Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Department of Music
MUU 322
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Course Outline
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Approved by Department: November 4, 2003
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students to teach choral music in the schools. Each student will be able to discuss and/or demonstrate appropriate teaching techniques, strategies, and materials (including representative choral repertoire), and develop an understanding of the administrative responsibilities needed to initiate and maintain a successful choral music program.
Prerequisites: MUS 325 Conducting (Vocal and Instrumental)
3 Clock hours, 3 Semester Credit hours.
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Organize and conduct efficient and successful choral rehearsals, including the use of effective aural skills, error detection and correction.
Prepare choruses for concerts and festivals.
Demonstrate advanced choral conducting principles and techniques.
Demonstrate an understanding of the interpretation of the traditional choral literature, through the use of effective criticism techniques of analysis, evaluation, and aesthetic response.
Select diverse choral repertoire (including western and non-western) and prepare the music for rehearsal through kinetic interpretation of the score.
Develop good vocal technique in the chorus, including balance, blend, and intonation.
Demonstrate a philosophic basis for the choral program, including assessing and modifying teaching methods and materials to strengthen the effectiveness of teaching.
Organize, develop, and maintain a choral curriculum.
Administer the choral program, including facilities, equipment, and library.
Demonstrate an understanding of relations with students, administrators, parents, and colleagues.
Demonstrate an awareness of the printed materials, instructional resources, professional journals, and professional organizations that are relevant to the choral teacher.
The Choral Conductor and the Score
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Advanced choral conducting principles and techniques
Interpreting the traditional choral literature
Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Modern periods.
Selecting choral repertoire; criteria, aesthetic worth, other considerations.
Studying choral repertoire; structure, texture, text, score preparation.

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Planning Rehearsals and Performances
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Organizing and planning successful rehearsals, including writing lesson plans.
Developing efficient rehearsal techniques.
Working with an accompanist.
Building a concert repertoire.
Preparing small and large choruses for concerts.
Performing for festivals and adjudications.
Developing Choral Musicianship in Students
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Vocal techniques for the chorus; breath, tone, balance, blend, intonation.
Special problems for the changing voice.
Diction problems, including English and Latin.
Developing good sight singing techniques.
Managing Elementary, Middle-Level and High School Choruses
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A philosophic basis for the choral program.
Developing the choral curriculum.
Qualification of the choral director.
Facilities and Equipment.
Managing the choral library.
Budgeting and purchasing.
Relations with students, administrators, parents and colleagues.
Resources, journals, professional organizations.
Technology in teaching.
Assessment
Assessment of each student’s level of accomplishment with reference to the course objectives will be based upon the following:
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Active participation in classroom discussions and presentations, including assessment of other conductors, teachers, and class members.
Demonstration of advanced choral conducting techniques in regular classroom recitations and exams.
Demonstration of effective rehearsal techniques in regular classroom rehearsals, rehearsals of university ensembles, and rehearsals during the field experience.
Preparation of written papers, assignments, marked conductor’s scores, lesson plans.
Written examinations.
Successful participation in the field experience. This requires a satisfactory recommendation from field experience cooperating teachers and the university coordinator.
Instructional Resources
Adler, Samuel. Choral Conducting, 2 nd
ed. New York: Schirmer Books, 1985.
Alsobrook, Joseph, and Tim Lautzenheiser. Pathways: A Guide for Energizing & Enriching Band,
Orchestra, & Choral Programs.
GIA Publications, 2002.
Bailey, Wayne. Aural Skills for Conductors.
Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Pub., 1992.
Boyd, Jack. Rehearsal Guide for the Choral Director.
Champaign, IL: Mark Foster Music, 1977.

Brinson, Barbara A. Choral Music Methods and Materials: Developing Successful Choral Programs.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1996.
Busch, Brian R. The Complete Choral Conductor: Gesture and Method. New York: Schirmer Books,
1984.
Freer, Patrick K. Getting Started with Middle-Level Choir.
Reston, VA: Music Educators National
Conference, 1998.
Gordon, Lewis. Choral Director’s Rehearsal and Performance Guide.
West Nyack, NY: Parker
Publishing Company, 1991.
Heffernan, Charles W. Choral Music: Technique and Artistry.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall,
1982.
Hoffer, Charles R. Teaching Music in the Secondary Schools, 5 th
ed.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Publishing, 2001.
Howerton, George. Technique and Style in Choral Singing . New York: Carl Fischer, 1956.
Lamb, Gordon H. Choral Techniques, 3 rd
ed. Dubuque: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1988.
Michelson, Steven K. Getting Started with High School Choir.
Reston, VA: Music Educators National
Conference, 1994.
Pfeiler, Catherine, Nancy Jorgensen, and Eph Ehly. Things They Never Taught You In Choral Methods.
New York: Hal Leonard, no date.
Roach, Donald W. Complete Secondary Choral Music Guide.
West Nyack, NY: Parker Publishing
Company, 1989.
Robinson, Ray, et al. The Choral Experience: Literature, Materials, and Methods.
Waveland Press, 1992.
Roe, Paul. F. Choral Music Education. Waveland Press, 1994.
Small, Ann R., and Judy K. Bowers, ed. Strategies for Teaching Elementary and Middle-Level Chorus.
Reston, VA: Music Educators National Conference, 1997.
Stegman, Sandra Frey. Student Teaching in the Choral Classroom: An Investigation of Secondary Choral
Music Student Teachers' Perceptions of Instructional Successes.
Edwin Mellen Press, 2000.
Swears, Linda. Teaching the Elementary School Chorus.
West Nyack, NY: Parker Publishing, 1984.
Swiggum, Randal, ed. Strategies for Teaching High School Chorus.
Reston, VA: Music Educators
National Conference, 1998.
Thomas, Kurt. The Choral Conductor.
New York: Associated Music Publishers, 1971.
Young, Allen. Choral Educators Resource Handbook.
San Francisco: Choral Resource Seminars, 1985.
JOURNALS:
Journal of the American Choral Directors Association . Lawton, OK.
Music Educators Journal . Reston, VA: Music Educators National Conference.