Student chapters of ACDA have been established by the American Choral DirectorsAssociation to provide opportunities for future choral directors to be involved with their professional choral organization while still in college and high school. A student chapter provides an incentive for students to become more committed to the art of choral conducting during their education and preparation for a career in conducting and music education. It provides learning opportunities outside the classroom and beyond the time limitations available in conducting and methods courses. It often provides useful service to the choral area and music department through projects and support of existing departmental workshops and festivals. ACDA Chapters encourage student leadership and direct experience with conducting, repertoire, presentations by local experts, and other events that are student-motivated and sponsored.
There are many benefits that may be gained by forming or joining an ACDA student chapter. First, it expands the choral curriculum beyond the classroom and provides practical experience for students as conductors and choral educators. Second, it affords assistance to the choral professor and the choral program through recruitment, choir activities, concerts, receptions, clinics, and festivals. Third, a student chapter helps to identify the vocal student as a choral musician and introduces early involvement for the student in ACDA as his or her future professional organization. Finally, it encourages students to attend state, division, and national conventions and workshops sponsored by ACDA while still in school, encouraging early involvement and offering performances, ideas, and methods for continued growth and stimulation. Student membership benefits also include reduced student registration fees for work-shops and conventions. As members, students receive a subscription to the Choral Journal, the official journal of ACDA, which includes a section dedicated to student membership titled "Student Times." The goal of "Student Times" is to provide substantive articles that address concerns specific to the student membership and give student members an opportunity to have their thoughts and research published in a national forum.
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