COURSE/SUBJECT TITLE: Beginning Chorus

LENGTH OF TIME: One class (40 minutes)Full Year (one 45-minute class per week)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Beginning chorus is a yearlong course designed as an introduction to singing choral music and part harmony. Within a year, students work towards and perform two concerts (winter/spring).  The main components of beginning chorus are: developing singing skills through vocalizes, learning to read and evaluate a choral score, learning a variety of repertoire from various styles and cultures, learning various movements to enhance vocal and rhythmic understanding, solfege scale work, interval work, sight reading rhythm and standard notation, following a conductor, introduction of harmony, active listening, performance assessment, and contributing as a member to the overall ensemble.

ESSENTIAL OUTCOMES:

REPORTING STANDARD: Performance & Rehearsals Collaboration and Ensemble Work

1.Students will use proper breath support and posture for singing through practice and demonstration.

1.Students will develop a wide and consistent vocal range by singing a variety of vocal warm-ups with different patterns, consonants, and vowels.

1.Students will improve vocal part-singing by singing a variety of rounds and /or partner songs in small groups.

1.Students will sing a variety of repertoire of different styles, meters, cultures, and languages.

2.Students will identify the meaning of performance ready and will be involved in formal choral performances twice a year.

REPORTING STANDARD: Listening & Literacy skills

1.Students will sing major solfege scales with hand signs up and down.  Students will demonstrate understanding by independently singing a capella.

2.Students will identify and sight read rhythm and pitch in a series of musical notation worksheets of various keys.  Students will decode the notes and evaluate the examples of music.

3.Students will use a writing process to assess themselves and the overall group performances on a biyearly basis.  In this process, students will use vocabulary and musical elements to demonstrate musical understanding.

REPORTING STANDARD: Expressiveness and Technique

3.Students will use proper breath support and posture for singing through practice and demonstration.

4.Students will develop a wide and consistent vocal range by singing a variety of vocal warm-ups with different patterns, consonants, and vowels.

5.Students will improve vocal part-singing by singing a variety of rounds and /or partner songs in small groups.

KEY VOCABULARY:

EVIDENCE/ASSESSMENT:

Self-Assessments

Evaluation and preparation prior to concerts

Small group lessons and evaluation

Student led conducting, vocalizes, and classroom discussions

Written performance assessments (winter and spring)

Video/ CD evaluation unit

TEXTS AND OTHER RESOURCES:

Teacher generated sight-reading worksheets

Choral music in student binders

Getting America Singing Again

CRMS Choral Library