The 7th/8th choir and Jazz band is having a joint concert on Thursday, March 19th at 7 p.m. in the La Grande Middle School Commons. It's the first choir concert since I've been at LMS, and I'm excited but I'm also a little worried.
We don't have a piano accompanist, mostly because we don't have the money to pay one (thanks to the budget freeze!) Where does that leave us? Using a CD recording. Blegh... I loathe singing along with CD accompaniment. For this I am called a music snob. Fine by me.
Singing along with a CD is almost sacrilege to me. Not only is it not authentic, it seems a crime to live in a town full of very talented people and have to use canned music!
The students treat it like singing along to the radio, which is part of the problem. They come into class and check-out, not even bothering to glance at the director. We'll see how the concert goes- if nothing else, the students do know their music really well.
Is there anyone out there willing to volunteer one or two days a week to play the piano for a choir class? Email me or post a comment.
Monday, March 16, 2009
It's Dynamic!
Have problems getting your singers to use a dynamic other than mezzo-blah? I used the following strategy today and it worked great. It connects the brain with a physical activity so it is great for kinesthetic learners.
Rehearse a piece of music as you normally would, but instruct students to change their body position as the dynamics change. Anytime the written dynamic is piano, they must sing from a sitting position. For mp, stand up just a little bit, mf a little more, and for f they should be standing fully erect. If ff is used they can stretch up on their toes. If there are crescendos that do not have a dynamic written in students still need to rise to show an increase in volume.
This can be quite a work-out if the piece of music you're singing has lots of dynamic changes. It can also be used to help students understand when and in which voice part the melody occurs.
Rehearse a piece of music as you normally would, but instruct students to change their body position as the dynamics change. Anytime the written dynamic is piano, they must sing from a sitting position. For mp, stand up just a little bit, mf a little more, and for f they should be standing fully erect. If ff is used they can stretch up on their toes. If there are crescendos that do not have a dynamic written in students still need to rise to show an increase in volume.
This can be quite a work-out if the piece of music you're singing has lots of dynamic changes. It can also be used to help students understand when and in which voice part the melody occurs.
My Top Five
Here are my top five warm-ups for choir that I've had the most success with. The students just love these!
1. Do-Re-Do Scale: Have students sing up and down the scale, in any key, using solfege syllables. Here is an example: Do, Do-Re-Do, Do-Re-Mi-Re-Do, Do-Re-Mi-Re-Mi-Re-Do, and so on until reaching the octave. Then sing back down: Do, Do-Ti-Do, Do-Ti-La-Ti-Do, and so on until reaching the bottom. Variations: Divide the choir into two groups and have one start at the bottom and the other at the top; Quicken the tempo and challenge students to sing up in one breath, and down in one breath; Have students close their eyes while singing to practice active listening and blending of pitch.
2. Count Down From Eight: This is a stretching exercise which students love! Start with the right hand and shake it while counting down from eight. Then repeat with the left hand, right foot, and left foot. Then start again, this time counting down from seven, and so on until reaching one. But there is a catch! The beginning dynamic must be pp and the ending dynamic must be ff. This means every time you reach a new number the volume must increase. Therefore the number four should be mf. Let your students know that while ff needs to be the loudest one can sing, they need to take care not to yell as it is not good for the voice.
3. Mommy Made Me Mash My M&M's: This silly phrase is sung using arpeggios from any key.
You can then modulate up or down.
4. Alphabet Exercise: This is a great exercise to loosen up the jaw, face, and lips. Speak only the consonants from the alphabet, starting with the letter B. In 4/4 time, use the rhythm triplet-triplet-triplet-4. For example: buh-buh-buh, buh-buh-buh, buh-buh-buh, buh. Then Cuh for the letter C and so on. As students become more familiar with this, increase the tempo.
5. Lip Buzzes: Have students buzz their lips along with five-note arpeggios in any key. You can buzz the whole arpeggio from 1-5 and back down again, or just buzz from 5-1, then modulate up or down. Be sure to let your students know that this takes not only a ton of air, but that it must be released in a steady stream, similar to squeezing a tube of toothpaste. Young singers commonly do not utilize the air they breathe in.
1. Do-Re-Do Scale: Have students sing up and down the scale, in any key, using solfege syllables. Here is an example: Do, Do-Re-Do, Do-Re-Mi-Re-Do, Do-Re-Mi-Re-Mi-Re-Do, and so on until reaching the octave. Then sing back down: Do, Do-Ti-Do, Do-Ti-La-Ti-Do, and so on until reaching the bottom. Variations: Divide the choir into two groups and have one start at the bottom and the other at the top; Quicken the tempo and challenge students to sing up in one breath, and down in one breath; Have students close their eyes while singing to practice active listening and blending of pitch.
