2008 Woodie Awards
Music not heard but seen
Brandon Williams
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: A&E
- Page 1 of 1
It may be impossible to think of having a choir without any singing but on Dec. 8 the Kirkwood Sign Choir will do just that.
The Kirkwood Sign Choir will be performing for the third year and everyone is invited to watch the 10 students perform in the choir.
The class has been preparing for the performance since the beginning of the fall semester. Linda Krog, program coordinator, said, "At the start of the year we listen to a CD and interpret the song in small parts. We do not sign the song word for word."
The entire choir will interpret two songs including "Waiting on the World to Change," in American Sign. The group will then divide into ensembles and perform in groups, duets and individually.
"We've done performances with these songs before and they are popular songs. Now our peers and other students can come, too," Lizzie Mayer, sign language interpreting major, said.
The Sign Choir faces some of the same problems that traditional choirs face like getting actions and words together. But signing a song produces new challenges, too. "The hardest part is getting everyone together and so many songs have a lot of symbolism or idioms and we have to figure out what they really mean and then how to sign that in a visual way," Mayer said. Mayer added a lot of songs say one thing but then they have to think, "alright what are they really trying to say?"
The choir has performed several times in the past including a show at the Museum of Art in Iowa City. "Our very first performance that we did three years ago was for the Board of Trustees," said Krog.
Krog recalled that local radio station Z102.9 mentioned the Kirkwood Sign Choir for a performance they had done. "It was very exciting to be heard on the radio. I had many of the past choir members call and congratulate me. It was an awesome thing," she added.
Krog said the development of the Kirkwood Sign Choir stemmed from an interest in the sign choir at the church where her husband was the pastor. Kirkwood students, who also attended Krog's church, approached her about starting a college sign choir.
"It is more common to see a sign choir at churches than anywhere else," she said.
Student interest in the group comes partly from Krog's enthusiasm. "Linda always talks about how fun it is and it's good to be involved because I want to do this as a profession, so it's good to have that extra dynamic," Mayer said.
Krog added, "The students seem very excited to perform and have worked very hard since the beginning of the year."
The concert is free and open to all individuals and is scheduled Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. in 234 Cedar Hall with refreshments to follow. "You don't even have to know sign language. It's just fun to come and watch people sign," Mayer said.
The Kirkwood Sign Choir will be performing for the third year and everyone is invited to watch the 10 students perform in the choir.
The class has been preparing for the performance since the beginning of the fall semester. Linda Krog, program coordinator, said, "At the start of the year we listen to a CD and interpret the song in small parts. We do not sign the song word for word."
The entire choir will interpret two songs including "Waiting on the World to Change," in American Sign. The group will then divide into ensembles and perform in groups, duets and individually.
"We've done performances with these songs before and they are popular songs. Now our peers and other students can come, too," Lizzie Mayer, sign language interpreting major, said.
The Sign Choir faces some of the same problems that traditional choirs face like getting actions and words together. But signing a song produces new challenges, too. "The hardest part is getting everyone together and so many songs have a lot of symbolism or idioms and we have to figure out what they really mean and then how to sign that in a visual way," Mayer said. Mayer added a lot of songs say one thing but then they have to think, "alright what are they really trying to say?"
The choir has performed several times in the past including a show at the Museum of Art in Iowa City. "Our very first performance that we did three years ago was for the Board of Trustees," said Krog.
Krog recalled that local radio station Z102.9 mentioned the Kirkwood Sign Choir for a performance they had done. "It was very exciting to be heard on the radio. I had many of the past choir members call and congratulate me. It was an awesome thing," she added.
Krog said the development of the Kirkwood Sign Choir stemmed from an interest in the sign choir at the church where her husband was the pastor. Kirkwood students, who also attended Krog's church, approached her about starting a college sign choir.
"It is more common to see a sign choir at churches than anywhere else," she said.
Student interest in the group comes partly from Krog's enthusiasm. "Linda always talks about how fun it is and it's good to be involved because I want to do this as a profession, so it's good to have that extra dynamic," Mayer said.
Krog added, "The students seem very excited to perform and have worked very hard since the beginning of the year."
The concert is free and open to all individuals and is scheduled Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. in 234 Cedar Hall with refreshments to follow. "You don't even have to know sign language. It's just fun to come and watch people sign," Mayer said.
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