New Mexico Choral Education Information

Survey of New Mexico Choral Directors

2007-06-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

The Survey

To learn more about reasons why there are so few boys in New Mexico middle school choral programs, I decided to craft a survey of Middle School Choral Directors to try to find some answers. I thought vocal mutation would be a major factor, but as I discussed the survey idea with some local teachers, they repeated the term “machismo” as a primary reason for the loss of male singers in the middle school years. Some mentioned the problems of scheduling as a possible hindrance, especially in schools with magnet programs. The conflict with athletic schedules was also considered an issue in the low number of boys that sing in middle school choirs. As I wrote the survey, I included these potential problems.

This is what I wanted to learn from a survey of middle school choir directors:

1) Find out how many boys participate in choral programs across the state of New Mexico,

2) To explore reasons why fewer boys than girls participate in choral programs in New Mexico,

3) And to discover techniques that have been successful in attracting boys to choral programs in New Mexico.

First I needed to know if the particular middle school had a choral program and what the size of their student body was. I asked the teachers to give me data about how many students were in their choral program, and requested that they break the information down into the number of boys and girls from each grade from 6 – 9. Then I used a Likert Scale to gauge the opinions of choral directors about why so few boys participate in choral programs during their middle school years. This sort of scale measures the degree to which a person agrees or disagrees with a statement. I asked for a list of what the teachers do to attract boys into their choirs. Finally, I asked the teachers to provide information about their education level, but made the disclosure of that information optional. I did request their names, schools and contact information, but assured the teachers that they could answer anonymously if they preferred.

From the New Mexico Department of Education web page, I found the addresses of all 150 middle schools in the state, and mailed the surveys to each school with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. I also set up this weblog for teachers to see information about the survey as well as other helpful choral education information.

Out of 150 surveys sent, I only received 27 back. That is only 18% of the population of middle school choral music teachers sampled, and I do not consider that number to be representative of middle school choral directors in New Mexico. Despite the small return, the results are interesting and even useful, in my opinion, for seeing trends in music education at the middles school level.

Although not surprising, the biggest reason music teachers thought boys don’t join choir in the middle school years is Peer Pressure, followed by Embarrassment and “Machismo.” While significant, the fact that boys are undergoing vocal mutation does not seem to be as big an issue as the possibility of involvement in choir being seen as less than masculine.

Another aspect I explored was the possibility of different attitudes toward singing in different parts of the state. I divided the state from Albuquerque to the northern border, and divided the schools evenly. There was truly a difference in reasons why boys don’t sing. In the northern half of the state, Peer Pressure, singing being too feminine, and the lack of musical and choral experience were more of an issue. In the southern half of New Mexico, “Machismo,” Lack of Parental Support, and the belief that “Boys don’t sing” play major roles in keeping boys out of middle school choirs. With male singing playing a fairly large role in Hispanic culture, I was not expecting the results I found.

In examining the data, I was disturbed to see that even though most music teachers were very well trained, many were not having success in attracting boys to their choral programs OR in attracting students to their choral programs at all. Most teachers have a Music Education degree and have taken additional graduate level classes, but still had less than 10% of the student body involved in choir. This survey does not take into account students who are involved in band or general music classes. A few schools had a general music class that sixth graders were required to take.

Here are some of the recruiting techniques used by the most successful middle school choral directors who responded to the survey:

“I have a before school choir that meets once a week just for boys. I bring donuts. It works. I also recruit through my 6^th grade music class as well as stop every 6^th grade boy I meet and ask him why he isn’t in my boy’s choir. I just try to get them through the door.” This response is from a male teacher.

“1. I make friends with the “jocks” – if they sing, everyone else thinks it’s OK to sing. 2. Visit the 6^th grade with my boy’s chorus. 3. Invite high school to sing – also select group from ENMU. 4. My husband – great singer – comes once a week to do “guy” singing, as I cannot model for them in their range.”

“I’ve always tried to recruit the athletes”

“Field trips that involve theater & musicals. Out of state competitions – activities. Feature boys a Elvis, Beatles, Beach Boys in Year-end programs, or as theatrical/comical characters. Reiterate that girls think it’s “hot” when boys sing.”

