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Singers hit the high note educationally

Staff writer

As Marion High School’s Singers group rehearsed Monday for the final time before a concert Tuesday, the mood was cool, calm, and collected.

As students filed in to the chime of the bell, they chatted casually with vocal teacher Shyla Harris and accompanist Jen Travis.

“How was Topgolf?” Harris asked the first student who came in.

“Bad,” the girl deadpanned.

Small huddles formed at the front of the classroom, and giggles could be heard. After a few minutes, Harris sat down at a keyboard and began to play. Without a word, the students took their seats and started vocal warm-ups.

If side conversations started up again, Harris called out the names of the students, gently reminding them to stay focused on the warm-up.

“Whether the weather is cold, or whether the weather is hot, we’ll be together whatever the weather, whether we like it or not!” students warbled.

The next warm-up was more complicated. The Singers’ falsettos, sopranos, and baritones each counted upward at different times, creating a textured melody.

Harris emphasizes timing and diction during choir classes.

“They pick up notes really easily,” she said of the Singers. “I still have kids in high school who don’t know how to read music. So all they do is read the words and listen to the pitch. But they do that extremely well.”

The Singers are the most advanced group of three Harris teaches. All performed together Tuesday evening, their first concert of the year.

“I think it all kind of starts in the elementary, middle school side of things,” Harris said. “You can tell when they get to high school, they’re passionate about it, so I think it kind of drives their learning a bit more.”

Jen Travis took over at keyboard as the group began to rehearse Tuesday’s material. Harris stood up to serve as conductor.

It was a smooth transition, accomplished without much guidance on the part of the teachers.

“I don’t like talking in between, because then it gives the kids opportunities to talk,” Harris said later. “And yes, they talk all the time. But in my mind, the more we just run through, and just sing songs — that keeps their mouths occupied.”

While chatter did occasionally pop up in the classroom, the lack of direction and lecturing meant the atmosphere was light and compatible with choir work.

One student entered the room 15 minutes late.

“You’re a bit tardy,” another joked.

A few girls freestyled a rap verse between two songs.

“Can we just cut this one?” a senior asked during a difficult ditty.

“No!” Harris replied.

One student got up to look for his sheet music during “See the Light.”

“Jordy, is that it?” Harris called out, pointing to a black binder.

When firm direction did come from the teachers, it was received well.

“All voices off. Pay attention to the two-count,” Harris said before one of the group’s most difficult songs, sung in Hawaiian.

“That’s the best you guys have done that!” Travis remarked afterward.

If class members fell out of rhythm, Harris guided them back with claps and her own singing.

Having gone through the Marion school system herself and known many of her students for years, Harris is able to command respect from her class without commanding much at all.

“I think coming in as a person they’ve known personally makes it easier to be chill,” she said. “We’re all a family.”

Harris said it can be difficult keeping students engaged if songs are overly challenging.

“Sometimes the kids are lazy,” she said. “I don’t mean that in a mean way, but there’s days where it’s like, ‘can we just work on homework?’ … If the songs seem too difficult, the kids kind of back away from it.”

During Monday’s rehearsal, however, choir members were on their game.

Whether it was “Jubilation,” “See the Light,” or songs sung in Hawaiian or Malay, the Singers executed each tune well.

“As a skilled group, they’re able to rely on each other, and work as a team to accomplish something big,” Harris said.

The school’s Kansas State Music Awards lined the back wall of the room, along with grand portraits of former choir groups.

In addition to four concerts a year, the Singers compete at Heart of America choir competitions.

Three out of the seven songs they performed Tuesday were provided by Heart of America administrators.

“It’s not just about singing on stage,” Harris said. “It’s also going and competing and getting rated and stuff like that.”

After the class, students filed out for lunch. Two stayed behind to talk to Harris and Travis.

One showed Harris a bump on her neck that she was concerned about.

“Looks like a mosquito bite,” the teacher concluded.

Before their next concert, the Singers will perform at a few different spots around Marion

“We’ll go sing to veterans. We’ll sing at nursing homes,” Harris said. “It’s nice to see the community reach out to us and ask us to go sing for them.”

They will also perform carols at a Christmas parade at the end of November.

The tight-knit nature between students is what makes the Singers special, Harris said.

“They all love each other,” she said. “It’s super fun and exciting because they just get along so well.”

Last modified Oct. 24, 2024

 

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