Story and photos by Crystal Hayduk
(Note: This article is part of a new series about Chelsea School District’s music program.)
Choir teacher Andrea Miller is already familiar with returning fifth-grade students because she is also the third and fourth grade elementary music teacher.
Miller gets the students participating in the introductory choir class with a song. She tells the students that choir is different from the music classes they’ve been accustomed to, with music choices that are more fun and interesting.
Choir students learn how to be better singers, read music, and be part of the vocal ensemble. “Being part of an ensemble is just like being part of a sports team,” she says. “The goal is to make music and perform better, all while working together and having fun.”
Miller says vocalists of all ability levels are welcome to join choir, since everyone can sing and improve the skills they were born with.
She introduces the students to movement warm-ups with a full-class jumping jack exercise. When the game ends, Miller tells the students that they just learned the importance of concentration and working as a team.
In addition, Miller says that using one’s voice in choir is physically demanding. “You’ll especially strengthen your abdominal muscles as you learn the proper breathing for singing,” she says.
Speaking from her life experience, Miller says that she played the trumpet when she was in fifth grade, because she followed in her older sister’s footsteps. But when sixth grade rolled around, she realized that the trumpet wasn’t for her and she switched to choir. However, her two sons chose to participate in band throughout school.
“If you’ve had your heart set on learning an instrument, do it,” says Miller. “Now’s your chance. But if you sing all the time and it makes you happy, you may belong in choir.
“Your voice will always be with you,” she says.
Ultimately, out of 184 fifth-grade students, 25 have chosen choir, 77 have entered band, and 82 have joined orchestra.
South Meadows Principal Stacie Battaglia says, “I am amazed each year when I attend our fifth-grade music concerts. It astounds me that children who picked up an instrument, or began singing in a group setting for the first time just a few months prior, create such beautiful music together. This initial year of music education is the first step in building the tremendous music ensembles that we take such pride in in the Chelsea School District.”
