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Date Posted: 09:41:24 01/31/06 Tue
Author: Bradley Jayne
Subject: Show Choirs and Musicals
I am concerned that here at Heidelberg College we are not being trained to direct a show choir or a musical (which is in our licensure). For me this is dilemma because I desire to direct high school choirs, and a lot of times we as the high school choir director are required to direct the show choirs and/ or the musicals. I don't understand why a Teaching Marching Band Class is offered for instrumentalists and why they do not also offer Teaching Show Choirs or Musical Direction? I understand that a lot can be learned from being in a musical or being in a showchoir, but for those of us who participate in these venues we are not always thinking about the pedagogical aspects, rather we are trying to memorize our lines or choreography. Does anyone else view this as a problem!?
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Rosemary, 06:40:37 02/01/06 Wed [1]
I think if Heidelberg had a five year music program, then a class in teaching musicals/show choir would be able to work. I'm disappointed that there isn't a jazz pedagogy class, but where would it fit in our schedules? What Heidelberg does offer is the Pepsi grant, which is great for funding extended learning workshops (jazz, more marching band, show choir, musicals, madrigals, etc.). A four year program at any school can only take you so far but at least we have the opportunity to fund our own interests.
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Tediyra, 00:28:44 02/06/06 Mon [1]
I must agree. There are several classes I would like to take, but I understand their absense. The suggestion of a pepsi grant is very suitable.
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Amanda Schwab, 06:54:03 02/06/06 Mon [1]
I agree with you Bradley, there should be a class that teaches about high school show choir, musical, and even jazz. There should be something that teaches about all of the extra activities that are usually required for teaching high school. The extras are a part of teaching high school that really scares me.
I sat in the marching band class last semester, and it was quite educational. I mean I was in marching band from my 8th grade year until I graduated high school, but there was a lot that we talked about in marching band class that I never even realized. I think that having a class for show choir, musical, etc. would be very helpful. I know that there are many parts to putting together those extras that aren't just basic knowledge, and it would be helpful to learn about those things ahead of time.
I know that the music ed. program is set to be kept to 4 years, and for that fact not everything can be offered. I also realize the fact that the pepsi grant is given out, which is wonderful. However, something should be added (even if they are just electives) because all of those extras will most often be required of high school teachers, and I know that they are things that I would like to learn in case i have to teach high school.
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Devin Bramel, 09:10:01 02/06/06 Mon [1]
I would agree that musicals, show choir, and jazz ensembles are not really incorporated into our curriculum; however, the opportunity to learn about them is there, if one seeks to find the answers.
I have found, at least for me, that most of the time experience is actually the best teacher. For example, one can sit through a class and discuss the various aspects of jazz performance practice, yet unless one actually participates in a jazz ensemble, there is no need to apply this knowledge; thus, chances are it will not be retained. The same can be applied to show choirs and musicals as well.
If one is interested in learning the pedagogy behind these ensembles, I would suggest that one talks to the instructor. Find out why they chose the music they chose and what they are trying to teach through it; also, closely observe them as they teach and pay close attention to just how they instruct the students, what aspects of the music they draw attention to, as well as how they solve problems the ensemble is having. This may not formally be a "class" approach, but one can still learn through experience and observation.
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Derek, 17:31:48 02/07/06 Tue [1]
Granted, we can't learn everything in a four year experience, and some things can't even be offered in a four year experience. That's just the way it is. However, there is something I'd like to see happen at the Berg before our class graduates.
The one thing we should try and do before we leave is establish a disscusion panel that meets every week during the second semester, even if it's just for the last part of the semester (say, for example, we only meet after spring break). Its goal would be to let the seniors talk about anything they haven't learned yet. It'd be one last chance to draw upon all of our professors' knowledge here at the Berg. If we could get people from both the instrumental and choral departments to sit in on this panel, chances are we could ask questions pertaining to show choirs, musicals, jazz improv, pep bands, field trips, fundraising activities, and anything else we might have touched upon briefly during our time here at the Berg but would like one last refresher. We might even be able to get Mr. Bleyle or Mr. Hanson to come in and offer their perspectives. The more people we get a chance to talk to before we get shipped out of here the better.
