🎵 Intentional Choir Repertoire Planning: 10 Questions to Guide Your Year 🎵
I admit it. I've always felt jealous of the teachers who can simply open a book and follow a prepared curriculum. They don’t spend countless hours pouring over sheet music, organizing choir folders and creating the perfect choir concert program. They don't have to juggle the responsibilities of educating students AND entertaining a full auditorium several times a year.
Of course, this jealousy is short-lived. The truth is, I wouldn't trade places with Math or English teachers for anything because I really love what I do. (Plus, I don’t want to grade papers!) 😉
So, how can we plan with intention to save precious time while making impactful decisions for our students?
Here are some tips that have worked for me:
1. Create a Repertoire Spreadsheet 📊
Start a spreadsheet of songs your choirs have performed, including the song title, composer/arranger, choir, and concert date. This will help you track what has been done and avoid repetition.
2. Determine the Number of Songs 🎶
Decide how many songs you want each choir to perform at every concert. It is okay to have an alternative song ready to go in case you need an additional song or if you need to swap out a song that isn’t working for your group. I do this all the time.
3. Plan a Combined Number 🎤
Consider including a combined piece for the concert finale. This not only encourages younger students, who love to sing with the older kiddos, but also ensures everyone stays for the entire performance. Plus, it is a great recruitment tool!
4. Utilize Existing Music 🎼
Ask yourself, is there any music, such as audition pieces for All-State or Honor Choirs, that can be incorporated into your concert rep? Teaching these to the full choir saves time and effort for all involved. Plus, it ensures that the students who plan to audition really know the audition pieces well.
5. Think About Themes 🎭
While themed concerts can be popular, they can also be challenging to program. If you're not comfortable with themes, it's perfectly fine to avoid them. If you do choose a theme, but sure you are programming music that you love and not just looking for a song that fits the theme. Personally, I am not a big fan of themed concerts because I find them stressful to plan, but I do love a themed combined finale! (see #3)
6. Check Your Budget 💵
If funds are tight, consider borrowing music from local universities, other public/private school choir programs, or area churches. Just make sure to return all borrowed copies promptly. *Pro-Tip: When I borrow music, I usually purchase a few extra copies so I have them on hand as replacements if music is lost or damaged.
7. Align with Music Standards 📚
Plan with music education goals in mind. Identify what you want your students to learn this year and choose pieces that support those goals. I like to incorporate music that the choir can analyze and discuss. Ask yourself, what musical elements can be taught from this piece of music?
8. Consider Voicing 🎤
Be sure your choir can handle the parts and ranges of the music you select. If you have a small choir, choose voicing that supports the students. Review each part to be sure that range isn’t too high or low for the tenor/bass part.
The changing voice is usually my biggest challenge when selecting music because student’s voices can change quickly. If you are short on tenor and basses, consider finding SSAB music that can be challenging for all members of the group while supporting the lower part.
9. Plan Ahead 🗓️
Keep a running list of potential songs for next year and add songs when you think of it. I divide my list by concert (ie. Fall, Winter, Pops and Spring) and break it down by choir as well. This resource is always my first stop when selecting concert music. Need to choose music now? That’s cool…start a running list for next year!
10. Be Flexible 🤸♀️
After 20 years of teaching choir, I've learned that until you have the full choir in front of you, you won’t have a complete picture of what will work best. Be prepared to adjust and have more music ready than you think you'll need. Flexibility is key! Sometimes the best-laid plans need to change, and having a backup plan can make all the difference.
Final Tip 🌟
Choose music that makes you happy! I love to jokingly say to my students, “I only pick music I like”. But there is a little truth to that statement. If you are going to work on a piece of music everyday for 6+ weeks, make sure you like it! Find music that brings joy to all!
Happy planning and enjoy making music with your students! 🎶✨
