Accessible And Beautiful: SATB/SAB music by minority composers/arrangers
Session Abstract: This session seeks to support the many distinct ACDA choral communities in the following three ways: 1) by introducing accessible, diverse choral music appropriate for high school choral singers, 2) by contributing culturally diverse music composed and arranged by minority choral musicians, and 3) by demonstrating a rehearsal/concert environment of belonging that can nurture the social and emotional needs of all choristers as they interact with the music and each other.
Participants will receive a reading packet of accessible repertoire. Student singers in the demonstration choir (diversity is reflected in their population) will perform selected repertoire, providing choral directors with a real-time opportunity to hear a high school choir perform these selections. Then, after each selection, students will reflect on the concept of belonging to this choir. Connecting their thoughts and feelings to the music performed and then speculating what belonging to a choir might mean to students in a diverse school may well provide a pathway for ACDA participants who want to remodel or rebuild the sense of belonging in their own choral communities.
The three session components address key challenges, both in pre-covid and post-covid teaching. One pre-covid challenge that still remains important was finding accessible music that is diverse and inclusive, and also crafted in culturally appropriate ways by expert composers and arrangers. Post-covid literature choices also have become more challenging, as repertoire must support smaller, less advanced choirs to accommodate the loss of consistent in-person rehearsal. Growth of music skills, musical independence, and vocal development has often been diminished due to extended time in virtual or hybrid choral settings. Pedagogical needs must influence literature selection to support the remediation period necessary after extended virtual teaching and learning—our students deserve time to review, catch up, and thrive.
The ultimate goal of this session is to provide choral colleagues with a diverse list of accessible high school mixed choir selections that can be used for pedagogical elements, rebuilding success for choirs suffering from the impact of lost years of teaching, and stage performance. The composers and music introduced within this session support the student growth goals so necessary in post-covid ensembles.
Growing things change, and changing things grow. With that said, ACDA and choral music “have been changed for good!”
Oakland Mills High School Singers
Oakland Mills High School
Edryn Coleman
Oakland Mills High School
Edryn J. Coleman is choral director at Oakland Mills High School in Columbia, MD. He has taught music at every level - elementary, middle, and college. With a plethora of classroom teaching experiences, guest conducting appearances, guest clinician/adjudicator appearances, and conference presentations, Dr. Coleman is always eager to share what he has learned. His teaching motto is “They’ll never care how much you know until they know how much you care!
