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Collaboration Spotlights

Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music and der the umbrella of mutual respect—is what makes
the International Quilt Museum to provide music- i Choir an impactful program.
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making opportunities for individuals of all abilities.
Participants range in age from fifth grade to adults. Universal Design
The community choir is open to all participants who One of the project outcomes for the i Choir Proj-
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can sing or who want to learn to sing. Participants are ect is the implementation and documentation of Uni-
encouraged to join in cross-age, cross-ability groups or versal Design for Learning Principles as a framework
“singing teams” of two to four who want to participate for music instruction. What makes i Choir unique and
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in the ensemble together. Membership is made up of successful is our focus on proactive planning for learn-
individuals who wish to sing with, and support, family er (singer) variability. In the same way that universally
members and friends with a variety of physical, sen- designed buildings are constructed for ease of naviga-
sory, and cognitive challenges. tion by all people, universally designed learning spaces
Using the principles of Universal Design for Learn- can be purposefully and proactively constructed for all
ing (http://udlguidelines.cast.org), musical growth singers, no matter their abilities or stage of musical de-
activities are designed to maximize the learning po- velopment.
tential for everyone who participates. i Choir seeks to
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be an agent of social change both internally, through What is the collaborative element of your project?
the process of exploring various issues within the re-
hearsal environment, and externally, by presenting Organizational Collaboration
performances that encourage audience participation i Choir represents a partnership between the Glenn
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and reflection. It is our intention that audience mem- Korff School of Music (GKSOM) and the Interna-
bers connect to the power of their own voices and use tional Quilt Museum (IQM). Quilting and choral mu-
them to advocate, to act, and to promote access, inclu- sic making are metaphors for community. Both the
sion, diversity, and belonging within our communities. quilter and the choral musician use their respective
The values and goals underlying i Choir are encap- materials to create patterns that express both collective
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sulated in its name. The lowercase “i” signifies the im- (past practices and traditions) and individual artistry.
portance of technology as a learning tool, especially In quilting and in choral singing, each piece/singer is
beneficial for those who face challenges in accessing beautiful, independent of the other pieces/singers, but
information without its regular use. Additionally, the when combined, they create something rich in dimen-
“i” represents “inclusive” and “intergenerational,” sion, full of meaning, and unique to that particular
reflecting both the diversity of our singers and our moment in time.
mission to enhance access for the broader community,
regardless of age or ability. The exponent suggests Participant Collaboration
that expanding our reach and relevance can lead to In i Choir, each singer brings something unique to
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exponentially greater outcomes than we might have the ensemble. We recognize and appreciate the distinct
anticipated. contributions of every member. By identifying and le-
veraging their individual strengths, we foster a sense of
What is the most successful aspect of your project? ownership and belonging among our participants. In
i Choir, we emphasize effort and the journey towards
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Meaningful Connections mastering key artistic concepts. All musical activities
The most palpable success of the i Choir Project are structured around a central conceptual theme. For
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has been the impact of singing on the lives of our sing- instance, a rehearsal might center on breath manage-
ers and our community. The relationships built within ment and phrasing with all related learning activities
our immediate community are also very special. Par- aligning with this focus. Singers receive encourage-
ticipating in this creative endeavor together—all un- ment and guidance from one another, fostering rela-

70 CHORAL JOURNAL October 2024 Volume 65 Number 3