ST.

OLAF COLLEGE
CHORAL LITERATURE 1
MUSIC 287
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Nothing on earth is so well suited to make the sad merry, the merry sad, to give courage to the
despairing, to make the proud humble, to lessen envy and hate, as music. -Martin Luther
To me, choral singing is community in its highest form. Ted Kooser, U.S. Poet Laureate
Professor: Dr. Therees Tkach Hibbard
Office: CHM 206,
Phone: x3187, Email: hibbar1@stolaf.edu
Office Hours: M,F 10:30-11:30AM & by appointment

Room: Music CHM 232

Time: MWF 12:55-1:50p

TEXTS AND MATERIALS:

No official text. Please, budget about $20 for music
One three-ring binder/notebook and pencil
Access to and use of your @stolaf.edu email address and Google Drive
Resources consulted:
Teaching Music Through Performance in Choir Volume 1, (2005)
Eds. Buchanan/Mehaffey, GIA Publications.
The School Choral Program, (2008), Holt/Jordan, GIA Publications.
Additional journal articles, text excerpts, professional print and online resources.
www.grothmusic.com - Groth Music, MN; minneapolis@jwpepper.com - JW Pepper,
MN; separate publishers [i.e., earthsongs, Walton; self-publishing, consortium
composers i.e., jakerunestad.com; aspenhill.com; musicspoke.com].
COURSE PURPOSE:
Designed for future musician educators, this course provides knowledge and experiences
aimed at improving the students understanding and knowledge of choral literature and its
proper application in the rehearsal room and performance hall.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will:
1) Develop a knowledge of literature in the following areas:
a) Middle school / Junior high / Changing voice
b) High school mixed, womens and mens
c) Community chorus
d) Church choirs
e) Show choir / jazz choir
2) Develop score analysis skills criteria for choosing quality repertoire

3) Develop music programming skills at the following levels

a) A single concert for one ensemble
b) A single concert for multiple ensembles
c) An entire season for multiple ensembles
4) Develop skills to build and maintain a choral library and music budget
5) Become familiar with a variety of literature representing contrasting style
periods and idioms
6) Observe a variety of performances, and respond in writing to observations
a) Hastings Show Choir Competition or Totino-Grace Show Choir
b) One Middle or High School Concert Program
c) One Community / Professional Choir Concert Program
7) Create a personal resource file for teaching choral music
CLASSROOM AND ASSIGNMENT POLICIES:
Failure to complete all course requirements and/or turn in all assignments will result in
failure of the course.
Keep copies of all work, it may not be returned
Provide photocopies of teacher specified written work for classmates
Be on time and prepared
Be collegial and professional at all times
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
All absences are excused. You are allowed 2 absences during the course of this semester.
This total INCLUDES absences for college functions. Each absence in excess of two will
result in one letter grade deduction from your final grade respectively. Note: Absence
does not excuse you from meeting the due date for assignments, conducting/presentation
experiences and individual appointments.
PRESENTATIONS
Students will present several distinct pieces from their own repertoire collection [at least
one from each category of study]. Each presentation will be approximately 5 minutes in
length, and should involve pertinent written information about the pieces (voicing, use,
challenges, text, etc., using the TMTP format) as well as some read-through or listening
to a recording of all or part of the piece.
CONCERT PROGRAM
Students will prepare a concert program for one ensemble. A MAXIMUM of 50 minutes
of actual music will suffice. You may choose to integrate smaller chamber pieces (solos,
duets, etc.). This would represent a tour program for your premiere ensemble.
MIDTERM
Each student will prepare a concert program for ensembles from a single school level
(suggested high or middle school ensembles). This will include the design and production
of an actual program, as well as a rationale for the program.

