The program accepts children 5½ years old and up following a successful audition.
The curriculum is based on the sequential application twice a week of the Kodály concept and Gordon Music Learning Theory, further extended by the pedagogic insights of CCM’s founder, Dr. Betty Bertaux. This well-developed approach is effectively and joyfully applied by our educators, all of whom possess master’s degrees in music education and hold Kodály Certification. Our goal is that every child progresses through each graded level with advancing skills and confidence. Parents receive a progress report at the end of every semester from both the musicianship class teacher and the choir/Artistic director.
Rehearsals are held twice a week. All our choirs perform at our self-produced annual concerts in the winter and spring. Upper choir members have additional engagements in the community and beyond. CCM singers work with amateur and professional musicians, conductors, and artists who freely remark on the professionalism and artistry of our choirs.
CCM relies on the generosity of time, talent and resources from our family members to help realize opportunities for our young musicians. Families are asked to volunteer a minimum of twelve (12) “Family Involvement Program” (FIP) hours per semester. Many opportunities arise to fulfill this requirement, but one may choose to buy out the hours at a set rate.
Teaching the CCM way requires that our educators not only enjoy teaching enthusiastic, musical children, but that they themselves are highly trained in the pedagogical method we use. It’s “Art of Play” in action. Our teachers use a series of carefully designed songs, listening and movement activities and musical games to engage a child’s intellect, voice and body. The result is learning made fun without sacrificing rigor.
Over the course of our curriculum, students receive expert instruction that leads to the building of a solid musical foundation of skills and conceptual understanding from which meaningful choral work and collaboration flows. Our playful, intentional work prepares young singers to undertake increasingly challenging choral pieces with grounded confidence, to perform with remarkable understanding and artistry, and to accumulate positive experiences that reinforce embracing difficult work, as a team with others, with enthusiasm.
A choir in which every member possesses similar understanding and facility of musical concepts and skills is capable of remarkable levels of accomplishment and depths of expression. This comprehension is apparent and palpable even in very young children, and is often astonishing to audiences.
Our students often find true friendships at CCM, sharing this musical journey with like-minded peers. They learn together, sing together, sometimes dance together. They discuss the texts and poetry of our songs together. They solve problems together and express empathy and engage in community action to benefit others together. They work to improve their choir’s sound together and they encourage one another. They celebrate their team when they master something difficult that they have been working on for a long time together. It is magic and it is youth at its best.
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Or reach us by phone at (410) 494-1480
