“I Am a Musician!” Fostering a Child’s Musical Identity

The children who first experienced choral singing on Zoom five years ago fill the ranks of children’s choirs today. Kendra Kay Friar, Associate Conductor of Pacific Youth Choir and Oregon’s 2021 Outstanding Elementary Music Educator (OMEA), leads this interactive and celebratory session highlighting the educational needs of today’s youngest choristers. Children’s inability to access live performances and in-person group singing at a formative time in their development led to gaps in knowledge that choir directors continue to address in each rehearsal cycle. Organizations serving young children also saw many families to withdraw from the choral community during and after the COVID crisis. Whole and partial bans on singing in the music classroom drastically reduced young children’s access to vocal training and community singing. What can be learned from the challenges encountered during and after this unique moment in history? Using the post-COVID experience of Pacific Youth Choir as a backdrop, session participants will explore the concept of “Musical Identity” and its effective application to rehearsal design and organizational revitalization. Related repertoire, relevant research literature, and children’s testimonials will be presented. This high-energy, standing room-only session first presented at the 2024 Northwestern ACDA Conference draws upon the lived experiences of children’s choir directors and students to instruct the future practice of all choral professionals. This session will offer theoretical and practical explorations of these interrelated concepts:
* MUSIC IN IDENTITY = Students look outward for cues/guidance and seek behaviors/conventions commonly associated with an intended performance aesthetic. Teacher serves as role model and guides student’s skill development. (ex., Students adopt uniform manner of dress for concert performances. Students practice vocal techniques appropriate to a desired performance style.) * IDENTITY IN MUSIC = Students use music as a vehicle for expression of authentic self. Students explore and express aspects of personal identity through self-driven engagement in musical pursuits. Teacher promotes personal autonomy of students through curation of musical activities. (ex., Students join choir because they identify as a person who is a good team player.)