About the Vocal Music program...at Big Walnut

Since 1998, The Big Walnut High School has seen many new and exciting changes.  Once again the growth of our program has created a new membership record for the choral department. Can you believe that our choral program since the beginning of the 1998 school year has MORE THAN TRIPLED in size?  We started the 1998-1999 school year with only 35 choral students.  Today, there are  178 students involved in a choral music activity. A true sign of a healthy program is the enrollment of 10 percent of the total school enrollment involvement in a vocal music activity.  Based on this formula, BWHS currently has over 30 percent of the total school population participating.  We are continuing on our quest to becoming one of the finest choral programs in the state, both in quality and quantity!   ~Mrs. Huston

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW---Mandatory concert dates:   

            March 23--Jazz Show (participation is some manner)

             May 19th--Spring Concert

   Other dates of interest:

          Jan. 23--HS Solo & Ensemble Contest

         February 26-28--HS Musical

          March 13--Large Group Contest at Zanesville HS

         April 23-24--STATE Large Group Contest

         May 14-15--MS Large Group Contest at BWHS

   Important Links: 

        Big Walnut Band

       Big Walnut Music Booster

       Big Walnut Local Schools

ZERO PERIOD SCHEDULE/Weekly Schedule

****Just a reminder....When weather calls for a delay, there will be NO ZERO PERIOD CHOIR

Monday-Feb. 8--ALL

Tuesday--Feb. 9--GUYS

Wednesday--Feb. 10--GIRLS

Thursday--Feb. 11--NO Choir/Eagle Time/ Late Arrival

Friday--Feb. 12--ALL

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Monday-Feb. 15--ALL

Tuesday-Feb. 16--ALL CONTEST ONLY

Wednesday-Feb. 17--ALL CONTEST ONLY

Thursday-Feb. 18--

Friday-Feb. 19--ALL

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Monday-February 22

Tuesday-Feb. 23

Wednesday-Feb. 24

Thursday-Feb. 25

Friday-Feb. 26

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CHRISTMAS CONCERT December 2009

What's  NEW

Footloose will be presented at Big Walnut HS Auditorium on ...

Thursday-February 25, Friday-February 26, and Friday-February 27.    ALL performances will begin at 8:00pm. 

Ticket prices are --Adult $8.00  & Senior Citizens/Student $6.00

Call Debbie Mayhew at Big Walnut Middle School for tickets. 

The 2009-2010 BWHS Vocal Jazz Select Ensemble is announced on that VOCAL GROUPS page.  The judge who selected the ensemble stated, "this year was a difficult year but exciting for the BWHS Choir...  There was so many great voices and talent which made this selection extremely challenging. The BWHS Choir should produce great and inspiring sounds this year."

2009-2010 BWHS CHOIR OFFICERS are announced on the VOCAL GROUPS page

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 CASE STUDY FOR THE ARTS A recent study conducted by the Americans for the Arts and the National School Boards Association found that young people who CONSISTENTLY participate in a consistent and rigorous art program are:  4 TIMES more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, 4 TIMES more likely to participate in a math and science fair, 3 TIMES more likely to win an award for school attendance, 4 TIMES more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem, 3 TIMES more likely to be elected to a class office.  MORE GOOD NEWS for BWHS MUSIC STUDENTS !!!!!!!!!!

  SEPTEMBER 2007 Study Finds link between quality music programs and test scores.  A recent study found that students in high-quality school music education programs score higher on standardized tests compared to students in schools with deficient music education programs.  On the elementary level, it found that students in high quality music programs scored 22 percent better in English and 20 percent better in Mathematics than students in deficient music programs.  Middle School students  scored 17 percent better in top quality programs than children who did not participate in music and 33 percent higher than students in deficient music program.  This study included 4,730 Elementary and Middle School Students in four regions of the United States.  

"Why Study Music?"

Go to www.musicfriends.org to find this answer along with many more resources supporting music education

MUSIC may add points to your IQ !!! Another study was recently released to support the power, music has to increasing a child's IQ.  A study presented in the Psychological Science journal states a child who completes 1 year of music lessons showed a 7 point increase in their IQ.  Math and language skills also increased.  This study also indicated there was no difference between keyboard lessons, singing lessons or drama lessons.  GOOD NEWS!!! 

Making music is its own reward, but it appears that the payoffs don't end there.  A Harris Interaction Poll reveled that 88% of people with a post-graduate education (Masters Degree or Doctorate) were involved in music while in school. 83% of those earning $150,000 or more had a music education.  The reason stated is "it's a rigorous discipline and in an ensemble situation, there's a great deal of working with others."  "Those types of skills stand you well in careers later in life."   Dec. 2007

Colorado Study finds links between Arts Education and Test Scores

Public High Schools in Colorado that offer arts education courses see more of their students score highly on state tests in reading, writing, and science than do those public high schools that do not offer art courses.  Regardless of student ethnicity or socio-economic status, higher test scores prevailed at the arts-richer schools.  Schools with the arts also have lower drop-out rates.  Employers today may be seeking a workforce that is more imaginative, innovative, and creative.  Please visit www.coloarts.state.co.us/programs/education/study/index.htm

1) You get to be loud. Always feel like you’re being shushed by teachers and adults? In choir, you’re actually encouraged to make noise.

2) Friendship. More than 42 million Americans sing in choruses, so you’re sure to make some new buddies.

3) See the world! Many choirs go on tours to exciting and faraway places.

4) Begin the path to stardom. Mega-celebs Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake started their careers singing in school and church choirs. Even President Obama was once a choral singer.

5) Bring home A’s. Research shows that students who sing in choruses get better grades than students who don’t.

6) Make your college application shine. Admission folks will love to see that you’re involved in extracurricular activities—especially an activity like choir, which develops teamwork skills and self discipline.

7) L’amour. Lots of singers date people they meet in choir, because music is the food of love, after all.

8) Back rubs. Yeah, that’s right: back rubs. Many choruses do them as part of their rehearsal warm-ups.

9) No schlepping. Singing does not require carrying around heavy instruments or gym bags. All you need is your fab voice.

10) Bragging rights. Not everyone can say they’ve been in the spotlight, but you’ll be able to because singing in a chorus gives you the opportunity to be front and center, baby!

--taken from The Chorus Impact Study--www.chorusamerica.org