High School Choir: Program Overview

Miss Herd is the music teacher/choir director for grades 9 – 12 at Greenwater High School. Ms. Annette Smith is the piano accompanist.

All high school students have the opportunity to participate in concert choir, a non-auditioned group. High school concert choir members engage in music in primarily a rehearsal setting. Rehearsal is, however, infused with instruction and exploration in music theory, history, culture, and analytical listening skills. Music instruction is aligned to national and state music standards. Because this is a performing group, proper performance skills (including posture, aural skills, vocal technique, and breathing) are emphasized. Students sing a variety of literature, and discover how musical concepts apply to performance and their “musical experience.” Concert choir members will have solo and group performance opportunities that foster their developing musicianship.

Students are required to take at least one full year of fine arts to fulfill their graduation requirement. Concert choir fulfills this requirement. Members attend rehearsal every day for 45 minutes. The concert choir also serves as the “pool” of students who are eligible to audition for the annual school musical (everyone is guaranteed some part in the musical—the audition will determine who receives which roles). In addition to the musical, students will perform on two public concerts—one in the fall and one in the spring—to showcase their literature study. All choir members will participate in large ensemble festivals. Students have the option of discussing participation in solo festivals with Miss Herd. Miss Herd may ask students to participate in small ensembles as well.

All students enrolled in concert choir are also invited to audition for Dynamics, a select mixed ensemble. This elite group will also perform on public concerts, at community venues, and at contest. This group will rehearse for 40 minutes a day three times a week, either before or after school. (Rehearsals will be scheduled after auditions, and are contingent upon the needs of the students and teacher.)