Course Outline
The Pinewood Singers is the most rigorous and selective musical performing ensemble on the Pinewood campus. It is a four-part mixed choir focusing on the performance of masterpieces from the Western fine art music repertoire. Auditions are held each Spring for the coming year, and students commit to a full year of enrollment.
The Singers perform regularly on and off campus throughout the year, and undertake one major project each semester. The first semester's big project is a work of musical theater whose cast consists of the entire Pinewood Singers. Mr. C is the Musical Director of the show, and Mrs. Conrad is the Director of the show. The second semester features two big projects in addition to the development and performance of our normal choral repertoire: (1) the production of a recording of the group, and (2) a tour performing the choral repertoire we have learned for the year.
The Singers study the human voice and singing techniques of both solo and choral singing. A lecture day of musical analysis and cultural context is dedicated to all of the main pieces we perform to give students a deeper understanding of our repertoire. To give additional musicological depth, each year we focus on a different period of music--Early, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary. Roughly 50% of our music each year is from this focal period, while the remainder of our repertoire gives breadth by touching the other periods of music history.
Most students stay in the Pinewood Singers for more than one year, so over time most students learn about the choral repertoire of various time periods in both breadth and detail. We have an outstanding accompanist in Joseph Lai and two Student Conductors to assist Mr. C each year.
Below is a generalized outline for a typical year in the Pinewood Singers. Each year this outline is adjusted to fit the selected repertoire and performances.
| Activity | Homework |
| Welcome Back Assembly Performance | Review Or Memorize 4 Carryover Pieces |
| Freshman Auditions (Day off for grade 10-12 Singers) |
Learn Your Piece 1 Part With Score |
| Activity | Homework |
| Sectional Rehearsal | Learn Your Part With Score |
| Sectional Rehearsal | |
| Group Rehearsal | Master Your Part With Score |
| Sound Check Rehearsal | Memorize Your Part |
| Group Rehearsal | |
| Lecture / Demonstration | |
| Group Rehearsal From Memory | Master Your Memorization |
| Finalize Piece & Video Session | Choral Performance / Review Repertoire |
| Performance | |
| Directors' Meeting (Day Off For Other Singers) |
| Activity | Duration | Homework |
| All Subsequent Pieces Follow Same Schedule As Piece 1 | 10 days | See Piece 1 Homework Schedule |
| Activity | Duration | Homework |
| Auditions (Pinewood Singers Only) | 5 days | Prepare For Audition |
| Group & Ensemble Music Rehearsals | 15 days | Memorize Your Group & Ensemble Parts |
| Choral Performance Review & Preparation | 1 day | Choral Performance |
| Drama Rehearsals With Mrs. Conrad In Theater & Solo Vocal Rehearsals With Mr. C In Music Room 22 | 25 days | Memorize Your Solo Parts & Lines |
| Choral Performance Review & Preparation | 1 day | Choral Performance |
| Dress Rehearsals | 4 days | Memorize Your Entrances & Costume Changes |
| Pinewood Singers Musical | 1 day | Party Time |
| Watch Musical Video | 2 days | Learn Your Piece 3 Part With Score |
| Activity | Duration |
| Performance Tour | 3-7 Non-School Days (Usually Spring Break) |
| Activity | Duration | Homework |
| CD Manufacturing Workshop | 1 Day | Create Pinewood Singers CD Packaging |
| Recording Session | 4 Days Equivalent | |
| CD Manufacturing Master Finalization | 1 Day | Manufacture Pinewood Singers CDs |
| Auditions For Next Year's Choirs | 5 Days | |
| Final: Experience Essay | 1 Hour | None |
| Final: Party! | 1 Hour |