This study investigates the views and practices of teachers on the way of selecting the choral repertoire and the opportunities that this repertoire offers for encouraging musical development of from primary and lower secondary schools students within the framework of general education in Kosovo. In this aspect, the experiences during the practical work of choir teachers and the technical or professional difficulties they encounter during the selection of choral songs have been studied. Among other things, the research aims to identify and analyze these factors, through which it is intended to pave the way for further improvement in this matter. The design of this research was carried out through semi- structured interviews, including the detailed analysis of choral songs, both in terms of musical content and pedagogical aspects. The research was carried out with choir teachers of different schools in Kosovo and satisfactory results were achieved, which highlight the real situation regarding the selection of the repertoire, its quality in terms of musical and textual content and the opportunities it offers to students in encouraging and developing musical talent. The recommendations from this study are addressed to the relevant institutions which should aim to encourage and support the work with choral ensembles and the improvement of practices regarding work with choir within general education.
Apfelstadt, H. (2000). First things first: selecting repertoire. Music Educators Journal, 87(1), 19–22.
Batey, A. (2002). Selecting quality choral literature in the hight school setting. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus (pp. 43–45). Reston, VA: MENC, National Association for Music Education.
Blue, T., Hoosen, V., & Orion, L. (2018). Preparation, practice, performance, and pondering: a different approach to score preparation. American Choral Directors Association, 58(7), 69–80.
Broeker, A. (2000). Developing a children’s choir concert. Music Educators Journal, 87(1), 26–30. https://doi.org/10.2307/3399674
Bull, T. (2002). Ran steps for creating or adding vitality and improving the quality of your choir. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus (pp. 76–77). R&L Education.
Cash, S. (2019). Middle and high school choral directors’ programming of world music. International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, 7, 36–55.
Clift, M. S., & Hancox, G. (2001). The perceived benefits of singing: Findings from preliminary surveys of a university college choral society. The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 121(4), 248–256. https://doi. org/10.1177/146642400112100409
Cruz, P. (2017). Is all music for everyone? The Choral Journal, 58(4), 11–20.
Doreen, R. (1987). Children through choral music experience. Choral Music Experience, 4(9), 3–5.
Doreen, R. (1993). Children’s choirs: a revolution from within. Music Educators Journal, 80(3), 44–48.
Einarsdottira, S. L., & Helga, G. R. (2016). The role of choral singing in the lives of amateur choral singers in Iceland. Music Education Research, 1(18), 39–56. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2015.1049258
Eric, J. P. (2007). The use of folk songs in education: Some examples of the use of folk songs in the teaching of history, geography, economics and English literature. Published Online, 89–94. https://doi. org/10.1080/03057876980000141
Frizzell, E. (2021). Choral directors perceptions of choral tone. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0256587
Guy, F. W. (2001). The reportoire selection practices of high school choral director. R&L Education.
Hohweiler, M. (2002). Starting an elementary—school choir. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus. R&L Education.
Holcomb, A. (2002). A prespective on literature for young choirs. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus. R&L Education.
Jansson, D., Eslatd, B., & Døving, E. (2019). Choral conducting competences. Research Studies in Music Education, 43(1), 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1321103X19843191
Jones, H. (2012). A point of departure for rehearsal preparation and planning. Cambridge University Press, 272–280. https:// doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521111737.020
Kastner, J. D., & Menon, S. (2019). Popular Music in Choir: Helping Students “Find Their Voices.” Music Educators Journal, 106(1), 48–54. http://dx.doi. org/10.1177/0027432119856083
Maultsby, P. K. (n. d. ). (1987). Toward a multicultural music-education curriculum. T. C.Society,Editor.Retrievedfromhttps://www. music.org/index.php?option=com_content&v iew=article&id=2660:toward-a-multicultural- music-education-curriculum-sup-1- sup&catid=217&Itemid=3665#:~:text=The%20 use%20of%20a%20multicultural,way%20to%20 achieve%20multicultural%20programming
McRae, S. W. (1991). Directing the Children’s Choir. In Schirmer Books.
