Sunday, January 23, 2011

My School's Chorus Is Better Than Your School's Chorus

Your first essay assignment in class is to write an essay arguing that something you like is better than something else. As we discussed in class, college level writing is about supporting your arguments with FACTS and not opinions. We'll use this comparison of two award-winning school chorus classes to start thinking about how to do this. This is the Oxon Hill High School Chorus from Maryland. Check them out.

This chorus recorded an album at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN, which won them the Stellar Award for Children's Musical Performance in 2010. The choir performs in several languages, including Latin, English, and Swahili. They have performed across the country in cities such as Orlando and Los Angeles. They get calls to perform from as far away as Japan and Africa. You can check out their website.

Now, check out the PS 22 Elementary School Chorus from New York City, NY.


This chorus is scheduled to perform at the 2010 Academy Awards on January 25th. They also performed at the 2010 Webby Awards, at the 2009 White House Tree Lighting Ceremony with Common, and at the window unveiling at Saks Fifth Avenue. They have sung in front of and with numerous other celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Stevie Nicks, Matt Damon, and Queen Latifah. You can check out their blog here.

As a comment, write about which chorus you are more impressed by and why. MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE YOUR NAME AS IT IS LISTED ON THE CLASS ROSTER. For class, begin thinking about what FACTS you would use to support an argument that one chorus is better than another. You can use your own interpretations of their talent, so long as they are critically expressed and not "I just like this one better". You can also use awards and accolades as proof of superiority. Come to class with a ready opinion.

12 comments:

  1. I was most impressed with PS 22 Elementary School due to the fact that they seemed to have more of a structural build up in terms of chords. Also, that they were younger kids and were singing as if they were interested with the music.

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  2. I was more impressed with PS 22 Elementary School because the children were harmonic and on-key. Also, it was obvious that they were compassionate about the music regarding their body language.

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  3. I was impresses with PS 22 Elementary School because the kids were on key.To have a chorus of children on-key and in harmonic is quite amazing.

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  4. In high school I was actually apart of a classical choir. So I was more impressed with the Oxon Hill High School chorus. This choir is better to me because I am aware of what it takes to learn songs in other languages. I also know what you have to go through in order to actually understand the song, so that it shows when singing the music.

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  5. I was more impressed with PS 22 Elementary School because it's quite amazing to see many kids that actually sounds good while singing on the same key. It's different and the world would take different than ordinary any day.

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  6. I was more impressed with PS 22 Elementary School because the kids was on key and perfected the song. It really sounds better than the original artists.

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  7. After watching PS 22 preform I was real amazed at how the young girl sang like Rhianna. They possesses great excitement and energy. Oxon Hill High School was amazing and very proper. They were organized and traditional. It really amazed me how they had to learn numerous languges and sing using them. That was great! PS 22 was very inspirational and sang great pop music. Finally, I was more impressed by PS 22.

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  8. After watching both videos I have to say that I liked PS 22. Being that they are young kids singing with such great talent, we need that in the music world. Example, Willo Smith, she is just ten years old and is a great hit. However, some of those kids might not want to continue singing which is just fine. I was completely surprised at how well the kids can sing.

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  9. Shacoyal Spencer

    I think OHHS choir is spitural.It is so amazing how they can sing in different languages. The voices from the choir sounds wonderful.PS22 choir really amazed me. The kids sounded so beautiful and you could tell they were actually singing.Their music make you want to get in the groove

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  10. Shandricka Howard (110-10)January 25, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    After listening to both groups, I was very impressed with the PS22 choir. The children chorus was very impressive because their sound electrifies my spirit and reassures me that nothing is impossible. If children can stand up and sing sound sensational(I know this takes alot of effort and practice)I can also work hard to accomplish my goals. I can't wait to see them at the Academy Awards.

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  11. I was impresses with PS 22 Elementary School because the kids were on key.To have a chorus of children on-key and in harmonic is quite amazing.The kids put there feeling behind there music which was showed threw there body language.The chorus director must be one great teacher to organizes the children like that.

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  12. I was impressed with PS 22 Elementary School because they sare little kids and they sung very well. They might have been looking around alot but they were organized. I would like to see the, perform more songs

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