Maine Motif Issue 1, Vol. II (Fall, 2017) | Page 17

It is up to us as directors to foster a sense of community and acceptance in this volatile time of physical and emotional growth for students. A key factor is to begin to change your working vocabulary. It makes a difference to call upon your sections as designated roles (SATB, Part 1, Red) rather than asking the “boys” to sing. Present a visual of the science of the vocal mechanism to remind us of the science behind voice parts, and not the emotional/social concepts to which we’ve grown accustomed. There are some great articles about misogynistic tendencies (Palkki) in choral literature, separating choruses by sex (Duncan; Freer; Nycz) (not to be confused with gender) and more recently, the creation of choruses in Boston for adults currently going through hormonal therapy and re-learning how to sing with their new timbre. (AP News, 2015) Both Lauren and I really feel like this has helped our choirs understand their own voices, respect and accept each other; and us to understand how to approach a sensitive and political issue without stepping on any live wires. As always, approach your administration with any questions you may have in regards to your program. Palkki, Joshua, “Gender Trouble: Males, Adolescence, and Masculinity in the choral context (2015). Choral Journal Vol. 56 No. 4, pp. 24-35. Nycz, Tracey J., “A Description of a Gender Separate Middle School Choral Program” (2008). Graduate College of Bowling Green State University. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/rws_etd/document/ get/bgsu1213897793/inline Duncan, Dale. "Splitting by Gender in the Middle School Choral Music Classroom." In the Middle With Mr D. June 30, 2014. Accessed August 08, 2017. http://inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com/2014/06/splitting- by-gender-in-middle-school.html. Freer, Patrick K., "Between Research and Practice: How Choral Music Loses Boys In the “Middle”" (2007). Music Faculty Publications. Paper 18. h p://scholarworks.gsu.edu/music_facpub/18 AP News. (2015). Transgender singers find their voices in Boston choir. [online] Available at: https:// apnews.com/24d6b4b357fe462b946bf0d389ef35ef/transgender-singers-find-their-voices-boston-choir [Accessed 9 Aug. 2017]. Renovia Marro has been teaching middle level chorus and general music in Falmouth for 15 years. She also directs the Harraseeket Singers from the Wescustago Youth Chorale based in Freeport. You can contact her at [email protected].