MEST. (2016). Core Curriculum for Preparatory Grade and Elementary Education of Kosovo (Grades 0, I, II, III, IV and V). S. a. Ministry of Education. Retrieved from https://masht. rks-gov.net/kurrikula-berthame-per-klasen- pergatitore-dhe-arsimin-fillor-te-kosoves- klasat-0-i-ii-iii-iv-dhe-v/
Minton, W. (2002). How do you select literature for your choirs. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus (pp. 50–52). R&L Education.
Neuman, W. L. (2014). Pearson new international edition. in social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches (Seventh, pp. 477–480). Retrieved from https://www.pearson. com/store/p/social-research-methods- pearson-new-international-edition/ P200000005113/9781292020235
Núñez, F. J. (2012). Globalization, multiculturalism, and the children’s chorus (201–215). The Cambridge Companion to Choral Music (Ed. André de Quadros). Cambridge University Press https://doi. org/10.1017/CCOL9780521111737.016
Reames, R. (2001). High school choral directors’ description of appropriate literature for beginning high school choirs. Journal of Research in Music Education, 49(2), 122–135. https://doi.org/10.2307/3345864
Ritter, F. (2002). Tell the truth! create a disturbance! make a difference! in spotlight on teaching chorus (pp. 136–137). R&L Education.
Rutter, J. (2001). Starting a choir. Universiteit van Pretoria. Retrieved from https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/ handle/2263/30171/03part2chapter1-2. pdf?sequence=4
Shaw, J. (2012). The skin that we sing culturally responsive choral music education. Music Educators Journal, 98(4), 75–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/0027432112443561
Tina, B. (2002). Ran steps for creating or adding vitality and improving the quality of your choir. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus (pp. 76–77). R&L Education.
Walker, T. (2020). Addressing contextual information in multicultural choral repertoire. The Choral Journal, 61(4), 57–62.
Wilson, S. W. (2003). The young elementary school chorus: an introduction to choral singing. Music Educators Journal, 89(5), 32- 37. https://doi.org/10.2307/3399917
The right choice of choral repertoire - a weakness or good opportunity for encouraging students’ musical talent development
This study investigates the views and practices of teachers on the way of selecting the choral repertoire and the opportunities that this repertoire offers for encouraging musical development of from primary and lower secondary schools students within the framework of general education in Kosovo. In this aspect, the experiences during the practical work of choir teachers and the technical or professional difficulties they encounter during the selection of choral songs have been studied. Among other things, the research aims to identify and analyze these factors, through which it is intended to pave the way for further improvement in this matter. The design of this research was carried out through semi- structured interviews, including the detailed analysis of choral songs, both in terms of musical content and pedagogical aspects. The research was carried out with choir teachers of different schools in Kosovo and satisfactory results were achieved, which highlight the real situation regarding the selection of the repertoire, its quality in terms of musical and textual content and the opportunities it offers to students in encouraging and developing musical talent. The recommendations from this study are addressed to the relevant institutions which should aim to encourage and support the work with choral ensembles and the improvement of practices regarding work with choir within general education.
Apfelstadt, H. (2000). First things first: selecting repertoire. Music Educators Journal, 87(1), 19–22.
Batey, A. (2002). Selecting quality choral literature in the hight school setting. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus (pp. 43–45). Reston, VA: MENC, National Association for Music Education.
Blue, T., Hoosen, V., & Orion, L. (2018). Preparation, practice, performance, and pondering: a different approach to score preparation. American Choral Directors Association, 58(7), 69–80.
Broeker, A. (2000). Developing a children’s choir concert. Music Educators Journal, 87(1), 26–30. https://doi.org/10.2307/3399674
Bull, T. (2002). Ran steps for creating or adding vitality and improving the quality of your choir. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus (pp. 76–77). R&L Education.
Cash, S. (2019). Middle and high school choral directors’ programming of world music. International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, 7, 36–55.
Clift, M. S., & Hancox, G. (2001). The perceived benefits of singing: Findings from preliminary surveys of a university college choral society. The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 121(4), 248–256. https://doi. org/10.1177/146642400112100409
Cruz, P. (2017). Is all music for everyone? The Choral Journal, 58(4), 11–20.
Doreen, R. (1987). Children through choral music experience. Choral Music Experience, 4(9), 3–5.
