Chorus 4
Recommended Best Practices for Key Learnings
Song: “Let Music Surround You”
Key Learnings
Sing unison songs, 2-part rounds and vocal ostinati in tune using my head
voice and proper vowel placement.
Demonstrate proper vocal technique using correct posture, breath support,
phrasing, articulation and diction.
I can read rhythmic/melodic phrases.
I can sing an ascending and descending Major (Do) scale in tune.
I can follow the cues of a conductor.
I can describe, using music vocabulary, what I hear and develop suggestions
to improve the performance of the ensemble.
I can read a vocal score and apply music symbols and terms.
I can be a responsible chorus member by:
a. taking care of my voice.
b. participating in all chorus rehearsals and performances.
c. demonstrating appropriate conduct at rehearsals.
d. demonstrating proper concert etiquette.
Recommended Best Practices
Step 1: Teach the unison melody to the whole group modeling, when necessary,
appropriate tone, vowel placement and maintaining tonal center.
Step 2: Students independently sing the melody using appropriate tone. Students
will use knowledge of vowels (ah, eh, ee, oh, oo) to:
a. prepare initial breath of each phrase
b. sing through the legato line of each phrase
Step 3: Sing the melody as a 2-part (can build to 4-part) round incorporating
appropriate tone and vowel placement.
(Students should proceed to the subsequent step only upon mastery. Steps do not
signify a set timeline.)
Demonstrate proper vocal techniques by incorporating:
a. correct posture/body alignment (e.g., feet, hands, balance of head, relaxed
jaw)
b. correct formation of vowels (e.g., lips, mouth, jaw movement)
c. correct diction (e.g., lips, tongue, consonants, vowels)
d. correct articulation (e.g., rhythm, slurs, marcato)
e. correct phrasing (e.g., breath, legato line, dynamics)
Use patterns from the song as reading warm-ups. Incorporate contrasting patterns
(e.g., descending by skip, step-wise turns) to prepare the voice for singing the
entire melody with fluency and accuracy.
Warm up, vocally, using ascending/descending Major scales in canon (start on the
3rd) to prepare voice and ear for the Major chords in the melody.
Watch and accurately follow cues of the conductor. Cues may include breath
preparation, entrances, dynamics, phrasing, articulation, cut offs and expression.
A section of the chorus will listen to the remaining chorus members sing the round.
Using a rubric based on Key Learnings 1 and 2, students will provide feedback
regarding the strength of the performance as well as suggestions to improve the
performance. Switch responsibilities.
This is a relatively simple score. Students will be able to identify, using correct
music vocabulary, the title, style/composer/arranger, meter sign, form, dynamics
and expressive markings in a score and apply the appropriate performance symbols
to their singing.
This KL should be reinforced throughout all rehearsal and performances.