by Millie Turek
Middle and Upper School Chorus Teacher
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After retiring from a 32-year-career teaching chorus in the Georgia public schools, it was with much excitement that I accepted the position of choral director/accompanist for the Middle and Upper school at Whitefield Academy! The plan to establish a strong choral program at the secondary level has begun by developing the singing talents of the sixth period combined Middle School drama and chorus students. Kayla Marsh, Whitefield’s outstanding drama teacher, invited me to team teach with her as we prepare the 41 “chorus/drama” students for their first production in November. Since the beginning of the year, I have had the pleasure of working with these talented students as we have created our own musical theatre revue, “Let’s Go to the Movies." This will be a show featuring selected songs and scenes from the movies to be presented in the Louise Owens Theatre on Saturday, November 9 at 7 p.m.
In August, we began by working together as a “chorus” of a show, working towards developing good vocal technique, understanding the middle school voice, brushing up and building on music reading skills, learning our way around the parts of a musical score, and creating eyes and ears for harmony and vocal blend. The students are preparing songs including the entire group of mixed voices, small ensembles, and solos to be featured in the show. With the assistance of some advanced Upper School drama students, we have added the element of movement as well. On November 9, our audience will be treated to singing and dancing on songs from movies such as “Sister Act,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The Blues Brothers” as well as ballads from “The Hunger Games” and “O Brother, Where art Thou?”
At the completion of this show, these students will be given the option to continue working with me as the Whitefield Academy Middle School Chorus to prepare music for the Christmas season! In January, sixth graders who have signed up for chorus will be added to the class. It is my vision to build a strong choral program providing an outlet for expression through all genres of choral music. My goal is to encourage students to develop their singing talent to have fun, to inspire, to worship, to serve others, and to expand their knowledge of world history, world cultures and languages through choral music.
I will also continue to collaborate with Ms. Marsh on the Whitefield music theatre productions, adding the Upper School drama class and the musical theatre production to my teaching duties second semester. In my eagerness to find the “singers” in the Upper School, I had a meeting to establish the WAVE, the Whitefield Academy Vocal Ensemble. I was excited by the positive student response and we will be having our first rehearsal soon!
Through the efforts of Ms. Marsh and Mr. Brian Coski, the Lower School music instructor, Whitefield students have a strong background in singing and using their talents in the musical theatre arena. Through the vision and actions of the Whitefield administration, staff, and parents, it is clear there is much support for the arts on this campus! The students I have met are definitely ready and eager to continue to develop their singing talents at the next level! I am proud to have been given the opportunity to work with experienced, enthusiastic colleagues, am enjoying working with these Middle School singers, and am just beginning to find the Whitefield students who have a passion for singing!
Here's a glimpse into one of Ms. Turek's classes - it's vocal warm-up time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEhsuEwvi-c
Middle and Upper School Chorus Teacher
After retiring from a 32-year-career teaching chorus in the Georgia public schools, it was with much excitement that I accepted the position of choral director/accompanist for the Middle and Upper school at Whitefield Academy! The plan to establish a strong choral program at the secondary level has begun by developing the singing talents of the sixth period combined Middle School drama and chorus students. Kayla Marsh, Whitefield’s outstanding drama teacher, invited me to team teach with her as we prepare the 41 “chorus/drama” students for their first production in November. Since the beginning of the year, I have had the pleasure of working with these talented students as we have created our own musical theatre revue, “Let’s Go to the Movies." This will be a show featuring selected songs and scenes from the movies to be presented in the Louise Owens Theatre on Saturday, November 9 at 7 p.m.
In August, we began by working together as a “chorus” of a show, working towards developing good vocal technique, understanding the middle school voice, brushing up and building on music reading skills, learning our way around the parts of a musical score, and creating eyes and ears for harmony and vocal blend. The students are preparing songs including the entire group of mixed voices, small ensembles, and solos to be featured in the show. With the assistance of some advanced Upper School drama students, we have added the element of movement as well. On November 9, our audience will be treated to singing and dancing on songs from movies such as “Sister Act,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The Blues Brothers” as well as ballads from “The Hunger Games” and “O Brother, Where art Thou?”
At the completion of this show, these students will be given the option to continue working with me as the Whitefield Academy Middle School Chorus to prepare music for the Christmas season! In January, sixth graders who have signed up for chorus will be added to the class. It is my vision to build a strong choral program providing an outlet for expression through all genres of choral music. My goal is to encourage students to develop their singing talent to have fun, to inspire, to worship, to serve others, and to expand their knowledge of world history, world cultures and languages through choral music.
I will also continue to collaborate with Ms. Marsh on the Whitefield music theatre productions, adding the Upper School drama class and the musical theatre production to my teaching duties second semester. In my eagerness to find the “singers” in the Upper School, I had a meeting to establish the WAVE, the Whitefield Academy Vocal Ensemble. I was excited by the positive student response and we will be having our first rehearsal soon!
Through the efforts of Ms. Marsh and Mr. Brian Coski, the Lower School music instructor, Whitefield students have a strong background in singing and using their talents in the musical theatre arena. Through the vision and actions of the Whitefield administration, staff, and parents, it is clear there is much support for the arts on this campus! The students I have met are definitely ready and eager to continue to develop their singing talents at the next level! I am proud to have been given the opportunity to work with experienced, enthusiastic colleagues, am enjoying working with these Middle School singers, and am just beginning to find the Whitefield students who have a passion for singing!
Here's a glimpse into one of Ms. Turek's classes - it's vocal warm-up time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEhsuEwvi-c