Basically, if we could set up a class (for seniors only) that functioned just like this website, we could solidify so many different concepts or expand our knowledge even more. I personally want a chance to reflect on everything we've learned here at Heidelberg during the final days (or weeks) as a senior. I also would like the chance to ask FACULTY as many last minute questions as I could. This website is great, but if we could get at least half the music department together one last time before we go for a discussion panel (or seminar), I think it would help ALL of us greatly.
I have a feeling that by this time next year, I'm going to start feeling a little panicked about finding my OWN job. If we could get one last opportunity at that particular moment in time -- when all of us are just about to cross over into the next phase of our life -- to just talk to people that have already been in the field for a number of years, I think that'd be very reassuring for me. I don't know if this will happen, but I would like to find a time for seniors to sit down with more than one instructor and discuss anything else that comes to mind. Then, during each week, the professors can help us search for even more information about whatever topic we want to learn more about (either from their own resources or extended knowledge) and discuss it in class next week. Even if we can only set up a situation where we meet with as many professors as we can just once during our final days at Heidelberg, I'd feel a lot better. Right now, we have classes with one professor at a time. Think what we could do with 8 or 9 in a seminar. We could even call it the "Breneman Round Table" --- taught by the entire music department.
ANYHOW, I hope something like this gets approved in the near future. We'll probably never get a class on show choirs, musicals, or jazz methods - but this could certainly help...
One last chance to talk with all the professors -- that's all I ask -- not as teachers or students, but as men and women.
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Rosemary, 20:41:29 02/07/06 Tue [1]
I agree with Devin as far as experience, but keep in mind, there's still student teaching. This will answer many of your questions regarding marching band, musicals, show choir, etc. Choose a placement and a time of year for you senior block that will give you the opportunity to address these issues.
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Patrick Clinage, 21:19:05 03/27/06 Mon [1]
dereck it would be nice to have a class that can teach you how to run a showchoir...since i am in Dr. Marlatts showchoir i have greatly enjoyed myself but he has been teaching showchoir since before he got to college and i think it would be nice to have a class that can help you learn how to teach dancing and showchoir
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Cory, 16:54:41 03/31/06 Fri [1]
I would also agree with the need for some kind of elective class to teach some ideas about the extra curricular activities that we will be recquired to teach in school. However I disagree that experience and observation would provide us with the knowledge necessary to teach these ensmbles. Take the show choir for instance. I think that we sound as a group really good but we do little dancing and a lot of high school students would not understand our concept of show choir thus we would have to mold it into something else that we have no experience in. We would basically be in a bind. Thats just how I feel.
Cory
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Honoree Pouly, 12:02:58 04/02/06 Sun [1]
I think that the college should offer an elective class that like Amanda says, does not just cover one aspect of extra curricular activities. For example I think it would be rewarding to learn about musicals, show choirs, jazz ensembles, and other possible extra curricular activities. I know this way the education would not be as in-depth as a student may want, but it would be a good introduction to learning about these other aspects. It would be possible to then go on ones own and learn more about one or more of these aspects.
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Jessica, 07:51:37 03/31/07 Sat [1]
I certainly agree with Bradley on this one. Unless you take full advantage of the singing collegians and the musical along with Opera Workshop a choral major gets no experience with show choir or Musical theatre at all. While I personally have a boatload of experience through my personal involvment through the years there are others who have never stepped foot on stage or sang anything but "classical" repitoire. While one might argue that you can higher a coreographer and someone to direct you could a.) not have the funds to do so or b.) still not know the correct technique with which to teach the singers how to sing with a music theatre style or how to control their breath support while they are singing and dancing. By saying this I guess I am trying to encourage all of the vocal music ed students to get out there and take an Opera Workshop class for a year or try out for a musical. Even being in the chorus or stage crew for a show gets you more experience than none.
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Re: Show Choirs and Musicals -- Brian B., 19:00:35 05/08/07 Tue [1]
This is a very important topic to me because one of the things that is my goal coming out of college is to be able to direct and produce high quality productions. Because of this I am trying to add a theatre minor on my music ed degree however much I am trying to do about that I am also trying to be more involved in the musical theatre portions of college. With everything that I have done already just this year, I am much more comfortable on stage, however, as Jessica was saying there are still lots of little things like breath support while dancing that I might never learn how to teach if the one musical that Heidelberg does involving that happens to be the musical I can't do for some reason. In any case, a class on this subject would be extremely beneficial to further the skills of people who are already involved in theatre and introduce at least the most basic level principles to those who never were involved in musical theatre.
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