Mesa Public Schools Music Education

The MPS choral program strives to provide a developmental experience, increasing in difficulty from simple unison singing to two-, three-, and four-part harmony. The focus is on a well-rounded program and includes music from various periods of music history, including contemporary, classical, Broadway, etc.

Emphasis is placed on vocal and rehearsal techniques, music reading, expressive qualities, texture, form and style characteristics appropriate to the selections being performed. The performances of choral groups are thought of as a culminating event, joining together the technical and reading skills with stylistic considerations as well as performance etiquette.

Choral Program Goals

• To provide a safe atmosphere for vocal, social, academic and personal development.
• To develop correct vocal techniques (pleasant tone quality, proper intonation, accurate rhythm, crisp articulation and adequate breath support).
• To develop fundamental music skills in sight-reading, ear training and music notation.
• To demonstrate expressive qualities in a variety of musical styles.
• To contribute to the blend, balance and quality of he ensemble by developing the ability to sing a vocal part securely and uniformly.
• To develop self-discipline, dependability, and responsibility through ensemble participation.
• To develop confidence in performing by practicing proper performance etiquette.
• To recognize the unique values of singing and be able to perform for self-enjoyment as well as the enjoyment of others.
• To value music as a means of self-expression.
• To develop self-discipline by functioning as a responsible member of the organization.
• To develop an appreciation for various types and talents in music.
• To experience successful achievement and pleasure through group involvement.
• To connect musical experiences with events, understandings, skills, and experiences outside the music classroom or stage.
• To develop a desire to continue vocal musical experiences.

Arizona Music Standard 1AM-P1. Sing/perform with expression and technical accuracy a large and varied solo and ensemble repertoire with level of difficulty 4 on a scale of 1-6, including some songs performed from memory and without accompaniment

Students will be able to:
• Recognize and exhibit correct posture, breath control, diction and expression while singing.
• In solo singing
  • Sing and maintain given pitch level.
  • Sing with accurate pitch intervals.
  • Sing with rhythmic accuracy.
  • Sing with consistent tempo.
• In part singing
  • Maintain own vocal part within the ensemble.
  • Sing and maintain given pitch level.
  • Sing with accurate pitch intervals.
  • Sing with rhythmic accuracy.
  • Be aware of proper diction.
  • Be aware of dynamic and other expression markings within the ensemble.

Students will be able to:
• Demonstrate correct posture, breath control, diction and expression while singing. (1st year)
• Understand the parts of the body used in singing.
• Understand the difference between head voice and chest voice.
• Able to sing in tune pieces containing four parts.
• Understand and recognize the five eras of choral literature. (3rd year)
• Sing vocal part in tune.
• Hold vocal parts against three other parts. (3rd year)
• Start and end phrases accurately with ensemble.
• Sing unified vowel sounds with ensemble.
• Articulate consonant sounds with ensemble.
• Execute dynamic and other expression markings with ensemble.
• Sing with intervallic and rhythmic accuracy.

Honor Choirs

Chorus Links:

Choral Curriculum	A copy of the above program description in Word format.
Chorus Resources	List of resources available to chorus programs.