Concert Music

Believe it or not, there are not that many rehearsals until our concert on December 13. Here are the links to our pieces for this concert. Remember, they will have to be memorized!

The Lauridsen 'O Magnum' has me nervous since we lost so many days to Sandy. I think you are up to the challenge, but since I still have to hand out the Hallelujah Chorus, we will see how the next week goes before I definitely include it in the program.


My God is a Rock- arr. Ken Berg

Sleep- Eric Whitacre

Daemon Irrepit Callidus- Orban

O Magnum Mysterium- Lauridsen

Jabula- arr. Hatfield

Hallelujah Chorus- Handel

Hurricane Sandy

Hi everyone,

I truly hope you and your families are staying safe and as warm as possible after Hurricane Sandy last week. I am looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow and getting back to normal!

Just so you know, please DO NOT worry about making up last weeks lesson. I am going to treat is as if it was a vacation and continue on with the 11/5 week rotation. Hopefully that will alleviate a little stress from the work you have to make up.

All the best,

Mrs. C

Lesson Schedule

I am SO sorry for the delay on this! I accidectally didn't press publish when I wrote this post.

Here is the rotational lesson schedule. Remember I should be seeing you in a lesson once a week for individual instruction. If you lesson falls on a day we do not have school, please attend the same period on the next day of school.

Let me know if you have any questions!

-Ms. Christy

12-13 Lesson Schedule

All-County Jazz

The All-County Jazz NYSSMA has been posted. If you are interested in auditioning, let me know! This needs to be submitted by the end of the week.

Mrs. Christy

Dona Nobis

Hello everyone,

Here is the pdf for DONA NOBIS that we started in class. Please print it out at home or in the library and bring it to class by Wednesday, September 12 at the latest.

Thank you

Mrs. Christy

Here is the link to Dona Nobis

Jazz Choir Auditions

Next TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 I will be holding auditions for Jazz Choir after school. This is a select ensemble of about 20 students who perform frequently throughout the community. We rehearse every Tuesday. In addition they participate in concerts throughout the year and will hopefully be attending another competition this spring. While there is a high level of dedication needed, it truly is a blast and I hope you all consider auditioning.

For this years audition you will be preparing a verse and chorus of a jazz standard, as well as a short sight-singing excerpt that will be given to you at the audition. If you have ANY questions about song selection, please COME FIND ME!! I have a lot of resources available to you and I am more than happy to help. Due to my schedule, you may need to email me your questions. My email is schristy@smithtown.k12.ny.us

Listening is the KEY to success in vocal jazz. Jazz has a very special technique that it is easy to grasp when you hear it performed. Some artists or groups I recommend you explore are;

Jane Monheit                                        Ella Fitzgerald
Sarah Vaughn                                       Billie Holiday
Diana Krall                                           Ray Charles
Frank Sinatra                                        Michael Buble
Nat King Cole                                      Harry Connick Jr.
Jaime Cullum                                        New York Voices
The Real Group                                    Singers Unlimited
Manhattan Transfer

If you are wondering what I am looking for, it is NOT the biggest solo voice I've ever heard. Remember this is not theatre, so you should be singing with as choral or "classical" or a sound as possible. In jazz, the low register in my women sections can have NO BELT. The jazz vocals and harmonies require a round tone with little or no vibrato and lots of the lifted soft palette that we began to talk about in class. Remember you will be singing with a group, so blend, intonation, support and subtlety will be more important than projection.

Please come with questions if you have any!!! I can't WAIT to hear you all next week :) Sign up sheets for audition times will be on the board in the hall of the music suite.

Best of luck :)

-Mrs. Christy


ps... here are some videos that I've posted... remember to look and listen for more!! Some of these tunes are pretty complicated. Remember to come speak to me and we will figure out an audition piece that will work for you

Ella Fitzgerald- Cry Me a River

Frank Sinatra- Come Fly With Me

Sarah Vaughan- Lullaby of Birdland

Harry Connick Jr- It Had To Be you

Welcome to another year!

Hello and welcome to another year of concert choir! I am excited to create more wonderful performances and musical moments with you.

While there are going to be some changes, they will not affect the success or progress that we will make as a group. Next week you will be given your lesson schedule and I will begin to hand out our concert music for the year.

Until then, please remember to come find me periods 1, 2 or 9 so that I can place you in the appropriate section. This needs to be done by THIS Friday.

-Mrs. Christy