit the appropriate pitch. Instead, singers must have a clear understanding of pitch in their brain, and then employ a wide variety of other techniques in order to produce the correct pitch. Understanding the fundamental aspects of music theory is essential in developing good musicianship skills, and will enable singers to excel.

#2. Mimicry:

Unfortunately mimicry is often what happens when singers don’t learn music theory fundamentals. ‘Learning to sing’ via mimicry (which is enabled by the ubiquitous nature of YouTube and similar platforms) is incredibly limiting, and does not allow singers to learn anything about music outside the context of the song they’re mimicking. Without the crutch of the piece they’ve learned to mimic, singers who learn in this way, flounder, and have difficulty succeeding.

#3. Improvisation:

Improvisation is the ability to take a musical idea, and make it your own. It is a feature common in jazz music, and more popular music, although there are aspects of it in classical music – particularly in the Baroque style. Although improvisation is technically ‘making something up’, those musicians who truly excel at improvisation and composition, are ones who have an incredibly detailed knowledge of music theory. They excel at ‘making things up’ because they know how the rules of music work, and thus know which rules can be ‘broken’ in a way that sounds interesting and creative. Singers interested in improv or composition must have a solid knowledge of music theory!

What are some other reasons music theory is important in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

February 26, 2018
Welcome to 2018!

Happy New Year! We are excited to return for another wonderful singing season in 2018. We have many exciting events upcoming, and we hope you’ll join us for many of them!

Winter Camp:

We have an upcoming winter retreat to Camp Horizon for our Calgary Children’s Choir and Calgary Youth Choir! This is a great time for the choristers to bond, and for us to do some good hard work on our music together! We love camp!

Annual Concert:

Our annual concert will be held on Saturday, March 10th, 2018 at the Rozsa Centre! More details about the concert coming soon!

Annual Spring Concert:

Our annual spring concert will be held on Saturday May 12th, 2018 at the Rozsa Centre! More details about the concert coming soon!

*We will also have a few other events upcoming – look for more information in our emails, and on our social accounts!

January 8, 2018
How To Practice Choral Music By Yourself

Practicing your choir music at home by yourself can feel counterproductive, especially since choir is inherently a group activity. Still, practicing at home will help you to learn your music faster, feel more confident in your line, and let you enjoy your choir rehearsals even more! Here are 3 tips to help you practice your choral music by yourself:

#1. Acapella:

For those choristers who don’t feel fully confident reading music yet, practicing by yourself at home can feel much more difficult. If you don’t have a piano, it can be hard to pick the notes out on another instrument as well. This is why acapella practice can be so helpful, and it’s why learning solfege is so helpful. By singing your line by yourself without the aid of another instrument, you can begin to feel more confident about the way the note relate to one another, instead of trying to pick them out from the accompaniment.

#2. Singing with a recording:

There are so many apps and websites now that feature recordings that it can quite easy to find a version of the piece you’re trying to practice. Singing your line against a full choir recording can be an excellent way to improve your musicianship as well! Here’s a tip – if you lose your line, don’t stop the recording and start again. Instead, try and follow along in the music, until you can pick out your line again – this way you’ll get in some ear training too!

If you can’t find a recording online, you can always ask your choir conductor if you could record at rehearsal so that you can take it home for practice. Many choirs create such recordings to aid in at-home practice as well!

#3. Memorization:

This is one of the easier aspects of practicing by yourself at home, since it can be completely silent. Many choirs want choristers to memorize their music, so that the performers can be more responsive, and musical at a concert. There are many different techniques to help you memorize your music more effectively. You can read more here.

What are some other tips for practicing choral music by yourself? Tell us in the comments below!

November 6, 2017
4 Conductor Secrets

#1. We can see EVERYTHING:

For real.

It’s a prerequisite for conductors to have extra ‘nonsense’ senses, but we’re at the front of the room, and often we’re standing while choristers are sitting. We can see you, choristers. Even when you think you’re being sneaky and hiding your phone, or a snack, or a gerbil, behind your music. We can see you.

