Wenger puts out their "Planning Guide for School Music Facilities" that addresses the questions you ask. They may be complimentary. A choral classroom for 60-80 students should have a ceiling height of 16-20 feet. Check out wengercorp.com for more info.

I second Michael's suggestion about contacting Wenger. I believe their planning guide will discuss things like cubic feet, ceiling height, soundproofing, sound conditioning, et cetera.

 

Other things that it might touch on include the importance of not having parallel walls (which can create standing waves -- thus reinforcing various sound frequencies or causing harsh reverberations). Having the ceiling not be parallel to the floor is a related point.

 

If you can bring in an acoustical engineer, that would be great -- especially if that person has lots of experience with performing arts spaces/choir rooms.

 

Other things that would serve your students well would include semi/permanent seating platforms, standing risers, and a sound system that will enable you to record the kids then instantly play it back for them. (Superscope has a CD recorder/player that enables just that.)

 

Two more thoughts -- make sure your heating/air conditioning system is whisper quiet, with your lights being quiet as well. And again, a good sound engineer will know all about all of this stuff.

 

I recently consulted on the building of a new performing arts center, which had a Music building with separate choir and orchestra rooms -- with office, rehearsal rooms, and a computer lab in between. If I can help you offline, feel free to contact me at tpcarter(a)earthlink.net.

 

All my best,

 

Tom

 

 

 

Be sure to consult with several people who know acoustics and build/outfit rooms for musicians, e.g., Wenger.  There's a formula for the amount of cubic feet needed for various sized singing groups (or instrumental ensembles).  We had an acoustician from Denver and the Wenger Co. working with us.  I told them we needed a space for 175 singers with a small orchestra to rehearse something like Messiah.  They said how large the room had to be, height of ceiling, etc.  It worked!   I have a great rehearsal space (two-story room, lots of floor space for moving with my singers or for an orchestra).  Maybe you won't need that much space but it's important that the room be the right size or you'll feel like your choir is working in a dead space.  Your singers will not have any feedback from their sound.   It'll be more difficult for them, especially younger singers.  

Terry

Sally and others,

 

I would add to the criteria mentioned a sound system NOT just for recording and playback, but to support the show, swing, or vocal jazz ensembles that are becoming ever more popular.  Which brings up the question of flooring.  If it is to support dancing, carpeting is no good, but tile on top of concrete is no good either.  Hardwood is best, and raised or sprung hardwood best of all.  Otherwise you'll have to be scheduling your rehearsals on your stage and fighting that scheduling battle forever.

 

Someone (perhaps on another thread?) mentioned having or not having seated risers.  There an in-between approach that can be very useful:  instead of solidly-built-in risers , request staging platforms that will give you the same thing as built-ins, but will be removable if that turns out to be desireable.  In the rehearsal room I inherited this had been done, and then covered with carpet, so it was as if they were built-in platforms but when we moved out of that building could be removed quickly and easily.

 

All the best,

 

John

 

 

What is the best?  I don't quite know.  I can tell you that my choir room is 20 - 25 feet high and the sound is quite nice.  It is also about 50 feet wide and 40 feet deep.

 

 

 The MENC website has an excellent webpage of resources regarding high school music facilities.  It recommends 20 foot ceiling height for instrumental rehearsal rooms and 16 feet ceiling height for choral rehearsal rooms.  You can find all the recommendations for facilities at this link.  Once on the page, scroll down to "Standards for High School" and then down further to "facilities."  It is very detailed, covering requirements for square footage, running water, electrical outlets, temperature and humidity standards, air exchange rate, noise criterion levels, and other aspects of music rehearsal, practice, and storage rooms.

 

http://www.menc.org/resources/view/opportunity-to-learn-standards-for-music-instruction-grades-prek-12