BEYOND SINGING: IMPLICATIONS OF CHORAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIAN SCHOOLS

Abstract

Choral music has existed in varying forms for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Its incorporation within school settings poses a conundrum about the relationship between education and musical artistry – whether the educative process is of greater importance than the performance product. Perhaps the debate itself is misguided, and choral music teachers can be positioned to achieve both endeavors with students through a balance of excellent performance and acquiring musicianship skills. According to Mbeche (2000), students’ participation in musical activities such as the choir develops an immeasurable depth of musical knowledge and skills. These activities expose students to music material that classroom music experience does not usually avail with excellence in the acquisition of skill and sensitivity in performing choral music. The focus of this study is to examine the implications of choral music performance, and how it improves students’ musicianship skills.