Coro acadêmico da UEMA: um relato de experiência.

Abstract

This work presents an account of my experience conducting the Academic Choir of the State University of Maranhão (UEMA), developed over the years 2023 and 2024 as part of the activities of the Culture Scholarship. The study analyzes how the experience as a scholarship-conductor contributed to my musical, pedagogical, and human development, articulating theory and practice in an extension context. The experience allowed the development of musical skills related to vocal technique, repertoire preparation, conducting rehearsals, and understanding the interactions between the voices of the choir. In the educational and organizational context, processes of leadership, planning, group management, conflict resolution, and adaptation to the needs of the participants were experienced. The project involved two distinct groups, facing challenges such as irregular attendance by choir members, differences in musical experience, and difficulties in assimilating the repertoire. Nevertheless, progress was observed in musical perception, collective practice, participant engagement, and integration between the university and the community. The experience reinforces the role of the university choir as a space for holistic education, promoting technical development, artistic sensitivity, autonomy, responsibility, and social engagement. It is concluded that choral conducting is an essential practice in the training of music educators, providing experiences that broaden the understanding of teaching, the management of artistic processes, and cultural mediation