In addition to the general music program, Ascension also offers a three-tiered, elective choral program which is open to all students in grades Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. The choral program is a performance based program that strives to teach each student proper vocal technique through age appropriate choral literature and structured vocal training.
As a child progresses through the program, from K-8, an emphasis is placed on developing the skills necessary to allow the students to accurately and easily sight-read notated music and sing in two, three, four and five part harmony. The students are taught the necessary skills that allow them to feel comfortable and excited about participating in public performance. The choral program is structured as follows:
Lambs Choir is open to all students in Kindergarten and First Grade. This choir rehearses together on a weekly basis and are invited and encouraged to come and sing as part of the Lambs Choir one Sunday a month during Ascension Lutheran Church’s Sunday morning Service of Worship.
In Lambs Choir an emphasis is place on matching tones and pitch, good diction, singing in long phrases, singing with motions and actions and learning to sing and blend as part of a group. All music in Lambs Choir is learned through the oral tradition.
Junior Choir is an elective course that is open to all students in second through fifth grades. The choir rehearses once a week and the students sing one Sunday a month during Ascension Lutheran Church’s Sunday morning Service of Worship. In Junior Choir an emphasis is placed on learning how to follow a notated music octavo or score as opposed to learning music solely through an oral tradition.
The choir members learn to find and sing in their "head" voice in addition to their normal "chest" voice. The students are taught to feel comfortable singing in two and three parts in rounds, partner songs and simple two and three part harmonic structures.
The Middle School Vocal Ensemble is an elective course that is open to all students in sixth through eighth grade. The choir rehearses twice a week and the students sing for four major musical occasions throughout the year: a Festival Reformation Service in October, an Advent and Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols in December, a Festival of Choral Music in February and a fully costumed and choreographed “Broadway” style musical in May.
In Vocal Ensemble, emphasis is placed on being able to sight read and sing complex notated music in three to five parts. Students are taught to sing in varied musical styles from many different time periods of music, in numerous languages and from various corners of the earth. Although students must learn to read music for rehearsal purposes, the students are required to memorize their music for almost all of their performances.
