Gospel Choir I

Grade(s): 9

Credit: 1

Semester: 2

Prerequisite: None

Description: This unique ministry/class has been designed for the beginner choral singer, the shower singer, and all in between. The hybrid nature of this course allows us to grow musically as well as spiritually through the vein of worship. Choral learners will participate in choral rehearsals utilizing structured vocal warm-ups, sight-reading exercises, and singing a diverse choral repertoire. Each rehearsal will help students gain skills within music literacy, solfège, tone quality, vowel production and a varied musical literature. This course also offers a heavy emphasis on Music Theory covering concepts such as music fundamentals, appropriate terminology, scales, chords, notaion, etc. 

There will also be a STRONG focus on the importance of creating and cultivating a sense of community within our choral ensembles while rehearsing and performing. While Gospel music and the music of African-American composers is our core, the repertoire selected for each performance will be chosen from a variety of musical eras and styles to increase each student’s exposure and experience to various types of musical literature and to meet our state standards for choral music.

Gospel Choir II

Grade(s): 10-12

Credit: 1

Semester: 2

Prerequisite: Gospel Choir I

Description: This unique ministry/class has been designed for the advanced choral singer, the shower singer, and all in between. The hybrid nature of this course allows us to grow musically as well as spiritually through the vein of worship. Choral learners will participate in choral rehearsals utilizing structured vocal warm-ups, sight-reading exercises, and singing a diverse choral repertoire. Each rehearsal will help students gain skills within music literacy, solfège, tone quality, vowel production and a varied musical literature. There will also be a STRONG focus on the importance of creating and cultivating a sense of community within our choral ensembles while rehearsing and performing. 

This course offers a continuation on music theory concepts for those who have prior experience or have had Gospel Choir I. While Gospel music and the music of African-American composers is our core, the repertoire selected for each performance will be chosen from a variety of musical eras and styles to increase each student’s exposure and experience to various types of musical literature and to meet our state standards for choral music.

Schola Cantorum (Select Choir)

Grade(s): 9-12

Credit: 1

Semester: 2

Prerequisite: Audition Required

Description: Lutheran East Schola Cantorum is an audition-based ensemble. This ensemble requires a high level of participation in order for the students and the group to be successful. Membership in this ensemble requires a high level of commitment to travel, the work, as well as to academics. There are a number of local and national performance opportunities that we participate in including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Georgia State University, The Georgia State Capitol, and Trinity Cathedral.

Students are expected to participate in all activities throughout the duration of rehearsal, including but not limited to; warmups, vocal exercises, learning and refining musical repertoire, worksheets, note-taking, and writing assignments. The music program Lutheran East High School is a great source of pride for the school and community. 

In this course, advanced choral literature will be chosen to challenge and build our ensemble. Schola Cantorum is a top choral ensemble, and a focus will be placed upon understanding the rehearsal process and performance practices. Students should begin to connect and apply concepts of vocal pedagogy and music theory to our choral literature and complex sight-reading exercises.