Elementary Choir
Important Information:
***Choir is open to 4th-6th graders who are interested!
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***Choir meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-4:15pm resuming Tuesday, January 14th.
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***Choir will automatically be cancelled if school is cancelled. Practice tracks are available below.
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***We will have quite a few performances this year! We will perform virtually for Veteran's Day (Nov. 11th), a 4th-12th grade winter choir concert (Dec. 11th), the 5th grade program (CHANGED: Feb. 25), the BEF Appreciation Gala (VIRTUAL: Mar. 28th), the Baldwin Choral Festival (Mar. 31st), the 4th grade program (Apr. 3rd), and the talent show at the end of the school year (May 21st).
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***Each participant will be required to purchase a t-shirt for $12 (NEW design shown below!). Checks can be made out to BESIC and money can be turned in to the music teacher or the front office. Any other costs throughout the year will be optional.
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***Scholarship money is available for those who need it for any choir fees. Simply email the music teacher!
Signing Up:
***Sign-ups will be open for second semester for the 24-25 school year until Monday, January 13th at 3:00pm! To sign-up, simply fill out this Google form (READ QUESTIONS CAREFULLY!): https://forms.gle/SBubpKvqepzz9yKL7.
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***Missed the deadline for signing up? Email the music teacher and we will get something figured out right away!
Other Choir Opportunities:
NEKMEA District Honors Choir
Participants for this choir are selected by the teacher. Students selected will be sent home with a letter for guardians to sign. Only 8-12 students can represent the Baldwin IC at this event. Those who accept the opportunity will stay an extra 30 minutes after choir (until 4:45pm) to learn the required music, running from October through November. The performance is at Topeka High School on Saturday, December 7th. We will arrive there at 7:30am for registration and the day will conclude with a public concert at 11:15am (recommended $5 ticket price). The cost of this choir is $35.
KMEA All-State Elementary Choir
This choir is selected based on recorded submissions of the song "My Country Tis of Thee" in the key of F. Any 3rd-5th grade student can audition for this choir! To make a recording, students work with the music teacher to review the song then schedule a time with her to make a recording for submission. Recordings must be made by November 1st. Audition fee is $10. The KMEA Elementary Honors Choir will be announced in mid-December and selected students will perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop February 27th, 2025. For more information or if you have questions concerning KMEA, please email the music teacher.
KCDA All-State Treble Choir
This choir is selected based on recorded submissions of the song "Alleluia" which is linked below. Any 5th or 6th grade student can audition for this honors choir (5th grade can audition for both this and the All-State Elementary Choir; 6th grade has to choose between this and the All-State Middle Level Choir)! To make a recording, students work with the music teacher to learn the song then schedule a time with her to make a recording for submission. Recordings must be made by September 20th. Audition fee is $10. The KCDA Honors Choir will be announced in November and selected students will perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop February 28th, 2025. For more information or if you have questions concerning KCDA, please email the music teacher. (More info on www.kschoral.com.)
KMEA All-State Middle Level Choir (6th Only)
This choir is selected based on recorded submissions of the song "Dona Nobis Pachem" which is linked below. Any 6th grade student can audition for this honors choir (must choose between this and the KCDA Treble Choir)! To make a recording, students work with the music teacher to learn the song then schedule a time with her to make a recording for submission. Recordings must be made by September 27th. Audition fee is $10. The KMEA Middle Level Choir will be announced in November and selected students will perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop February 28th, 2025. For more information or if you have questions concerning KMEA, please email the music teacher. (More info on https://ksmea.org/mlchoir/)
The Importance of Vocal Music:
***Singing is a communal activity. Each participant must work with others to create the end result, helping teach students responsibility, independence and collaboration.
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***Vocal music explores a number of languages and cultures, fully immersing students in the musical experience.
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***Choral music challenges each student's brain as they alternate between accompanied and unaccompanied music, unison and harmony, Western and world music, and a variety of dynamics, emotions, time signatures, key signatures and more.
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***Singing is a full-body experience. In its very nature, it attends to the needs of aural, visual and kinesthetic/tactile learners.
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***Vocal music helps us be empathetic to the feelings of others as we engage in performing their words set to a melody.
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***Singing helps us express ourselves when mere words seem to fail. "We sing because we can't speak anymore." -Kristen Chenoweth