NYC Music Teachers Association Choral Workshop

Miller Photography

Jacobson has teachers moving to the music at an innovative choral music workshop featuring choreography. More photos >>

Miller Photography

During a more traditional segment of the workshop, music teachers Tanya Brown Jeter (left) of PS 214 in Brooklyn and Yvette Torres of PS/IS 113 in Queens join colleagues in song.

Miller Photography

Music teacher Caroline Duggan of PS 59 in the Bronx is delighted to add movement to music.

Many student vocalists across the city will not be standing still anymore when they raise their voices in song. At the first of seven workshops planned for this year by the New York City Music Teachers Association, teachers learned about adding choreography to enhance choral music and motivate students. The 40 teachers from all school levels at the choral workshop at union headquarters on Sept. 17 not only learned some innovative ideas about how to choreograph the music they choose for students to sing — they also practiced the moves themselves! The workshop was led by John Jacobson, a music educator and composer of musicals and choral works who has directed productions featuring thousands of young singers. In addition to showing an instructional video, he had participants moving to the music they were learning to sing just as students in their classrooms will be doing in the year ahead. Sharon Golub and Roberta Feldhusen, co-chairs of the music teachers’ group, described the “hit or miss” nature of music programs in schools today, calling instead for “consistently good music programs citywide as an essential part of a well-rounded education for every child.”