Some new classes are being offered this school year at Central Middle School in Tinley Park, and students have a real voice in at least one of them. Literally. Choir was added to the curriculum, as was jazz, as choices for eighth-graders.
“People say that they have one thing that makes them really happy, and singing is the one thing that makes me very happy, so having it as a class is even better,” choir student Ian McGonigal, 13, of Oak Forest, said.
Community Consolidated School District 146, which serves Tinley Park, Oak Forest and Orland Park, already had an accomplished extracurricular band program. The new jazz and choir choices are classes that meet daily.
Teaching jazz is Jason Freeland, the band director, with 19 years of experience, including 14 in the district. The choir program is led by Katie Moan, with four years of experience, three of which have been spent in the district.
“I am very excited to be introducing these subjects to our students,” Freeland said. “I absolutely love working with students and watching them grow and learn.”
Both programs filled immediately, and there is a possibility the classes also will be offered to seventh-graders next year.
Meanwhile, at least one eighth-grader isn’t complaining about the exclusivity.
“I like how this is just an eighth-grade class so we can bond with other eighth-graders before we leave,” said Aimeree Gravina, 13, of Tinley Park.
Of the choir class, Moan said, “In a performance-based ensemble, it is very valuable for these students in these programs to meet every day.”
Students agreed.
“I like these classes because they take place during the day and people who didn’t have rides after school can now participate,” said Renad Damooni, 12, of Tinley Park. “I’m also excited for choir because you can practice being a better singer and improve over time.”
Both programs consist of study as well as performance. For jazz, some time is spent practicing and some is studying the history of jazz.
“Jazz is an art form born and raised in the United States,” Freeland said, “and it’s important to understand its history and evolution. It’s necessary for the students to review band repertoire.
“All music comes from other music. Jazz is a completely different style and is more unique. With jazz, students learn the foundation of improvisation and increase their listening skills, along with learning the fundamentals of the jazz language.”
Freeland’s students are studying jazz from as early as the 1800s and will continue to discuss its growth and how it has been fused into today’s rock music.
The jazz band will play its first live concert during the school’s Winter Concert, set for Dec. 16.
The choir class also has proven popular.
“Choir gives students a chance to dive deeper into the music,” Moan said. “It’s a breadth of knowledge, and they are able to work on reading and rhythm and apply it to their singing.
“This eighth-grade choir program really sets students up for high school,” she said, “because regardless of where they decide to attend high school, most schools have curriculum choir as a course offering.”
Kelly White is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
