Band directors are finding an increasing need to expand their teaching to include
choir. However, many music educators who graduated from college with an emphasis in
band do not feel qualified to teach choir. According to a survey of band teachers,
colleges or universities may have a “vocal pedagogy” class that lasted one semester, or
perhaps a choir for anyone who would sign up, but some schools do not require even this
minimal training in teaching choir. Many band graduates did not have the time or desire
to add the classes necessary to feel prepared for teaching a choral class. Prepared or not,
band directors may find themselves needing to teach both band and choir.
This guide is designed to assist the band directors who have little choral
experience yet find themselves teaching choir. Instrumental and vocal ensembles have a
number of similarities from breathing and balance to conducting methods and rehearsal
techniques. Musical concepts, such as phrasing and releases, remain the same across the
field of performing ensembles. This guide will discuss similarities as well as information
that the band director may need to add to his or her teaching repertoire.