The Montgomery High School

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• 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, Mens Ensemble, Vocal Jazz

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• Where We Are Now
• Over the past 7 years, weve 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

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• What Weve Been Up To Thus Far
• Concert Choir
• Individual Voice Placements for parts. The voice
  is constantly changing til late 20s. Once a year
  is a minimum to check
• Beginning Octavo Reading (BINDERS!!!)
• Beginning Rhythm/Solfeggio
• Literature starts this Friday

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• What Weve Been Up To Thus Far
• MHS Chorale
• Divisi Voice Parts (SSAA, SMC)
• SGOs (Singing/Writing)
• Winter Concert Literature
• First Assessment is forthcoming

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• What Weve Been Up To Thus Far
• Chamber Choir
• Divisi Voice Parts (SSAATTBB, SMCTB)
• Carols for December
• Winter Concert Literature
• First Assessment is forthcoming

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• What Weve Been Up To Thus Far
• Choraliers (all-girl) / Mens Ensemble
• Second week of rehearsal
• Still open to additional singers!!
• Choraliers T 500 630
• Mens Ensemble T 630 800
• Both groups non-auditioned clubs

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• What Weve 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

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• Online Resources
• For All Ensembles
• www.mtsd.k12.nj.us (District Page)
• Departments
• Music Department
• MHS Vocal Ensembles
• Choose the respective ensemble

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• 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

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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
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• Vocal Program Core
• We are here to nourish your childs 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.

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• 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
• Singers breath is used
• Power is established using the Singers Formant
  (the ring)
• Ensemble style of blend and balance

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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 musics message and semantic
  value.
• Ability to critique and analyze music using
  discipline-specific terminology (walk the walk,
  talk the talk)
• Engage in discussion

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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.

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• Additional Opportunities
• Choraliers, Mens 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!!

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• 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 dont know they are ready or
  qualified for this opportunity)
• Allows for growth
• Regardless we consider the music commitment as
  long term, not transient

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• What Can Parents Do??
• ADVOCATE (that doesnt 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

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• 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
• APs, SATs, ACTs arent all there is. The
  interview is prevalent and social skills are
  important they want their potential students to
  fit into the institutions fabric

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• 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!

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Contact Contact jwoodworth_at_mtsd.us MHS
extension 6126 This powerpoint and additional
information are posted on the MHS Vocal Ensembles
web page _at_ www.mtsd.k12.nj.us
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"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