While most Berkeley High School students are still enjoying the quiet comfort of their beds at 7:26 a.m., the early-morning warriors of the zero-period chorus class already have “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons pounding out of the classroom speaker. Slowly, the music fades and the program’s brand new choir director Edmond Hampton takes a seat at the piano to begin vocal warmups.
Hampton grew up in Arkansas, and went to college at Arkansas State University, where he majored in Music Education.
“I have been a lover of music and singing since I can remember talking,” Hampton said.
Hampton’s teaching philosophy focuses on each student as an individual. He views choral music as a tool students can use to tap into all of their potential that they have to offer to the world.
“We try to build up the singer and the musician, but more importantly, the person,” Hampton said.
The students didn’t find out that they would be having a change in directors until late last year. Nevertheless, Hampton made his intentions clear early on.
“On the first day of school, he was explaining to us, ‘I’m not Ms. Hansen, and I’m going to do some things differently,’” Amelia Astalis-Buell, a BHS junior who has participated in choir for three years, said.
The biggest change has been the new focus on learning to read sheet music. Previously no knowledge of sheet music had been required, and no one had to learn. However, the new concentration on learning sheet music isn’t coming from an effort to make the program more exclusive, as Hampton began teaching sight-reading at a very beginner level.
“No matter what level you’re starting at, there’s a place for everyone in the chorus. Everyone’s always eager to help each other out,” Hailey Sacramento, a BHS senior in chorus, said.
Yet, the new changes still come with challenges for students who have been in the program for years, and already have the experience and knowledge that is now being reviewed in the classroom.
“It was a little bit frustrating as someone who has a lot of experience with it,” Flora Jackel, a BHS senior who has been in choir since her freshman year, said. She suggests splitting the choir program up into two distinct parts: an audition choir and a beginner choir.
Hampton believes that helping his students to become musically literate will enhance their experience of music by broadening their skill sets.
“I am trying to convince people to be music lovers. And you can’t say that you love something that you don’t know about,” Hampton said.
This year, Hampton is excited to provide his students with a wide variety of chances to perform — at festivals, individually, through auditions, and potentially even travel opportunities.
While all changes inevitably come with mixed feelings — especially when they involve saying goodbye to a beloved teacher — they can also open up doors to opportunities nobody realized were waiting to be discovered.