Before the Singing: Structuring Children’s Choirs for Success

All children must have an opportunity to share the joy of choral music participation - whether in school, church, or community choirs. What happens before the singing begins, is critical to supporting, sustaining, and nurturing choirs to give every child the opportunity to experience the wonder of choral singing.

Based on years of experience conducting and teaching, Barbara Tagg brings a wealth of practical information about ways of organizing choirs. From classroom choirs, to mission statements, boards of directors, commissioning, auditioning, and repertoire, Before the Singing will inspire new ways of thinking about how choirs organize their daily tasks.

The collaborative community that surrounds a choir includes conductors, music educators, church choir directors, board members, volunteers, staff, administrators, and university students in music education and nonprofit arts management degree programs. For all these, Tagg offers a wealth of knowledge about creating a positive environment to support artistry, creativity, dedication, and a commitment to striving for excellence.

Dr. Barbara M. Tagg is a member of the music education faculty at Syracuse University and conductor of the SU Women’s Choir. She is founder and artistic director emeritus of the Syracuse Children’s Chorus and has presented concerts and workshops in England, Europe, Canada, Hong Kong and China, as well as for universities and choral organizations throughout the United States.