NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
ERIC Number: EJ726938
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Dec-1
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1069-7446
EISSN: N/A
Winning Their Hearts. Members Speak Out: In performances, How do You Establish Rapport between Your Choir and Young Audiences?
Montague, Matthew G.
Teaching Music, v13 n3 p77 Dec 2005
The author discusses techniques on how to establish rapport between the choir and young audiences. According to him, one of the choir's most important assets just might be something he calls access-ability. One of Webster's definitions of "access "is" permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or communicate with." When it comes to recruiting, the director who discovers the principle of "access-ability" will be able to explore and incorporate some creative ways to approach and communicate with potential choristers in audiences of young students. One has to consider a more relaxed approach than a formal concert usually offers. One can win the hearts of one's audience (and potential future choristers) by providing an interactive, positive musical experience, and one's chorus might enjoy it, too. According to John C. Maxwell, author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Press, 1998), "to connect with people in a group, relate to them as individuals" (p. 104). One way to establish a connection is to acquaint young audiences with individual members of one's choir. Begin by asking students what their favorite subject is. After children in the audience have stated their preferred subjects, turn to the choir and pose the same question. The young audience quickly discovers and connects with the individual singers in the choir. Another way to connect with one's audience as individuals is to invite a young audience member to direct the choir. Choose a short work without tempo changes. Announce the piece, and help the choir get a starting pitch. One will quickly discover (or be reminded) that many students in the audience are newcomers who want to share the choral experience with the choir. Ultimately, one's choir's "access-ability" will permit each member of the audience to participate more fully in the choral experience.
MENC (National Association for Music Education) Subscription Office, P.O. Box 1584, Birmingham, AL 35201. Tel: 800-336-3768 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.menc.org.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; High Schools; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A