Singing Wikis - Sticky Wickets

The classroom I currently teach in is a church, the class is a choir, and the students are all adult, music hobbyists who volunteer their time and talent. We meet twice a week; one mid-week rehearsal lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes, and then again on the weekend for the worship service with a 30-minute “pre-game” warm up. This is not much contact time compared with a classroom teacher who sees her students several hours per week or online instructors who may have more contact hours via online delivery methods.

IC Wiki Sings was created to fill the time gap between the rehearsal and the worship service, and to expand the teaching opportunity by allowing instruction and learning to continue beyond the structured rehearsal time. It also encourages the choir members to contribute to the group by adding information and asking questions via the discussion page.

IC Wiki Sings has five pages that, hopefully, will not only instruct the members but assist the conductor’s memory, and avert arguments over what music should be sung. Because this is an eclectic group of both singers and instrumentalists ranging in age from 15 to 66, with music readers and non-readers, their experience varies widely. They often have very different points of view on what is “good” music. (This is one of the reasons directors of volunteer music groups have a shorter life span than the general public.) In an effort to expand everyone’s musical horizons and teach respect for all musical styles, one page is entitled Favorite Composers for sharing biographical and stylistic information on a favorite writer. Another page is Music for Listening where audio/video performances can be posted in hopes people will hear music they may otherwise not have paid any attention to. (This will also give the nerdy classical director an opportunity to share her music as well as listen to contemporary songs so she knows what the heck the younger choir members are talking about when they mention recording artists she’s never heard of.) Often times at rehearsal a person will suggest we do a particular song, but by the time rehearsal is over, it’s “out of sight, out of mind”. Later there is often hostility voiced toward the director because,”You never pick the music I want!” The page, Songs I’d LOVE to Sing gives everyone a place to list those favorite pieces. Finally, Speaking of Music – Vocabulary Page, is a resource of musical terms that can be used to review terms used at choir rehearsal or in other musical settings – several of the members are taking private lessons.

I am hoping that after a little warm up period; the choir members will find the wiki novel, fun, and a real source of learning, participation and communication. I hope they will all contribute (all are computer literate) and be motivated to do research on their favorite music, musicians and composers.