“ – Field trips and other “fun” activities. I generally keep my mid-school boys singing at the high school level by having them join the HS men a couple times during the year. They love that!”

If you would like to see the raw data for this survey (it is not publishing well in this blog format) or would like more information about this survey, please send an e-mail to radiant_studio@yahoo.com.

Survey Results Almost In!

2007-05-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting survey results in the next week. Stay tuned!

Cyber Song from NMSU Choirs

2007-04-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

Here is the link for the online newsletter from NMSU Choirs:

CyberSong

This article is from the latest edition:

NMSU Choirs to present Beethoven’s
Missa Solemnis in D

On Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28th Las Cruces and surrounding communities will be offered a rare treat in the form of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in D. A towering work for orchestra, chorus and soloists, the Missa has been keeping NMSU choral students busy this semester unraveling the musical genius of the master composer. When thinking of Beethoven, so often we consider his famous symphonies, dozens of string quartets; piano, violin
		Ludwig Van Beethoven

and cello sonatas, and chamber works.

He composed very few major works for chorus, but the Missa Solemnis written near the end of his life was the piece he considered his finest work.

Beethoven began composing as a child.. At age 13 he became 2nd Court organist in Bonn, Germany. His early compositions including choral works, were mostly unpublished, and most of them are lost. He didn’t begin publishing until he moved to Vienna in 1792 at the age of 21.

For ten years Beethoven created a prolific variety and number of works: up to thirty individual compositions of all kinds. After 1802 when Beethoven’s hearing problems caused him to compose fewer works, he concentrated immense artistic energy on those, producing the 3rd Symphony, Kreutzer Sonata, 5th and 6th Symphonies, an oratorio and other smaller works. From 1813 - 1825 in addition to his last two symphonies and in spite of acute deafness, Beethoven wrote his last violin sonata , his last three piano sonatas, and last three string quartets. He completed the Ninth Symphony with the concluding choral movement, Ode to Joy. He spent over five years composing the Missa Solemnis in D during this same time. Beethoven was at the height of his powers even though he could not hear his own works. After a performance of works which included three parts of the Missa Solemnis, presented in May,1823, Beethoven heard none of the thunderous applause for his greatest creations. His companion turned him around so that he could see the audience’s enthusiastic response.

Missa Solemnis in D is the culmination of Beethoven’s creativity and a return to church music which he began as an 11-year old. The fact that he composed such a masterpiece with his profound deafness, ill-health and family problems is a testament to his prodigious talent. We hope you will be able to join us in hearing this monumental work.

Concerts are in the Music Center Recital Hall on the NMSU campus at 8 PM both nights. Call the Pan Am Center Ticket Office at 505.646.1420 for reserved tickets.

All State Youth Choir Audition Piece

2007-04-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

Here is the audition piece for the New Mexico All State Youth Choir:

Title: The Cloths of Heaven
Composer: Z. Randall Stroope
Publisher: Colla Voce (45-21062)

Contact Music Mart to order this song.

3301 Carlisle Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 889-9777
(800) 545-6204

10% of Surveys In So Far

2007-03-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

Keep them coming! The information is valuable. I especially appreciate seeing how you attract boys into middle school choirs. Thank you!

Surveys Starting to Come In

2007-03-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

I appreciate the responses that are starting to come in. They will give me important information on improving middle school choral programs besides the main goals of knowing how many boys participate in choral programs in middle school and attitudes toward singing.

Thank you!!

New Mexico Boys in Middle School Choirs Survey

2007-03-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this, you have probably received the Survey.

Don't hesitate to ask me any questions about the survey. This blog is set up that I will receive an e-mail from you if you make a comment on this blog, and I would love to get feedback from you. All comments will be answered in the comment box. Thank you for your help.

Welcome

2007-03-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

This blog has been created to be a resource for Choral Educators in New Mexico. On this site you will find pertinent resources, helpful websites, information about professional organizations for choral and music educators - both state and national, and the results of the New Mexico Boys in Middle School Choirs survey.

This blog is for you. Please contact me if you would like to see something added. If you have found a useful resource, let me know and I will post it.

All the best and happy singing!

Ruth