2. Count Down From Eight: This is a stretching exercise which students love! Start with the right hand and shake it while counting down from eight. Then repeat with the left hand, right foot, and left foot. Then start again, this time counting down from seven, and so on until reaching one. But there is a catch! The beginning dynamic must be pp and the ending dynamic must be ff. This means every time you reach a new number the volume must increase. Therefore the number four should be mf. Let your students know that while ff needs to be the loudest one can sing, they need to take care not to yell as it is not good for the voice.
3. Mommy Made Me Mash My M&M's: This silly phrase is sung using arpeggios from any key.
You can then modulate up or down.
4. Alphabet Exercise: This is a great exercise to loosen up the jaw, face, and lips. Speak only the consonants from the alphabet, starting with the letter B. In 4/4 time, use the rhythm triplet-triplet-triplet-4. For example: buh-buh-buh, buh-buh-buh, buh-buh-buh, buh. Then Cuh for the letter C and so on. As students become more familiar with this, increase the tempo.
5. Lip Buzzes: Have students buzz their lips along with five-note arpeggios in any key. You can buzz the whole arpeggio from 1-5 and back down again, or just buzz from 5-1, then modulate up or down. Be sure to let your students know that this takes not only a ton of air, but that it must be released in a steady stream, similar to squeezing a tube of toothpaste. Young singers commonly do not utilize the air they breathe in.
Solo and Ensemble
Saturday, March 7th was the annual Solo and Ensemble competition which took place in Hermiston. We took seven students: three instrumentalists and four vocalists.
I would have to say that mostly every one was successful, despite a few break downs. Bad performance experiences can scar a person for life, but I'm grateful that the few students who had some minor mess-ups are back in band playing their little hearts out.
In this age of fast technology, fast food, instant gratification, and McDonaldization of, well... about everything, we are taught to believe that music must be perfect every time you perform it, and it must sound the same every time, too. But music is live art, not canned art. If you want a song to sound the same every time, listen to a recording of it.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun watching my vocal students at Solo and Ensemble step out and perform. It was encouraging for me when the judge reinforced everything I taught them. Now they can see that I DO know what I'm talking about!
I would have to say that mostly every one was successful, despite a few break downs. Bad performance experiences can scar a person for life, but I'm grateful that the few students who had some minor mess-ups are back in band playing their little hearts out.
In this age of fast technology, fast food, instant gratification, and McDonaldization of, well... about everything, we are taught to believe that music must be perfect every time you perform it, and it must sound the same every time, too. But music is live art, not canned art. If you want a song to sound the same every time, listen to a recording of it.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun watching my vocal students at Solo and Ensemble step out and perform. It was encouraging for me when the judge reinforced everything I taught them. Now they can see that I DO know what I'm talking about!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Money money money money! ...MON-AY!
I believe that every school district in the state of Oregon is experiencing a budget freeze. My cooperating teacher is on the committee to negotiate a contract at our school, and today he was bombarded with tons of emails from teachers who are very angry at the money situation.
Why wouldn't they be? Our school district is almost a million dollars over-budget, and the year isn't even over. The state doesn't have money left to pay for the last quarter, so their quick-fix solution is to cut school days. However, teachers have a contract that protects them from losing days, and therefore losing pay (hence the contract negotiations). The teachers have to be persuaded into giving up 1% of their salary, and I believe would do so if they got payback in return, such as a 1% increase to next year's salary, or a 1% bonus.
I can't help but think that if the state, and those in charge of the money at the district level, managed the money better, we wouldn't have this problem. Education needs to be run like a business. Spend only the money you have, plan, budget, and PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES.
Right now there's some blame casting going on. First find a solution for the problem, THEN find out what went wrong so we can prevent this from happening again.
Is anyone else experiencing the same thing in their school?
Why wouldn't they be? Our school district is almost a million dollars over-budget, and the year isn't even over. The state doesn't have money left to pay for the last quarter, so their quick-fix solution is to cut school days. However, teachers have a contract that protects them from losing days, and therefore losing pay (hence the contract negotiations). The teachers have to be persuaded into giving up 1% of their salary, and I believe would do so if they got payback in return, such as a 1% increase to next year's salary, or a 1% bonus.
I can't help but think that if the state, and those in charge of the money at the district level, managed the money better, we wouldn't have this problem. Education needs to be run like a business. Spend only the money you have, plan, budget, and PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES.
