Reprinted with permission from the Winter 2016 issue of the Massachusetts Music Educators Journal.
It’s the age-old conundrum for many middle school choral directors: We simply don’t have enough boys in our choirs. For a myriad of reasons that haven’t changed over the years, middle school boys don’t want to join chorus. They’re too self-conscious about their image. They don’t want to be teased. They feel outnumbered by the girls. The list goes on.
While these may be true, I’ve learned through experience that there are many boys who really do want to sing. We simply need to change the way we introduce them to it. What can we do to be more practical and pragmatic about getting boys to sing? One thing you can do is start your own boys singing group. If done properly, it’s easy, effective, and a lot of fun.
Hold open auditions
It is easiest to begin with the boys who are already members in your chorus. If you want greater numbers, you may have no choice but to abandon any mandatory membership policies and open your auditions to non-chorus members. You want boys who can carry a tune independently. Anything above and beyond that you will probably need to teach. Unfortunately, some boys will only sing as long as they don’t have to be in chorus. Be at peace with that—at least for the first year or two as you build the group and its reputation. You and your current male singers will most likely have to put your collective heads together and seek out those hidden, reticent voices in your school’s population. Ask your students if they know of anyone who may be interested in joining your boys group. Make announcements about auditions. Seek out boys in your general music classes you believe may have any potential interest or hidden talent, and invite them to come investigate the new group with no obligation. In my experience, they will most likely decide to stay. You may want to email the parents in your chorus contact list announcing the start of the group. Parents can be quite persuasive and supportive. Finally, keep in mind that you can do a lot with five or six boys, and that’s a great place to start.
Separating the boys from the girls
I wish I knew this little gem when I first started teaching: Boys at this age are notorious for being too self-conscious to sing in front of people, especially the girls in your choir. Giving them their own singing environment is essential for recruitment and for developing their confidence as singers and performers. It is vital that their time together becomes a safe place where they feel comfortable and protected from judgment and prying eyes. They will feel less intimidated and be more likely to open up. Honor their commitment, and make them feel valued. This is their group, and the time they have together should be sacrosanct.
Name that group!
You may want to avoid the stigma that comes with calling this group the “Boys Chorus” or “Boys Singing Group.” Instead, give your group the opportunity to come up with their own name. A name gives your students an identity, which helps to validate the group. Guide them through the process. Stay away from music clichés like “The Bass-ics,” “ManTown,” or “The Fermatas.” My middle school boys group is called “The Ovations.” It’s safe and non-offensive to parents and audience members. Plus, the boys think the name is cooler when dropped around their friends. Keep in mind that if your group is successful, the name you pick may be around for a while, so be sure it’s something you can live with.
Choosing your repertoire
As music teachers, it is our responsibility to expose students to as many genres and styles of music as time will allow. That said, if you reach for the typical sea shanties, spirituals, and Stephen Foster songs, you may be disappointed with your attendance as the weeks go by. Frankly speaking, this is the stuff they do not want to sing, especially in public. I know this may elicit some emails, but try to stay away from that stuff—for now. Execute and infuse your pedagogy into songs they like and are familiar with. I have included an alternative list of easy, first-time songs. They are vocally sound for this age and easy to learn, and they can be musically tailored to fit your group. Backing tracks are easy to find (and recommended). Your audience will be familiar with these songs, which will make the performance even more enjoyable as everyone will be tempted to sing and clap along.
This is a starter list that has always worked well for me. My guys love the older hits!
- My Girl (The Temptations)
- Follow Me (Uncle Kracker version)
- Drift Away (Dobie Grey)
- Sh-Boom (The Crew Cuts)
- Get Ready (The Temptations)
- Teenager in Love (Dion and the Belmonts)
- The Wanderer (Dion and the Belmonts)
- Nowhere Man (The Beatles)
- Lean on Me (Bill Withers)
- Pompei (Bastille)
Try to allow more than one boy to sing lead. You need to alternate solos by dividing up each song into sections. I can’t stress enough that sharing solos within a song will build confidence among your singers and eliminate hard feelings. Plus, no one wants to see the same boy sing an entire song as the rest of the group sings simple “Ooohs” and “Ahhs” in the background. Even though it’s a great way for them to learn how to sing harmony while developing proper vowel technique, it can get boring for them and for your audience.
Pedagogy
It should go without saying that you need to incorporate quality and safe vocal practices into your rehearsals. Unlike girls, boys develop and learn differently. Choose exercises and repertoire that are vocally appropriate for them. For many of these boys, you will be their first vocal teacher, so read up, be prepared, and be responsible. Also, be patient, as you may hear some strange sounds emanating from their changing bodies.
Rehearsals
Boys are like puppies. You can only hold their attention for so long before they get distracted and begin to wander. You must embrace this because this is how they bond! Most experienced directors or coaches will tell you that a major key to success is the quality of the bond your group will inevitably create throughout the year. My boys rehearse once a week after school for no longer than forty-five minutes. It is a well-planned and structured lesson with some limited time allotted for that often-spontaneous male bonding. As long as they are safe and the conversations are appropriate, let them have those moments.
In addition, try not to spend too much time banging out notes. This is why I choose material they already familiar with. Make sure they come to your rehearsals prepared or, at best, familiar with the song you’re teaching. It saves time and makes rehearsals more fun and productive for everyone, including you. Remember to keep the harmonies simple if you have them at all.
Performances
Once you feel they are ready, have your group perform as often as possible. If you want to build community support, then your community needs to see them. Go for the fun factor, not polish and perfection. They may be a bit out of tune, vowels may not be perfect, and vocal entrances may be forgotten. Audiences have a propensity to be a bit more forgiving for the boys. However, they will also be incredibly supportive. It’s the underdog effect. Let your students build their confidence, and they will improve with each performance. I usually incorporate some simple dance moves into the routine. It adds a fun visual for the folks watching. My boys enjoy dancing during their performances and love to ham it up. In fact, they insist upon it now. Go figure.
Final thoughts
Get your boys out into the community. Bring them to the lower schools so that elementary singers can see them. This is a huge recruitment tool, as the younger boys will be impressed and want to be a part of it.
Go caroling during the holidays; bring the boys to your local senior center or nursing home. Prepare them for talent shows. Get them involved with MMEA events like junior districts or elementary All-State. These experiences are invaluable for their development.
Few things compare to watching your middle school boys having fun on stage and stealing the show. And when they hear that applause at the end, they’ll be hooked. There will be no turning back. The girls will inevitably support them, and what middle school boy wouldn’t love that? Parents frequently tell me that my boys group is their favorite part of my performances. They are typically the concert darlings. It’s also exceptionally rewarding to see many of them continue singing throughout high school and beyond. The opportunity you create for them can be extremely rewarding for everyone.
Bob Tirelli currently teaches general music at Marblehead Veterans Middle School in Marblehead, Mass., where he is also the school’s choral director. You can see and hear his choral groups perform on his website TirelliMusic.com
