If you teach high school choral music, chances are you had a great high school chorus teacher. Think back on what made high school a good time for you. It probably wasn’t algebra, although math is certainly an important part of our education. No, if you are like me then you remember the warm-up room at state contest. Everybody in the group was focused on the music. For that one amazing moment everything was perfect. The sound was warm, rich, mature, and reverberated throughout the room. The lyrics came from a collective soul and the singers were as one. The song was a song for the ages.
That’s what I remember about high school chorus. That, and 100 other incredible memories that helped me become who I am today, 35 years later. I still have friends who were part of that group with me. We live all over the country — really all over the world — but we have stayed in touch. Facebook makes that much easier now! We are forever friends because of the unifying experience of high school chorus.
And so I am chorus teacher.
A few years ago, I had the great joy to encourage a very intelligent but incredibly quiet student to take a chance on himself and risk stepping out onto the stage. I asked him to take the role of the Major General in Pirates of Penzance. He not only performed, he stole the show. Well, he did so with the help of a pink parasol. The following year he served as section leader for our concert music and took on the incredibly difficult role of Javert in Les Miserables. He set a standard for commitment to excellence and colored the production with his "all in" approach, resulting in better performances from all those around him. His influence lingered long after his graduation.
This outstanding young man was asked to speak at the Founders’ Dinner at the end of his senior year. He was to speak about his high school experiences and what he would take away from his four years of secondary education. He spoke glowingly of the performing arts program and of his time as a member of the Chamber Singers. He said, "I not only learned to sing, I learned that I have a voice."
And so I am chorus teacher.
Though it may be cliché, as a teacher you have the power to change lives. You can change them for good or not so good. A great deal depends upon your preparation and your commitment to your students and to the work. That is the reason for this site.
Here you will find tips and ideas, suggestions and lesson plans, and any helpful material that we can glean from the Internet and from 30 years of teaching experience.
Use everything you can find, including what you find here, to become a great chorus teacher.