Doreen, R. (1993). Children’s choirs: a revolution from within. Music Educators Journal, 80(3), 44–48.
Einarsdottira, S. L., & Helga, G. R. (2016). The role of choral singing in the lives of amateur choral singers in Iceland. Music Education Research, 1(18), 39–56. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2015.1049258
Eric, J. P. (2007). The use of folk songs in education: Some examples of the use of folk songs in the teaching of history, geography, economics and English literature. Published Online, 89–94. https://doi. org/10.1080/03057876980000141
Frizzell, E. (2021). Choral directors perceptions of choral tone. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0256587
Guy, F. W. (2001). The reportoire selection practices of high school choral director. R&L Education.
Hohweiler, M. (2002). Starting an elementary—school choir. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus. R&L Education.
Holcomb, A. (2002). A prespective on literature for young choirs. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus. R&L Education.
Jansson, D., Eslatd, B., & Døving, E. (2019). Choral conducting competences. Research Studies in Music Education, 43(1), 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1321103X19843191
Jones, H. (2012). A point of departure for rehearsal preparation and planning. Cambridge University Press, 272–280. https:// doi.org/10.1017/CCOL9780521111737.020
Kastner, J. D., & Menon, S. (2019). Popular Music in Choir: Helping Students “Find Their Voices.” Music Educators Journal, 106(1), 48–54. http://dx.doi. org/10.1177/0027432119856083
Maultsby, P. K. (n. d. ). (1987). Toward a multicultural music-education curriculum. T. C.Society,Editor.Retrievedfromhttps://www. music.org/index.php?option=com_content&v iew=article&id=2660:toward-a-multicultural- music-education-curriculum-sup-1- sup&catid=217&Itemid=3665#:~:text=The%20 use%20of%20a%20multicultural,way%20to%20 achieve%20multicultural%20programming
McRae, S. W. (1991). Directing the Children’s Choir. In Schirmer Books.
MEST. (2016). Core Curriculum for Preparatory Grade and Elementary Education of Kosovo (Grades 0, I, II, III, IV and V). S. a. Ministry of Education. Retrieved from https://masht. rks-gov.net/kurrikula-berthame-per-klasen- pergatitore-dhe-arsimin-fillor-te-kosoves- klasat-0-i-ii-iii-iv-dhe-v/
Minton, W. (2002). How do you select literature for your choirs. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus (pp. 50–52). R&L Education.
Neuman, W. L. (2014). Pearson new international edition. in social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches (Seventh, pp. 477–480). Retrieved from https://www.pearson. com/store/p/social-research-methods- pearson-new-international-edition/ P200000005113/9781292020235
Núñez, F. J. (2012). Globalization, multiculturalism, and the children’s chorus (201–215). The Cambridge Companion to Choral Music (Ed. André de Quadros). Cambridge University Press https://doi. org/10.1017/CCOL9780521111737.016
Reames, R. (2001). High school choral directors’ description of appropriate literature for beginning high school choirs. Journal of Research in Music Education, 49(2), 122–135. https://doi.org/10.2307/3345864
Ritter, F. (2002). Tell the truth! create a disturbance! make a difference! in spotlight on teaching chorus (pp. 136–137). R&L Education.
Rutter, J. (2001). Starting a choir. Universiteit van Pretoria. Retrieved from https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/ handle/2263/30171/03part2chapter1-2. pdf?sequence=4
Shaw, J. (2012). The skin that we sing culturally responsive choral music education. Music Educators Journal, 98(4), 75–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/0027432112443561
Tina, B. (2002). Ran steps for creating or adding vitality and improving the quality of your choir. In Spotlight on Teaching Chorus (pp. 76–77). R&L Education.
Walker, T. (2020). Addressing contextual information in multicultural choral repertoire. The Choral Journal, 61(4), 57–62.
Wilson, S. W. (2003). The young elementary school chorus: an introduction to choral singing. Music Educators Journal, 89(5), 32- 37. https://doi.org/10.2307/3399917
Rasimi, A., & Xhoni, A. (2022). The right choice of choral repertoire - a weakness or good opportunity for encouraging students’ musical talent development. Rast Musicology Journal, 10(4), 463-480. https://doi.org/10.12975/rastmd.20221042
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