In Concert Choir, basic music theory and vocal instruction needed to sing in a large ensemble is taught. Concerts are performed during the school year, both in school and in the community.

TOPICS

• Standing and sitting posture
• Body warm-ups
• Diaphragmatic breathing
• Intercostal Breathing
• Vocalises

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• Why are correct posture, breath support and vowel formation essential for achieving good singing and performing?
• Why is it essential for a singer to practice good vocal hygiene ?
• Why is it important singers develop a sense of community in the ensemble setting ?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

INITIAL UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• demonstrate proper posture needed for breath support.
• list the ways a singer can accomplish good vowel formation.
• discuss why it is essential to work as a team.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

• observe and determine if they are following proper vocal production is important when singing and performing.

MAKING CONNECTIONS The student will . . .

• describe problems that occur through improper breath support.
• model the correct way to form vowels when singing exercises.
• distinguish proper tone quality.

TAKING A CRITICAL STANCE The student will . . .

• critique a professional vocal ensemble and identify the positive characteristics of their performance.

TOPICS

• Symbols
• Dynamics
• Tempos
• Key Signatures
• Piano Keyboard Skills
• Treble and Bass Clef
• Piano Keyboard Note Identification

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• Why is it essential that students acquire knowledge of music notation?
• How can this knowledge help students to become independent learners?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

INITIAL UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• identify and label the elements of music notation.
• identify and perform prepared sections of choral music singing and on the piano.
• demonstrate their knowledge of notation using music notation software.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

• perform a short section of music using various elements of music notation.
• compose and Perform an 8 measure section of a prepared choral piece on the piano keyboard using various elements of music notation.

MAKING CONNECTIONS The student will . . .

• identify the elements of music notation in order to read and perform.
• apply skills on the piano keyboard for independent learning.
• employ the use of technology as a way of enhancing your knowledge of music notation.

TAKING A CRITICAL STANCE The student will . . .

• discuss whether or not the selected choral passage was performed using the elements of music notation accurately?

TOPICS

• Meter- Simple, Duple, etc.
• Time Signatures
• Note and Rest Values
• Metronome Markings
• Syncopation, Triplets-quarter and eighth note

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• Why is rhythm important to the structure of music?
• Why do composers change meter and rhythmic patterns and how does that make their music more interesting?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

INITIAL UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• define what is meter and how is it related to the time signature.
• demonstrate by clapping a rhythmic pattern in any time signature.
• identify the timing for any piece of music.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

• compose a 4 measure example of rhythmic patterns in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 2/2.

MAKING CONNECTIONS The student will . . .

• perform by clapping a selected passage from a prepared piece of choral music.

TAKING A CRITICAL STANCE The student will . . .

• listen to a piece of music and determine all the meter changes throughout the piece.

TOPICS

• Identifying and singing-Major and Chromatic scales
• Identifying and singing-Perfect Intervals, Major Intervals, Minor Intervals
• Identifying and singing-Augmented, Diminished Intervals
• Identifying and singing-Major, Minor, Augmented and Diminished Triads
• Sing 8 measures-whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth values
• Sing 16 measures-using ties and interval leaps
• Sing 24 measures-using dotted quarter notes followed by eighths
• Sing 2 part, SAB and SATB exercises

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• What is melody and harmony and how are they formed?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

INITIAL UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• determine how a melody is formed using scale passages.
• create harmony using consonant and dissonant intervals and chords.
• identify and perform melodic and harmonic passages.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

• create harmony for a folk song melody using the voicings: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass.

MAKING CONNECTIONS The student will . . .

• distinguish a melodic or harmonic phrase.
• identify what intervals or triads are being played or sung.
• perform sight singing exercises independently.

TAKING A CRITICAL STANCE The student will . . .

• listen to a piece of choral music and discuss the composer’s use of melody and harmony.

TOPICS

• Concert Music
• Select Choral Works for SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) Choir

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• How have composers used works of literature and history to express their music?
• How does singing in harmony add to detract from the beauty of a piece of music?

CONTENT OBJECTIVES

INITIAL UNDERSTANDING The student will . . .

• analyze a choral work and discuss the composer’s style of composing.

DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETATION The student will . . .

• perform a choral work from a sacred or secular genre.

MAKING CONNECTIONS The student will . . .

• discuss the composer’s reason for selecting this genre.
• identify the literary and/or historical aspects of the piece.
• explore the form of the piece.
• analyze the harmony and texture of the piece.
• discuss the importance of the text.

TAKING A CRITICAL STANCE The student will . . .

• listen to a choral work performed and write a review of the performance as a music critic for a newspaper.

A short unit personalized based on the interests of the class. Potential topics:

• Create a unit based on the instructor’s expertise, if not previously covered
• Musical Theatre Studies
• Introduction to Sibelius Notation Software
• Composing and Arranging for the Choral Setting
• Careers in Music
• Exploring Sonar software
• Spirituals and Gospel Music
• Introduction of music for the new year