#2. Mistakes are not a problem:

Many choristers feel immediate embarrassment when/if they make a mistake, especially if their fellow choristers react, or give them some side-eye. Conductors can almost always catch these mistakes too, but our reaction is different. For us, mistakes are par for the course, especially if we’re all still learning a piece. When we hear a mistake, we don’t think ‘uh oh, that’s not right,’, we think ‘I know how to fix that,’. Mistakes are not a problem, and should not be a source of embarrassment.

#3. We think about the beat A LOT:

For the most part, choristers are thinking largely about breathing and tone. And while conductors are thinking about those things as well, we spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the beat. Because we have to set it, and set it well, not just for the choristers, but for the accompanist, and for any other musicians playing along. We also have to think about maintaining a steady beat, while thirty other voices try to push and pull at the rhythm.

#4. We know how you feel:

We won’t make absolutist statements, but there are exceptionally few people who are conductors, who have not also been on the other side of the stand. Which means, that we know exactly how it feels to be conducted. We know which hand movements we prefer, which cues we need, and what kind of energy we want to feel from the conductor. Which is why we as conductors try to send that back out to our choristers.

What other secrets do you think conductors might have? Tell us in the comments below!

October 23, 2017
The ‘Ins and Outs’ of Repertoire Selection

Repertoire is an important aspect of the choral experience, and it’s a topic on which everyone has an opinion – we all have our favourites, of course, but there’s much more that goes into choosing the repertoire for the year than many people think. Here are three things that are taken into consideration when the conductor chooses repertoire:

#1. Choral assessment:

One of the most ephemeral aspects of a choral group is its membership; and after all, a choir is just the sum of its parts. Each year the conductor must assess the choir they will have, and determine what the groups’ strengths are, and what areas need improvement. Assessing the group as a whole means the conductor must select repertoire that will challenge the choristers without overwhelming them.

#2. Learning objectives:

Each conductor has specific learning objectives and outcomes in their mind, and these can be different from semester to semester as the choir grows and learns together. We are fortunate to have such a large body of choral repertoire, so that pieces can be selected to enhance these learning objectives, and the choir can take on new challenges, and prepare to meet them in a fun and engaging manner!

#3. Concert series:

Concerts are a difficult aspect of the musical experience to organize. Halls must be booked, tickets must be created and sold, programs printed, and the concert itself marketed. Thus planning a series of concerts for the year begins long before the first rehearsal.
Repertoire is often chosen to fit a concert theme, or a concert learning objective – particularly if that concert is being shared with other musicians, or performers.

Learn more about our upcoming concert series by viewing our 2017-2018 Concerts section, or accessing the calendar for the year!

October 16, 2017
The Importance of Musicianship in Singing

Musicianship is a musical term used to describe the skills a musician possesses related to their aural skills; intonation, ear training. Musicianship is absolutely a skill as well that can be learned, and should be carefully honed. Here are three reasons why musicianship is an essential skill in singing:

#1. Sight singing:

There are few instruments that require a finely honed ear in the way that voice does. Sight singing is a bit of a misnomer, because it really is about hearing, and how a singer’s brain perceives what they are hearing. Understanding the nuances between pitches, and how to ‘translate’ what’s in the sheet music to the voice, is essential to learning how to sight sing well!

#2. Blended sound:

Because of the unique timbre of each individual singer’s voice, blending is an essential aspect of the singing experience. This is compounded when singers come together to create blended choral sound. The objective of choral sound is to make many voices sound as one. This can be achieved when singers make a concerted effort to listen to the voices of others and modify their own sound. Musicianship skills allow singers to not only hear the differences between voices, but to analyze what specifically they must change to accommodate blend.

#3. Versatility:

Musicianship skills allow singers to be incredibly versatile in both the genres they sing, as well as in their own vocal technique. Musicianship is what allows the fantastic pitch bending often found in jazz music, and it is a huge contributor to success in such interesting techniques as two-toned singing.

