Conversational Solfege in Choral Literature
Sandra Doneski and Sara Carson
Saturday, July 26th – 1:30 – 2:30 PM Session III
All students are capable of applying music literacy skills acquired with Conversational Solfege to choral literature. Participants will explore literature appropriate for 5th grade through high school while implementing techniques adapted from Conversational Solfege.
Participants will be able to-explore developmentally appropriate choral literature that directly relates to Conversational Solfege methods and techniques-utilize literature to create a comprehensive choral curriculum.
Sandra Doneski has been a teacher of music to students in Kindergarten through graduate school. She is Associate Professor of Music at Gordon College and Director of Graduate and Undergraduate Music Education. She teaches courses in music education methods, learning theory, assessment, curriculum development; supervises student teachers; and conducts the Gordon College Children’s Choir.
In 2009, Dr. Doneski was the recipient of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Lowell Mason Award and the Society for General Music in Massachusetts Excellence in General Music Award. In 2012, she was awarded the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Distinguished Service Award and in 2013 she received the Administrators in Music Education Visionary Leadership Award.
Dr. Doneski has published articles and conducted workshops on choral literature and techniques, curriculum development, assessment and mentoring. She recently co-authored a chapter in the MENC Handbook: Research on Teaching and Learning in Music Education titled Research on Elementary and Secondary School Singing.
She is a graduate of Gordon College and received her Master’s and Ph.D. in Music Education from The Hartt School, University of Hartford. She is a Conversational Solfege Level 1 Teacher trainer and current President of FAME.
Sara Gassert Carson teaches middle school and high school general music and chorus in the Waltham Public Schools. In addition, Sara serves as the Associate Conductor of the Gordon College Children’s Choir. In 2012, Sara presented Great Expectations: High Standards in Choral Urban Education and Great Expectations: High Standards in the General Music Urban Education at the Massachusetts Music Educators Conference with Dr. Sandra Doneski and Irene Idicheria. In 2013, the latter session was offered at the All-Eastern Conference in Hartford. During the 2010-2011 school year, Sara worked as a Teaching Fellow for the Boston Children’s Chorus. In 2010, Sara received the Promising Music Educators’ Award from the Massachusetts Music Educator’s Association.
Sara is currently in her second summer of the Master’s program at Gordon College. While at Gordon, Sara has had the privilege of studying with Dr. Sandra Doneski, Dr. Kenneth H. Phillips, and Dr. Chris Azzara.