Our Program

Vivace Youth Chorus of San José offers developmentally appropriate instruction for youth from ages 5 to 18. Both beginning and advanced singers are encouraged to participate. Need-based financial assistance is available to keep our program accessible to families of all means.

Singers ages 8 and up wishing to join one of our choirs are required to participate in a placement appointment with a member of our artistic staff. 6- and 7-year-olds are automatically placed in our Primo ensemble, and no 1:1 meeting is required. No preparation is needed for this relaxed and friendly session; however, singers in grades 6 and up are encouraged to bring a prepared song. Placements can be scheduled beginning in mid-July for the fall season, and in January for the spring.

Training Choirs:

Our training choirs, Primo and Adagio, meet once per week and build physical awareness of musical concepts while learning the foundations of good singing. After completing Adagio, students are ready to progress into our Allegro ensemble. Students in the training choirs perform at least twice per year in community-based recitals. Training choir students also have the opportunity to sing at least once per year with the performing choirs at Vivace’s larger concerts. Beyond the regular weekly rehearsals, singers in these ensembles may participate in workshops with guest clinicians or local choral festivals as the opportunities arise.

Primo: Beginning level choir for students in 1st grade and above

Using a Kodály-based theory program, students are introduced to musical concepts of rhythm, tempo, pitch recognition, and solfège. During active and playful rehearsals, children internalize the rhythms of music and learn to develop musical memory. Singers are introduced to musical concepts of loud, soft, fast, slow, pitch recognition, using solfège, and rhythm. 5-year-olds or Kindergarten students may be admitted to this ensemble with permission from the artistic staff.

Rehearsals are one hour per week on Mondays from 4:00-5:00 pm. This ensemble shares performance music with the Adagio ensemble, and the groups overlap from 4:30-5:00 pm for repertoire practice.

Primo singers who are ready to move to Adagio will:

• Understand the 5-note Pentatonic scale in solfège (Do, Re, Mi, Sol, La)
• Be familiar with simple meter and rhythms, including half, quarter, and eighth notes
• Read music using the above concepts
• Be able to sing confidently on pitch
• Maintain healthy singing posture
• Be attentive in rehearsal and performance while watching and responding to the conductor

Adagio: Mid-level choir for students in 3rd grade and above

Singers in Adagio learn music in a wide range of styles encompassing a variety of languages. They learn through ear training, solfège, and sight-reading. At the same time, they develop an understanding of the necessity of breath support, vocal alignment, freedom of tone, and posture for quality singing. Rehearsals continue to include games and movement activities to reinforce concepts and skills. Students learn to read a choral score while working on increasingly difficult canons and two-part music. Emphasis is placed upon being a member of an ensemble and supporting the other singers in the choir.

Rehearsals are 1 hour per week on Mondays from 4:30-5:30 pm. This ensemble shares performance music with the Primo ensemble, and the groups overlap from 4:30-5:00 pm for repertoire practice.

Adagio singers who are ready to move into the Performing Choirs will:

• Know the major scale in solfège
• Be familiar with simple and compound meters
• Understand whole, half, quarter, and eighth note rhythms
• Read a choral score using the above concepts
• Be able to sing confidently on pitch and hold a part independently
• Have excellent vocal posture
• Maintain focus in rehearsal, watch and respond to the conductor, and support their fellow singers

Performing Choirs: Advanced levels for students in 6th grade and above

All of Vivace’s performing choirs take pride in working toward accomplished performances of increasingly sophisticated repertoire. Singers participate in two formal concerts each year, in addition to various community performances, collaborations with local musical ensembles, and workshops with expert clinicians. Advanced performing choirs participate in an annual retreat to work with clinicians and build friendships that create an excellent ensemble experience. Singers have the opportunity to tour outside of the local area every other summer.

Vivace's Performing Choir singers demonstrate:

• Sufficient maturity to do advanced and independent work and practice independently
• Willingness to work on sophisticated literature, including a wide range of foreign languages and musical styles
• Knowledge of major and minor scales and intervals
• The ability to sing in two and three parts independently
• Commitment to developing their musicianship skill, both in class and independently
• Intermediate level sight-reading skill
• The ability to follow and respond to the conductor
• Support for their fellow students and collaborating musicians



After some time in our program, Advanced Performing Choir singers demonstrate:

• The ability to carry solo and duet parts
• An expressive stage presence that engages audiences
• A personal understanding of the music they perform
• Advanced level musicianship skills, both aurally and in sight-reading
• Singing with blend and balanced tone within the ensemble
• The ability to work together as a group to evaluate the ensemble’s progress
• A commitment to achieving the best performance that they are capable of

Allegro

Singers at this level enjoy working together on music especially suited to intermediate and advanced treble voices. Repertoire includes a wide range of styles and cultures, and may divide into two, three, four, or more parts. This ensemble rehearses 1 ½ hours per week, and may be further supported through additional sectional rehearsals and workshops. Singers in Allegro also collaborate on occasion with the Presto ensemble, and may be considered for membership in multiple upper level ensembles. This ensemble meets Mondays from 6:00-7:30 pm.

Presto

Singers in this ensemble perform intermediate-to-advanced repertoire for mixed voices in a wide range of styles from many different cultures. This ensemble rehearses 1 ½ hours per week, and may be further supported through additional sectional rehearsals and workshops. Singers in this ensemble also collaborate on occasion with the Allegro ensemble, and may be considered for membership in multiple upper level ensembles. This ensemble meets Thursdays from 6:30-8:00 pm.

A Cappella

Singers in this ensemble will primarily perform advanced vocal jazz and a cappella arrangements of Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) in a small ensemble setting. Rehearsing once per week for 1.5 hours, high school-aged singers will develop their skill as a member of an ensemble, along with musicianship, musicality, and healthy vocal production. A Cappella meets Thursdays from 5:00-6:30 pm.

A Cappella singers are expected to:

• Learn and successfully demonstrate solo and ensemble singing primarily in the pop and jazz styles
• Practice independently
• Engage audiences through expressive stage presence
• Develop and maintain positive and productive rehearsal and performance environments 
• Develop a personal understanding of the cultural and historical context of the repertoire