Right now there's some blame casting going on. First find a solution for the problem, THEN find out what went wrong so we can prevent this from happening again.
Is anyone else experiencing the same thing in their school?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tardiness
As the seventh grade band is playing an excellent rendition of La Bamba, I'm thinking about the huge amount of tardies in seventh period choir. Thirty-five to be exact.
These thirty-five tardies have accrued since the beginning of the quarter (we're in the 6th week), with twelve students contributing to the score. Our school policy is "three strikes and you're out." Four of the twelve students have already received detention for their tardies, and two students have been referred for disciplinary action twice. One is on her way to a third! (That's 8 tardies in six weeks!!).
I don't know what to do about this lateness. The class isn't even after lunch, so I don't understand how so many students can be late ALL THE TIME. Detentions don't seem to be effective. Any suggestions?
These thirty-five tardies have accrued since the beginning of the quarter (we're in the 6th week), with twelve students contributing to the score. Our school policy is "three strikes and you're out." Four of the twelve students have already received detention for their tardies, and two students have been referred for disciplinary action twice. One is on her way to a third! (That's 8 tardies in six weeks!!).
I don't know what to do about this lateness. The class isn't even after lunch, so I don't understand how so many students can be late ALL THE TIME. Detentions don't seem to be effective. Any suggestions?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Wall Breathing
Huh?
This is an excellent strategy to use to help young singers understand proper breathing technique. Have students find empty wall space to lean against. Next, have them bend their knees slightly so they are almost sitting against the wall. Have students breathe in from the stomach without raising their chests or shoulders. If used properly, students should feel their ribs and back muscles pressing against the wall. This can also be done while lying on the floor.
What is the point? Students need to learn what it FEELS like to properly breathe, and what it feels like to be full of air. Young singers also need to be aware that it's ok to look a little "portly" when pushing out their stomachs to take in air. When this happens, it due to the diaphragm pushing down on the stomach, intestines, and other viscera to make room for the lungs to expand. "Imagine you're a big Russian woman..."
I believe perhaps the hardest thing to teach young singers is how to properly breathe and efficiently use their air support. What do you think, fellow vocalists?
This is an excellent strategy to use to help young singers understand proper breathing technique. Have students find empty wall space to lean against. Next, have them bend their knees slightly so they are almost sitting against the wall. Have students breathe in from the stomach without raising their chests or shoulders. If used properly, students should feel their ribs and back muscles pressing against the wall. This can also be done while lying on the floor.
What is the point? Students need to learn what it FEELS like to properly breathe, and what it feels like to be full of air. Young singers also need to be aware that it's ok to look a little "portly" when pushing out their stomachs to take in air. When this happens, it due to the diaphragm pushing down on the stomach, intestines, and other viscera to make room for the lungs to expand. "Imagine you're a big Russian woman..."
I believe perhaps the hardest thing to teach young singers is how to properly breathe and efficiently use their air support. What do you think, fellow vocalists?
Renewed faith...for now.
As I'm writing this, I'm listening to my husband's radio show through our local college station. My head is bobbing and my feet are tap-tap-tapping to Soul Bossa Nova. You know- that song from Austin Powers.
Anyway, today was an excellent day for music education. I haven't been able to do much teaching since I started my B placement (student teaching). In fact, I'm still trying to learn my student's names. I got to do the kind of teaching I love today: one-on-one voice lessons. I'm helping a few students prepare for the upcoming solo/ensemble competition.
Just when I feel I'm getting discouraged with the lack of musical effort put forth by students in public schools, I get to work with seventh grade singers who renew my faith in music, specifically the teaching of it.
Let me explain my source of dicouragement. Not only have my opportunities for performance gone to the wayside since I've been teaching, it was very hard to go from quality music performed at a university to the music churned out in public schools. Needless to say I've had to readjust my standards.
Anyway, today was an excellent day for music education. I haven't been able to do much teaching since I started my B placement (student teaching). In fact, I'm still trying to learn my student's names. I got to do the kind of teaching I love today: one-on-one voice lessons. I'm helping a few students prepare for the upcoming solo/ensemble competition.
Just when I feel I'm getting discouraged with the lack of musical effort put forth by students in public schools, I get to work with seventh grade singers who renew my faith in music, specifically the teaching of it.
Let me explain my source of dicouragement. Not only have my opportunities for performance gone to the wayside since I've been teaching, it was very hard to go from quality music performed at a university to the music churned out in public schools. Needless to say I've had to readjust my standards.
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