Why else might musicianship be important in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

September 25, 2017
5 Tips To Help You Get The Most Out of Choir

Starting in choir can be a bit intimidating, particularly if you’re new to music, or to singing. Here are 5 tips to help you get the most out of your choir experience!

#1. Listen:
Choir is different from singing solos, for several important reasons (read more about that here.) But listening is an incredibly important aspect of the choral experience. A chorister needs to listen to the other voices in their section, they need to listen to the accompanying piano, or other instruments, and they need to listen for the voices singing other parts, so that everyone can create a blended sound.

Listening to the conductor as well is essential, since they are the person with the best idea of the big picture, and the musical knowledge to bring all of the disparate aspects of choral music together.

#2. Talk to your neighbours:
It may be obvious, but don’t do this while a rehearsal is ongoing. Still, there are breaks, and before and after rehearsal to get to know the people sitting around you! You should absolutely get to know these people, since you’ll be spending quite a bit of time with them!

Choir can be a wonderful experience because of the people, and here at the CCC we feel like family, so get to know your fellow choristers, and those friendships will greatly enhance your musical experience as well!

#3. Bring your music:
You will receive music during the first few rehearsals, and it will be your responsibility to care for your music throughout the year. By all means, make markings with pencil throughout rehearsal to note entrances, or dynamic markings, or anything else the conductor might suggest. While your neighbours will likely be more than happy to share your music on the (hopefully!) rare occasion that your forget it, remembering to bring your own music, with your individual notes on it, will greatly enhance your choral experience!

#4. Personal research:
There is so much that goes into music, and vocal music in particular. While we spend a great deal of time teaching our choristers sight reading skills, some basic theory, and of course good vocal production, there is still so much to learn. If you find an interesting aspect of the piece, by all means – do your own personal research! Forging a personal connection with the music will make your interpretation well informed, and your research can help other choristers learn as well!

#5. Have fun!
We assume you’ve joined choir because you love music, and singing, and because you want to share that with other people, and we assure you that everyone sitting in the rehearsal hall with you feels exactly the same way. So relax, enjoy the music, get to know your fellow choristers, and have fun!

How else can you get the most out of choir? Tell us in the comments below!

September 18, 2017
Welcome to our 2017-2018 Singing Season!

Welcome to the Calgary Children’s Choir’s 31st Singing Season!

Our Calgary Children’s Choir and Calgary Youth Choir start rehearsals tomorrow (Tuesday, September 12th, 2017)
Our Music Makers and Calgary Junior Choir start rehearsals on Thursday (Thursday September 14th, 2017)

We are delighted to be back after our wonderful 30th Anniversary Celebrations in May, and an amazing tour to Italy over the summer!

There are some important changes to the choir this year! Our wonderful Artistic Director, Marni Strome, is taking a sabbatical to finish her Master’s Degree in the United States. We are thrilled that she is continuing to oversee her artistic vision for the choir while she is away, and are very excited for her to bring all of her knowledge and experience back to us next year! Best of luck with your program Ms. Strome!

For the upcoming season, we have some important staff changes:

*Music Makers will be taught by Shinia Van
*The Calgary Junior Children’s Choir will be conducted by Lindsay Phillips
*The Calgary Children’s Choir will be conducted by Kathryn Berko
*The Calgary Youth Choir will be conducted by Andreas Berko

We look forward to new perspectives, and interesting information from our wonderful CCC team! Please give our new staff members a very warm CCC welcome!

We are off to choir camp in just a few weeks! This is one of our favourites events of the year! Please speak to our business manager Linda White if you haven’t signed up for camp yet!

The CCC will be presenting three concerts this year:

Christmas Concert: Saturday, December 9th, 2017 – Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary – 7:00pm

Annual Concert: Saturday, March 10th, 2018 – Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary 7:00pm

Spring Concert: Saturday, May 12th, 2018- Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary 7:00pm

And all of the events for the year can be found on our Event calendar here.

What are you most looking forward to in our 2017-2018 singing season? Tell us in the comments below!

September 11, 2017
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