"Before [my daughter] started Children's Chorus of Maryland, she had learning disabilities.
She couldn't read very well, she couldn't do math, she couldn't do a lot of things,
because of her learning disabilities. By taking Children's Chorus of Maryland classes,
and singing with the chorus, not only did she develop the ability to read and write
and everything else, but it was amazing! Starting the year with not being able to
read road signs - we said: read this: s-t-o-p, 'stop', she wouldn't be able to do
that. By the end of the year, she was picking up books and reading books, cover to
cover."
-- Victor A., parent of CCM Lyric Choir student
"There's a Hungarian system called the Kodály (pronounced ko-dye) system that I am
very high on because it uses no instruments, just the human voice. Kids who learn this
system do astonishing things musically, and their comprehension in mathematics, in logic
and in reading also goes right off the graph. Even for "disenfranchised" kids, from
different backgrounds and cultures, it works like magic. The teachers are carefully
trained, and they use songs that are familiar to the child. They teach the kids hand
signals corresponding to the notes of the scale, and professional terms like chord
structure and key signature and cadence. The kids learn the melody, then the rhythm
and then the words. I saw a class of 7-year-olds who were not in a music school take
dictation of a melody from a teacher in Hungary. And when she asked 'Who's going to
give me a Mozart cadence and a Haydn cadence and a Bach cadence?' three different kids
did just that."
-- Isaac Stern, Violinist (Page 67, U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 13, 1990)
"In the past few years the Children's Chorus has sung at the White House [and]…
performed before a sell-out audience at New York's Carnegie Hall…these gifted children
have repeatedly given inspiring public performances, demonstrating the quality of
training that has been available to them."
-- Gretchen Neumann, Phoenix
"When I find that some of my students are members of the Children's Chorus, I rejoice,
for they are the leaders in my choruses and ensembles. The musical training they have
received is second to none, and they sing in tune with beautiful vowels. As a music
teacher, I benefit from these skills."
-- Alice Mack, Head, Music Department, St. Paul's School for Girls, Choral Director
"Children's Chorus of Maryland gives children who maybe aren't talented academically,
who aren't talented in sports, it gives them a way to express themselves, and to have a
talent they can share...To a prospective parent, I would say don't miss this opportunity.
Don't let your kids miss this opportunity. It is an experience they will treasure
forever, and not only will they make wonderful friends, but they will learn lifelong
skills, and it's just something they will treasure always...I would say that this chorus
not only changed my life, but it has changed the lives of many children. Some of those
have grown to be music teachers, but all of us have taken away an incredible experience."
-- Amy Glover, CCM alumna, Special Education Teacher
"It's wonderful to see kids enjoying difficult things and, in a way, doing things that
are not particularly that fashionable, because this is not sports, it's not a popular
medium. But...the [Children's Chorus of Maryland members] are proud of what they do,
and they do it quite well indeed."
-- Barry Tuckwell, CCM Advisory Board, Conductor, Horn Soloist
"There is never a raised voice or pounding in Betty Bertaux's classroom -- just lots of
gentle, precise guidance and humor. And love. From the sequential, skill-based Kodály
classes for every child in her choir to the sheer beauty of head-tone singing, I owe
much of my musicianship and teaching style to Betty's vision. She is the reason I direct
children's choirs today."
-- Carol Thomas Downing, Founder and Director, Virginia Children's Chorus; Founder, Peabody Children's Chorus
"The Kodály System is probably the world's most advanced and fruitful method of
developing the general musicality of children in use today. And in Baltimore we are
fortunate to have the talented and dedicated Betty Bertaux and her faculty, serious
and active disciples of this concept, at its disposal in raising the level of music
education in the Baltimore area."
-- Isador Saslav, Violinist
-- Ann Heiligman Saslav, Concert Pianist
"The Children's Chorus of Maryland is excellently disciplined, impressive for its
authoritative interpretation of a wide repertoire of works from early periods to the
present."
-- Elliott W. Galkin, Musicologist; Former Director of the Peabody Institute
"What a great concert - beautiful music, balanced with differing presentations, well
run and lovely to look at. What more could you ask for?"
-- Audience member, non-affiliated
"Music lessons have been shown to improve a child's performance in school. After eight
months of lessons, children showed a 46% boost in their spatial IQ, which is crucial
for higher brain function learning in complex mathematics, science and engineering."
-- Frances Rauscher, Ph.D, University of Wisconsin
-- Gordon Shaw, Ph.D, University of CA, Irvine, 1994.
"I'm pretty much sold on Children's Chorus of Maryland.
In many ways, Children's Chorus of Maryland shows me what children are capable of,
musically. I'm absolutely in love with the pedagogy that we use."
-- Edna Nelson, CCM Teacher, retired public school music teacher
"I think the ability to learn music extends to other activities, in particular school
work. It seems to have a dramatic effect."
-- Tim Lyon, parent of CCM Concert Choir student
"The difference with Children's Chorus of Maryland is the training is much more
intensive and focused. I think it requires a lot of discipline on the part of the
children, but it also fosters that discipline."
-- Lenore Studt, CCM parent of Lyric Choir and Treble Choir students
"A child that isn't exposed to music isn't a full and capable child. I would say that
a child [who] is exposed to music can be whole. I think that, in a way, that [through
music training] children become closer to themselves."
-- Jennifer Jordan, CCM Teacher, CCM Alumna
"I am so pleased that we found CCM! My daughter LOVES coming to class and NEVER wants
to miss it. She loves the other kids and feels welcomed by them. Thank you for making
this such a good experience for us."
-- CCM Parent
"You all were magnificent, such a professional and talented group of young people!
Your performance was truly a highlight of the event."
-- Maryland Historical Society
"The Children's Chorus is a truly professional ensemble which exhibits both discipline
and an artistic excellence."
-- Moris Cotel, Composer
"One of the most enriching and fun parts of my life."
-- CCM Student
"In today's family life, more and more children's activities make their bid for the
time, energy and financial resources of families … CCM is among the most worthwhile,
important activities for our family to be involved in at this time."
-- CCM Parent
"…it was astonishing to watch your Staff teaching complex concepts to such young
children and keeping them so interested!"
-- CCM Parent
"I like the confidence that Children's Chorus gives you, and now I can see it spreading
into other parts of my life."
-- CCM Student
"The beautiful concert we attended was indicative of very hard work and great devotion
on the part of the children and teacher. It is truly amazing what you have been able to
accomplish. You deserve our sincere gratitude and appreciation and appreciation for your
work."
-- CCM Parent
"I would like to thank you for inviting me to attend my daughter's audition. It was an
extremely pleasant atmosphere of outstanding professionalism combined with a genuine,
natural kindness."
-- CCM Parent
