AIRS 4th Annual Meeting: 2012

Title: Formal Musicking in a Children's Choir: A Case Study
Authors: June Countryman (University of Prince Edward Island) Natalie Sullivan (University of
Prince Edward Island)

Abstract

This in-progress case study of a children’s choir seeks to uncover pedagogical moves that
account for the great sound in this particular choir of children (N=21), ages 8 -13. We will share
our initial observations about those pedagogical practices that are effective with children, as
determined by the resulting choral sound, the children’s reactions, the comments by individual
children and the opinions of the director. We will illustrate aspects of the conductor’s pedagogy
through rehearsal video clips. We also analyze the singers’ experience of being a part of the
choir, in terms of self-efficacy, skill development, aesthetic experience, belonging and
communal identity. These insights are gleaned from semi-structured interviews with pairs of
singers. We also examine several parents’ opinions of their child’s experience with the choir.