Voice-based choirs build up the members of the program. “Keep hounding about it as often as you can without getting reprimanded,” he says. Rogers also says that being a “squeaky wheel” is their best piece of advice to other educators looking to restructure their choirs in a similar way. I talked about how good it would be for recruitment and retention and how good it would be for education,” he says. “I talked to the principal every single day. To undertake this restructuring process, Rogers describes himself as a “squeaky wheel,” constantly bringing their ideas to the school administration’s attention. I’ve always thought that if I have a group of students with similar voices, I can devote more time to training their technique.” Be a Squeaky Wheel “I wanted them to be able to have comfort and a sense of camaraderie and ownership in what they’re singing. “Choir can be female-dominated in some areas, and it’s really tough for middle school boys in choir,” Rogers says. Since restructuring the choir program, Rogers has noted many benefits not only in increased membership numbers, but also in the educational and emotional benefits to the students. Liberty Middle School now includes four choir ensembles: beginning treble choir, intermediate treble choir, advanced treble choir and bass choir. Instead of breaking choir groups into 6th, 7th and 8th grade ensembles, Liberty Middle School divides students into groups based on their voices. Rogers grew the program with a clever restructuring of the ensembles. The 2021-2022 school year boasted a choir of 165 students, with numbers projected to reach 180 during the 2022-2023 school year. Regardless of these obstacles, Rogers has managed to double the size of the choir program during the past three years. Rogers set his sights on expanding the program, but a few months into the school year, a new hurdle came their way: the COVID-19 pandemic, which moved all instruction online. When Benjamin Rogers arrived at Liberty Middle School in Spanaway, Washington, to start their new role as choir director during the fall of 2019, the program had only 80 students, who were divided into ensembles based on grade level.
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