Most students today connect with various popular music. Teaching popular songs and styles in formal choral settings often requires different techniques, methods, and creative approaches than typical. Such approaches can honor the music and musical culture as well as benefit diverse learners. 

Guest presenter, Dr. Alta Boover, will first address vocal techniques for achieving a healthy, authentic sound with various popular music. She will outline how a function-based pedagogy can be used to achieve specific stylistic goals. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice singing together and will further attain vocalises and exercises to take home for use in choir rehearsals. In addition, the basics of arranging pop songs for choir will be addressed; Attendees are encouraged to bring a pop song to begin arranging with MuseScore (a free composition software). Together we will also discuss the potential of various aural learning strategies and contemplate how various music technology and rock band instruments can be used in rehearsal and/or performance. 

This session is designed for middle school and high school choral educators and will have relevance for those who teach choir/singing at the elementary school level.