The Nashville Children’s Choir is a special learning environment designed to provide a rich and rewarding musical experience for each member. The choristers study and perform a variety of music from simple unison folk songs to more challenging choral literature. Concepts about music (melody, rhythm, harmony, timbre, dynamics, form, style and performance practice) and musical skills (singing, music reading, etc.) aretaught systematically throughout the rehearsals.
Since the best musical experiences for children are inherent in the finest music, the Nashville Children’s Choir repertoire includes the music of all musical periods, from the Renaissance through the 21st century. Fine arrangements of Broadway music, folk music, and patriotic music are also included. Commissioned works for the choir are also a part of its repertoire. The repertoire of NCC does include sacred music since much of the finest music from the present and past eras is sacred and because NCC choirs perform frequently during the Christmas season and occasionally in churches.
Singing is the major means of musical experience in the Nashville Children’s Choir. Singing is a wonderfully personal means of music expression. The choristers are taught the systematic use of their vocal instruments through exercises, posture, breath and tone production. Through singing, children and youth can experience the “inner life” of the music in a way that transcends the surface of notation and words. The ability to hear music, to conceptualize music, to perceive and respond musically develops naturally from the human voice. Singing is a way of “touching” the music and a way of being “touched” by the music. It is hoped that the experience of artistic singing will form the foundation of a life-long relationship with music for the singers and their families