Choir has typically been viewed as a place for music majors and singing nerds who constantly have their eyes in sheet music. What do you think? Do all the students in SLCC choirs fall in this same category?
Kapali Kiaha, a student and choir member for both the Chamber and Jazz choirs at SLCC gave his opinion on this commonly held stereotype.
“I think that the dork/geek thing is a stereotype in music. SLCC choirs are the only way I can participate in choir at school,” he said. “It’s fun…it’s just a hobby of mine because I like to make people feel good through song.”
In contrast to the stereotype, Kiaha is majoring in cardiology and expects to transfer to the University of Utah after completing his prerequisites.
Kiaha comes from a big Hawaiian family.
“Polynesian people are very musically inclined and being from Hawaii only increases my passion for singing. It’s part of my family and culture. I have a passion for music but I don’t want to pursue it as my major,” he said.
Kiaha suggested a few ways to get rid of the “choir geek” stereotype.
“We need better advertising for the choirs,” he said. “Each choir member can get two people out to the concert, inviting their friends so that they can see for themselves. We could use email notifications, spontaneous singing during the choir rehearsals outside of the classrooms, and run a choir promotion booth to get students to come to the concerts.”
Under the direction of Professor Lyle Archibald, SLCC choir students meet three times per week for regular choir rehearsals. At these rehearsals, Archibald teaches choir members skills of musical performance. According to the course syllabus, this includes vocal technique, music fundamentals, theory, ear training and sight singing.”
Archibald leads out in acquainting and unifying the choirs’ tone quality and intonation. “Choir members are to get to know more than just the back of the heads of the other students,” said Archibald.
“Because the members of the choir know each other, they sound better,” said Sarah Schieving, President of the Chamber Choir.
What do you think? Is the music department the “geek squad” for singing students at SLCC? SLCC’s first choir concert was recently held at the Grand Theatre located at the South City Campus and will be the venue for the majority of their concerts throughout the year. The night was made up of the Concert, Chamber and Jazz choirs presenting solo and choir numbers from both modern and traditional genres.
For more information on upcoming concerts for any of the choirs, email slcc.chamberchoir@gmail.com.