Curriculum

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.

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 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. ACC believes that through singing, children can experience the "inner life" of 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.