The Sound of Music is Alive and Well with D146’s Central Choir

With some school districts cutting back on their music programs, Central Middle School is keeping the sound of music alive and well.

The approximately 900 students at Central Middle School have a large number of after-school clubs and activities from which to choose, with Choir being one.  The Choir ensemble, known as the “Twister Tones”, has 47 participating members this year. The club is open to all male or female in any grade level, and there isn’t an audition process to go through to join and no previous voice experience is needed.  There is, however, a voice placement process between the director and individual student to test their vocal range and place them in the part where singing will be most comfortable. 

For the sweet, melodic sound that this talented group delivers takes a time and commitment to perfect. The choir meets before school on Wednesdays and after school on Thursdays, however practice times may change due to other events in the school. Choir Director Katie Moan said, “With many musically gifted students at Central, many want to participate in the school play, as well as choir.  This is understandable and we expect it, so we alter the practice schedule to accommodate the large number of students that participate in the play during this time of the school year.”

Ms. Moan, in her first year of teaching at Central Middle School, said when she accepted the Choir Director position she had no idea the wonderful opportunities that awaited her.  As a Music Education graduate she said to be chosen as the new CMS Choir Director was awesome.

“When I found out that the choir director position was open I applied immediately and the rest is history,” said Ms. Moan.  “I, myself, began singing in third grade and it continued through high school years and into college. I am so passionate about music, and hope to share this passion for music with my choir students at Central. I see the excitement and enthusiasm from these students every day.  Each one has talent and confidence to display those talents.  For these students performing is fun, but I don’t really think they fully understand the depth of their bravery, to get up in front of the crowds and sing. It is wonderful because it teaches them to stand up in front of a crowd and present themselves.  That is experience that will be invaluable for later on in their lives. My goal is to have them experience some of the same wonderful moments of musical magic I have had.” 

Ms. Moan praises the performance portion but has a strong belief that music helps students in their everyday education, too.  “I value music as a vehicle to build young people. The following ‘Why Music’, initially penned by others but further edited by me, are facts that place music in an important position in the education of the whole student.”

WHY MUSIC?

Music is a Science.  It is exact, specific, and it demands exact acoustics.  A conductor’s full score is a chart; a graph that indicates frequencies, intensities, volume control changes, melody, and harmony all at once with the most exact control of time.

Music is Mathematical.  It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions, which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper.

Music is a Foreign Language.  Most of the terms are Italian, German, or French and the notation is certainly not English—but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas.  The semantics of music are a most complete and universal language.

Music is History.  Music usually reflects environment and times of its creation, often the country and/or ethnic feeling.

Music is Physical Education.  If requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lips, cheeks, and facial muscles, in addition to extraordinary control of the diaphragm, back, stomach, and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets.

Music develops insights and demands research.

Music is all of these things, but most of all, MUSIC IS ART.  It allows human beings to take all of these dry, technically boring (but difficult) techniques and uses them to create emotion.  The one thing that science cannot duplicate: humanism, feeling, emotion, call if what you will.

That is why I want my child to have music. Not because I expect them to major in music. Not because I expect them to play or sing all of their lives.

• so my child will be human,

• so my child will recognize beauty,

• so my child will have something to cling to,

• so my child will understand the meaning of hard work, dedication, sacrifice and pride,

• so my child will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, and become a worthy member of society.                      

In short;  so my child will have a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

“I hope to create a program of general music and singing that students at CMS can participate in; one that brings an excitement to their accomplishments in the classroom and on stage and has as an end result of their participation - a life-long realization that music can bring to their lives.”

Upcoming Performance Dates:

• April 16th & 17th- SWIC Choral May 2nd & 3rd- Spring Musical “The Little Mermaid”

• May 8th- Spring Choir Concert