The Harp- November 2007

jsvendsen — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:07:07 +0000

UPCOMING CONCERT

Remember, the next concert for both Mixed Chorus and A Cappella Choir (Chamber Choir also) is Sunday, December 9t^hat 2 PM in the Gail Niceswanger Theater. Mixed Chorus students will need to be at the school, appropriately attired, at 1:45. A Cappella Choir members will be required to be robed and ready for action at 1:30. All students are required to participate in concerts as it represents one third of the overall semester grade. If you have questions, please review the Parent/Student agreement you received and signed at the beginning of the year. Work is not a valid excuse for missing a concert. If you are sick the day of the concert, you will need to do make up work. Failure to complete the make up work at a satisfactory level will result in zero points for concert participation.

LESSONS FROM LESSONS

Many times, conductors of the different musical ensembles do not see eye to eye, in the philosophical sense. The choral conductor argues that blend is the most important quality of the large group. The orchestra conductor will swear that it is balance. The band conductor, if he can still hear anything after years of standing in front of high brass sections that fail to grasp the concept of dynamic contrast, may, understandably, contend that both blend and balance are equally important, and that a good conductor should be able to achieve both. And, thus, conductors do not always agree with one another when it comes to the purpose and priority of large ensemble instruction.

There is one activity, however, that all conductors, directors, teachers, etc. agree upon. It is unanimously accepted that, regardless of the type of music the ensemble performs, regardless of its particular makeup, its level of professionalism or its stated purpose and intent, individual and group lessons for each participant will make an ensemble infinitely better than an ensemble that goes without. The participants, unfortunately, rarely hold this belief themselves, They often see lessons as an inconvenience to their already busy social and academic agenda, and conductors are forced to agree that many students are indeed quite busy.

Let me share a brief list of regional high schools and colleges with reputable choral and vocal music programs:

Ankeny, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Clinton, Dowling, Johnston, Valley West Des Moines, and Waukee.

Iowa State University, Drake University, Luther College, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.

These schools, without exception, require the students in their ensembles to receive some form of lessons, be they from the choir conductor or a private teacher. Some students have multiple lessons per week, and the average time devoted for a lesson is one half an hour.

There are many of you who take lessons from a private instructor, and that is all well and good. I encourage you to learn about music outside of the classroom. But, there is a difference between the vocal technique one acquires to become a proficient soloist and the technique one acquires to become a good chorister. Of course, should my little soapbox rant fail to convince you, there is always the incentive of your grade to coax you to come in. Remember, to leave class for one twenty minute lesson per semester is the equivalent of missing, roughly, one half of one percent of the overall class time allotted to you in a given grading period. Surely, such a miniscule amount of time missed, if not taken during an important exam or lab, will not affect your grade.

Do not misunderstand: I do not feel that vocal music should be your first and only academic priority, though it may be for some. I, as much as any other, believe that a well-rounded student will be a more successful one. I simply wish to improve upon your knowledge of the beauty that can be found in an excellent choir. And, to that regard, I am afraid you will find me rather obstinate.

BREAD MAKING

It is unfortunate that, seemingly, all activities, curricular and otherwise, require fundraising to provide students with unique opportunities for education and enrichment. Is it a curricular necessity for the A Cappella Choir to travel to New York or Washington every three years? One could, and many have, argued that the academic musical value of such a trip is negligible.

I did, however, read an article in the New York Times a few years ago that highlighted a study done by researchers on financial investment. What they discovered was that individuals who invested money into life experiences were infinitely happier than those who invested money into material possessions. Essentially, the research team surmised that parting with hard-earned cash to provide oneself with nothing more than memory of a unique experience was far better for ones self esteem than spending that same money to, say, purchase a new big screen television. Thus, regardless of its potential academic applications to choral musicianship, trips to unique locations quite possibly do more for a student’s sense of accomplishment and well being than almost anything.

Part of the job of a Booster Club is to determine ways to ease the financial burden of both the institution and the individual student, to streamline the effort of creating unique experiences. Fundraising is not glamorous, nor is it particularly enjoyable. It is necessary, if one contends that the goal of a vocal music program is to create meaningful experiences. Your ideas are always very welcome.

OTHER CONCERT OPPORTUNITIES

I was glad to receive so many responses from both the Vienna Boys Choir and the African Childrens’ Choir concerts. I encourage you all to attend any musical events to receive extra credit. Please share with me any opportunities you are aware of.

In the next two weeks to a month, many Iowa colleges will be performing their Holiday concerts. These concerts many times involve several choirs, symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, and soloists. It is a great experience if you can manage it. There are so many of these concerts that I will not mention them all here, but I will draw your attention to the Iowa State University Holiday Festival, which takes place Sunday, December 2^nd at 3 PM in the Stephens Auditorium in Ames. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. If you are interested, please call (515) 294-3831 for ticket information.

FADING TO BEIGE

Of all the colors I can think of, none is more boring than beige. A simple wood carving of monotone brown does not invoke the same sense of appreciation and contemplation as a vibrantly colored stain glass window. It is the same in nature. The most colorful bird wins the mate; the reddest rose becomes the affectionate object of many a poet. Rarely does crabgrass receive equal praise. Likewise, a choir without any sense of color, without vibrancy, inspires no contemplation, no admiration. The audience member utters, “Huh” and returns home to his Playstation 3 that he has left on pause so he could come watch his girlfriend sing for awhile.

Once again, I use nature as the example. The maple tree, in fall, when its leaves have exerted themselves to their last, burst forth in all manner of beautiful oranges, yellows and reds before succumbing to gravity and falling from their branch. We then spend our free weekends raking them up and setting them in little piles, placing them in bags, mulching them and lugging them to city compost heaps. Yet, we still plant these trees in our front yards in greater numbers than other trees. It’s quite a bit of work to have them. Now, why is that?

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jsvendsen — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:49:32 +0000

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Fort Dodge Senior High Vocal Music

The Harp- November 2007

Hello world!