Abstract As part of an ongoing initiative for the enhancement of choral music online, the vision of this cohort would be to establish a method whereby choral directors can implement effective online instruction into their classrooms. A second goal of the cohort is to provide continuing education for choral directors throughout the state of Kansas. Choral directors would be able to view clips of choirs and directors pinpointing the importance of gesture to the related sound. Further, directors would be able to video their own conducting and post clips to the site to seek tips from colleagues on how to work on their technique. Purpose/Vision/Need By their nature, choral ensemble rehearsals are oriented toward synchronous group performance in ways that often differ from courses in general music, music theory, or musicology. Yet, if singers are to perform with rich understanding, some degree of relationship is desirable between the ways of knowing encountered both in choral performance classes and other music courses. The Concert Choir website at the University of Kansas links students to rehearsal notes with information for students to pencil in their scores and use in learning the music. Posting such notes on the web page saves considerable rehearsal time. It also facilitates individual student practice and potentially prepares the way for more productive ensemble rehearsal. Further, such web notes can provide convenient links to other information such as the composer's biography, the historical period, culture, and characteristics of style and form. Search engines permit students to locate and explore other related sites. One goal of this cohort is to empower choral music teachers to effectively use similar websites for their choirs. Current Members Dr. James Daugherty, Assistant Professor, Choral Music Education Dr. Anne Daugherty, Courtesy Faculty, Humanities and Western Civilization Erin Stewart, Senior Music Ed Major Proposed Members Janeal Krehbiel, Middle School Teacher, Lawrence Middle School Student of Janeal High School Teacher from Lawrence High School Student from Lawrence Scope of Work To establish an effective website to explain to teachers the value of using online supports for their choral music classrooms. This task would mostly be done here at KU To develop a number of modules taken from the list of most frequently performed works so that teachers can take a use a module to see for themselves the benefit of online instruction in choral music education. This task would be done as a collaboration between the whole cohort, including the selection of works to be made into modules, and the content of the module. To offer a workshop for teachers to come to Lawrence and learn how to develop a web module for use in their own classrooms. Open to all teachers in the state of Kansas, directed by Dr. James Daugherty, and run by members of the cohort. To develop a digital video library of effective conducting techniques for teacher use. Developed by KU students in the cohort. To develop a digital sharing system where teachers can view videos of themselves and others and discuss technique issues that will assist in professional development. Developed by all the cohort. Deliverables A white paper A website Modules (number to be advised by the cohort) for use in choral programs Workshop Digital Video Library Timeline Start date:       March 1, 2001 End date:       February 28, 2002 White paper:       April 9 Website:       April 9 1st Module:       June Workshop:       July Other modules:       During the fall Digital video:       Beginning August and working throughout the year Resources A digital video camera 2 Imac laptops Suitable software A digital still camera Institutionalization/Extension The online choral music project is already an established part of the music program here at KU. The learngen cohort would add to that initiative, and the work of the cohort would carry on as a continuing part of the initiative. Evaluation It is expected that teachers would evaluate the project, and that a number of research papers would be presented and published from the project.

Learning Generation, University of Kansas, 2005.