Preparatory Choir - Ms. Angela Borba, Associate Director
The Preparatory Choir lays the foundation for successful progress and development as a singer in DGC. Girls must be in at least the 3rd grade to join and have the ability to accurately match pitch. The typical age for a member is eight to ten years old, with little or no prior training. The emphasis for this chorus is on proper use of the vocal instrument through games, folk songs and rhythmic activities. Frequent performances are not a component of this class. The Preparatory Choir meets one day a week for two hours. Students generally take this course for one to two years before advancing to another level.
Objectives:
- Develop a joy for singing
- Learn the fundamentals of vocal production & choral singing
- Develop good intonation
- Very basic music terminology & symbols
- Body rhythms, clapping & movement
- Elements of solfege (a system of sight-reading music) and note reading
- Gain the ability to sing a solo line on pitch
- Basics of performing techniques & concert etiquette
- Proper behavior and participation skills for rehearsals/performances
- Folk songs and partner-songs as a basis of literature
Intermediate Choir - Ms. Rosalind Neisinger Associate Director
Enrolled in this choir must have mastered the skills outlined for the Preparatory Choir. The Intermediate Choir continues with the basics in the girls' musical development. Girls in this choir are typically between the ages of nine to eleven years old. The Intermediate Choir meets one day a week for two hours. Like the Preparatory Choir, there is not an emphasis on frequent performances. Students take this course for one to two years before advancing to another level.
Objectives:
- Continue with the fundamentals of vocal production and choral singing
- Demonstrate good posture and breath control
- Continued development of good intonation
- Continued music terminology and symbols
- Solfege and note reading in the development of sight singing
- Basics of performing techniques and concert etiquette
- Proper behavior & participation skills for rehearsals/performances
- Continued singing of partner-songs and folk songs
- Introduction of two-part literature
- Demonstrate the ability to sing a given vocal line against another part
Apprentice Choir - Mrs. Jennifer Brown Associate Director
The Apprentice Choir lays the foundation for successful progress and development as a singer in DGC. This group does not require any prior musical training, but girls must have the ability to match pitch accurately and have a strong desire to excel in the program. The typical age is ten to thirteen years. The emphasis for this choir is to prepare singers for placement in the Concert Choir. Frequent performances are not a component of this choir. The Apprentice Choir meets one day a week for two hours. Students generally take this course for one year only.
Objectives:
- Develop a joy for singing
- Learn the fundamentals of vocal production & choral singing
- Develop good intonation, posture and breath control
- Music terminology and symbols
- Elements of solfege (a system of sight-reading music) and note reading
- Gain the ability to sing a solo line on pitch
- Basics of performing techniques and concert etiquette
- Focus on music preparation outside of the rehearsal
- Proper behavior and participation skills for rehearsals/performances
- Unison, partner-songs and two-three part harmony as a basis of literature
- Demonstrate the ability to sing a given vocal line against another part
Honor Choir - Mr. Ken Abrams Artistic Director
This is a select group of singers chosen from the Concert Choir through a separate, internal audition. This choir meets for an extra half hour each week after the regularly scheduled rehearsal and learns additional music of its own.
Attendance is required at all functions!
Objectives:
- Continue with more challenging music theory
- Continued use of two-part repertoire
- More experience in public performance
- Focus on music preparation outside of the rehearsal
- Continued study in the principles of good singing and vocal production
- Receive vocal coaching in a class setting as well as individually
- Begin development of solo singing
- Develop consistent use of the vocal mechanism
- Memorize 45-60 minutes of music
- Use of solfege for sight singing
- Demonstrate the ability to hold ones part against one contrary part
Honor Choir - Mr. Ken Abrams Artistic Director
Members of the Concert Choir must have the basic principles and objectives covered in the earlier choirs. Musical training will proceed at a faster pace and in the more complex context of technically demanding music. The typical age for this choir is ten to fourteen years, with two to four years of musical training. The Concert Choir performs at community events and participates in a four-day tour each spring. The group meets once a week for for two hours.