Presented by Shelley Allen
“I Will Sing and
Make Music”
Psalm 57:7b
Psalm 95:1
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvations”
Vocal Warm-Ups
Why?
1 To Warm Up
the Voice
2 To establish
proper
breathing habits
3 To establish
focus
4 To develop
choral blend
(unify vowels)
5 Extend Vocal
Technique
6 To establish
tuning
7. To establish
a connection to
the music
Vocal Warm-Ups
1.
To warm up the voice
a. Start with a humming
b. Use patterns of 5ths ascending,
descending on a variety of vowels
Ee
Ay
Ah
Oh
Oo
2. To establish proper breathing habits
a.
Blowing out candles
b.
Feel like balloon filling with air. You can feel the
‘filling of air’ more easily if you bend over
c.
Ts, ts, ts, to feel the diapraghm muscle working
d.
Go home and try raising a book resting on your
stomach using air.
Diaphragm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpgCvW8PRY
3. To establish focus:
Do
Do re Do
Do Re Mi Re Do
Do Re Mi Fa Mi Re Do etc
4..To develop vocal skills:
a. Legato
b. staccato
c. Flexibility
d. extending range
e. diction
6. Establish Tuning
7. To establish a connection with the music
a. Create an exercise based on a
difficult section of music
THE SINGING VOICE
Always start with good posture
1.
Respiration – Breath is taken
2.
Phonation (the attach) - Sound is initiated in
the larynx
3.
Resonation (tone) – The resonators receive
the sound and influence it
4.
Articulation – Articulators shape the sound
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=iYpDwhpILkQ
Vocal Ranges:
Head Voice vs. Chest Voice
•
•
•
•
Refers to where the sound is ‘resonating’
or appears to be coming from
Chest voice limits the capabilities of the
voice
Students hear more role models using
chest voice than head voice
Head voice is the traditional
choral sound
Ranges:
Keep repertoire within the range of
the singers not too low not too
high.
Suggested Ranges: (comfortable range 3
K-1
GR. 2
rd
)
from either end
GR. 3-4
GR. 5-6
Part Singing
Unison – grades 1 & 2 (GR.1 Singing Skills: Sing accurately in unison)
Ostinato – grades 3 (GR.3: Sing ostinato patterns with songs; Sing 2 part
rounds and simple descants; sing partner and nonsense songs)
Rounds/Canons, partner songs – grade 4 (Sing two and three part
rounds and descants)
Parallel 3rds – grade 5 & 6 (GR 5: Sing three and four part rounds and
two part soprano, alto songs) (GR 6: Extend vocal development to
include stressing in tune part singing)
Ostinato Patterns:
1.
Start with rhythmic ostinati
2.
Get kids used to doing rhythms in 2 parts using
body percussion then transfer to non-pitched
percussion instruments
3.
Use body-percussion and non-pitched
percussion often with songs to get kids used to
hearing something else when they are singing.
4.
Introduce a ‘freeze tone’.
5.
Create simple ostinato patterns with songs.
Rounds and Partner Songs
1.
Partner Songs are a great way to start kids
singing in 2 parts
2.
Many books of partner songs exist that are
reproducible!
EX. Land of the Silver Birch /
My Paddle
•
•
stand in clusters
Use pitched instruments
to help
*Translation: Rejoice in the Lord, Alleluia!
Two Part Songs
•
•
•
•
•
Avoid labelling voices
Change who sings what part
Use songs that at least one part
can be played on the recorder
Have 1 part cluster around the
piano to hear their part
Only have parts for a small section
of music
We are ‘Marching’ or we are ‘walking’ in the Light of God
CHOIR
Considerations:
•
•
•
•
•
•
How many?
When and how long are practices?
To audition or not to audition?
Where will they sing?
What will they sing? (budget?)
Accompanist / CD
Rehearsal
•
•
•
•
•
•
Warm-Up
Variety – don’t spend too long
on any one piece
Incorporate some movement
breaks
Fun songs / well known songs
Be prepared / routines
Seating plan?
Repertoire
Things to consider
• Who and where is your audience
•
•
•
•
•
Chapels/assemblies
Local churches
Seniors’ homes
Community events & festivals
Parents
Holding the Audiences Interest
•
Variety
•
Movement or Choreography
IT SHOULD ALWAYS ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE!
•
Small groups / whole group
•
On risers / other formations (perimeter of
room / small groupings) / processing in
•
Sign Language
•
Feature a dancer or small group of dancers
•
Instruments or group of instruments
•
Background video
FINDING RESOURCES
– Music Stores
www.jwpepper.com (finding new music)
www.musick8.com (downloadable music)
www.rideaumusic.com (Calgary store to purchase)
www.northwestmusic.ca (Vancouver store)
www.sheetmusicplus.com (some downloadable available)
– publishers (general)
www.halleonard.com
www.alfred.com
- Christian Publishers
www.brentwoodbenson.com
www.lillenas.com
www.wordmusic.com
littlebigstuff.com (Christian Musicals for Kids)
pamandrewsmusic.com
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly
as you teach and admonish one another
with all wisdom through psalms,
Hymns, and songs from the Spirit,
singing to God with gratitude
In your hearts.”
Colossians 3:16