FINAL EXAM
Each student will prepare and compile programming for an entire year for their school
program. Their selections will be for all of the ensembles at a given institution, and will
utilize budgetary information and library holdings for a representative place (i.e.,
Northfield High, Kyle Eastman, conductor). A written rationale for selections and overall
program form will accompany this information. Students will share their submissions
with each other after the submission date for final projects. This will also include a tour
program for your select ensemble that should be assembled from the entire school year.
You will also submit your personal resource file for review by the date of the final.
OBSERVATIONS
Each student will observe three concert performances from the types listed above (show
choir, middle or high school and community or professional). A scanned copy of the
program as well as your notes from each performance will be submitted no later than one
week after the performance. Specific comments about the literature performed, overall
program design and affect, appropriateness to the ensemble(s) and space, etc. are
welcomed.
LITERATURE CARDS
A sample literature card will be shared with you. By the end of the semester, each student
is expected to have collected 100 cards, either of their own design (electronic
submissions are acceptable) or by the design shared by the instructor. Cards will include
(as minimum) all of the information shared in the model card. Cards should represent the
following: SATB middle or high school 40, Mixed Choir developmental 10, Treble 15,
Male Chorus 15, Vocal jazz or Show Choir 5, Church or Community 5, Your choice, 10.
SUBMITTING MATERIALS
All outside of class work (except your personal resource file/binder) will be turned in
online through Google Drive. Your projects will be shared with the entire class to provide
you with substantial resources for programming in the future.
GRADING:
Successful completion of all assignments and superior attendance will earn each student a
B. If the student wishes to qualify for a higher grade, she/he will have to submit extra
evidence of the students design. Typed EE project proposals should be submitted to
the instructor by or before April 15th and prior to beginning work: be creative!
Proposals will not be accepted after the date listed above. Extra evidence will not be
accepted unless the student already qualifies for a B (i.e., it will not raise a lower grade).
The instructor reserves the right to raise any grade.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
http://www.stolaf.edu/stulife/thebook/academic/integrity.html
DISABILITY STATEMENT
If you have a documented disability for which accommodations may be required in this
class, please contact Connie Ford (ford@stolaf.edu) in the Academic Support Center

(x3288). If you already have documentation on file with Student Disability Services in
the Academic Support Center you are required to present your letters to the professor
within the first two weeks of class.

SPECIAL EVENTS: [entrance fee may be required]

SHOW CHOIR (please attend one)
February 27th Hastings Show Choir Festival Evening concert
March 5th Totino-Grace Show Choir Spectacular
HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL opportunities - you may suggest others
(please attend one)
Eastview High School Showcase Concerts, BRAVO!
Northfield High School Classics Concert
Burnsville High School Choir Concerts
Apple Valley High School Masterworks Concert
Northfield Middle School Choir Concert
COMMUNITY YOUTH CHOIRS
Northfield Youth Choirs May 8th in Boe Chapel

TITLE,:
COMPOSER/ARRANGER:
VOICING [SATB etc]:
PUBLISHER/EDITION [include order number if possible]:
PRICE [optional], DATE [of composition]:
RANGE/TESSITURA:
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: [TMTP, ACDA Repertoire standards, or your system]:
CONTENT: [to include: main musical features i.e., form, style, harmony etc.; challenges
for conductor/singers; unique//challenging aspects for rehearsal and/or performance].
Optional: programming category [theme, liturgical, seasonal, other?] You have flexibility in
your design -- refer to the CHORAL JOURNAL, etc. in the Music Library as a guide.

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GENERAL CALENDAR
WEEK 1 (February 15, 17)
Introduction and Materials, Expectations
Analyzing the score: what is important to consider
Finding Music, Ordering Music
The Choral Library (building, maintaining, organizing, budgeting)
WEEK 2 (February 22, 24, 26)
The PROGRAM!
WEEK 3 (February 29, March 2, 4) SATB Middle / High
Standards of repertoire: What makes it work!
IPA and Diction for choirs
*WEEK 4 (March 7, 9, 11) SATB Middle / High
Sharing YOUR scores [* - student presentations sign -up]
Tour programs DUE by March 14th
*WEEK 5 (March 14, 16) TREBLE
Treble choirs, girls choirs, womens choirs
Shared and specific literature
SPRING BREAK
*WEEK 6 (March 30, April 2) Treble continued
The Choral Public Domain: arranging for YOUR STUDENTS!
EDITING - what you find!
*WEEK 7 (April 5, 7, 9) MALE VOICES Middle / High
*WEEK 8 (April 11, 15) Community Chorus Choral/Orchestral
Midterms and EE Proposals due April 15th
*WEEK 9 (April 18, 20, 22) Church Music adults, youth
*WEEK 10 (April 25, 27, 29) Vocal Jazz/ Popular /Music Theatre
WEEK 11 (May 2, 4, 6) The Library and YOUR Budgetassembling the year!
Developing pedagogical tools from your rep (warm-ups, etc.)
WEEK 12 (May 9, 11, 13)
Choosing FESTIVAL music! Choosing music for invited conference performances!
Commissioning for choirs
Last Day of Class - All Materials Due Monday, May 16th at 1255PM
(students are invited to submit materials earlier)