Our Program

The program consists of four separate choirs (Canzona, Chamber, Camerata, and Concert Choirs) each dedicated to excellence in musicianship and the development of skills available at different levels of the child's musical learning experience. The choirs currently rehearse once a week. In addition to the weekly rehearsal Concert and Camerata choirs also rehearse one Saturday per month. We welcome talented students who exhibit ability and willingness to sing. The program emphasizes music literacy and vocal training skills. It is the intent of this program to represent the diversity of West Virginia's youth. ACC embraces the twin ideals of musical excellence and social growth, each of which reinforces the other.

Canzona Preparatory Choir
At this level the children are asked to explore their musicality, artistic interpretation, singing and rhythmic skills, aural and visual perception, language development, motor coordination, ensemble skills and social interaction. This program is an ideal way to prepare a child for later instrumental and vocal study.
Chamber Choir
Children at this level have demonstrated an ability to sing in tune. At this level, they will improve their unison singing skills and begin singing in two parts. Sight-reading, vocal technique and the development of the voice begin at this level. This choir will begin to sing in other languages.
Camerata Choir
In this level the children have demonstrated the ability to sing in parts. This is tested by singing rounds and in two parts. Part-singing skills are continued. Tone development and vocal techniques are stressed and sight singing is introduced. The children will sing in several different languages.
Concert Choir
At this level the children have demonstrated the ability to sing in parts. Part singing skills are reinforced by two, three and four part music. Good vocal technique is stressed and sight singing is taught. The children will sing in several different languages.

ACC is a special learning environment designed to provide a rich and rewarding musical experience for each child. The children study and perform a variety of music from simple unison folk songs to more challenging classical and multi-cultural repertoire.
Masterpieces of music from all styles and periods form the foundation for musical learning and the basis for the curriculum. We believe that "children should be led to musical masterpieces by means of musical masterpieces" (Zoltan Kodaly). Since the best musical experiences for children are inherent in great music, the Appalachian Children's Chorus repertoire includes the music of Bach, Handel, Schubert, Britten, Copland and Mozart, among others. Folk, popular, secular and sacred music are also included.
Singing is the major means of musical experience in the Appalachian Children's Chorus. Singing is a powerfully personal means of musical expression. We hope this experience will form the foundation of a life long relationship with music for the choristers and their families.
The children are taught the systematic use of their vocal instruments through exercises, posture, breath, and tone production. The essence of musical experience is based on pitch and movement as it is "felt" and heard. Because the body is the instrument in singing, musical relationships are internally experienced and are likely to be "felt" and heard by the young child. We feel that musical re creation through vocal performance is a way of experiencing and expressing music unlike any other activity. The ability to hear music, to conceptualize music, to perceive and respond musically develops naturally from the human voice. Singing skill and musical understanding are essential components of the creative process and a fundamental resource basic to music education. The Appalachian Children's Chorus believes that through singing, children can experience the "inner life" of the music in a way that transcends the surface of notation and words. Singing is a way of "touching" music and of being "touched" by the music.