Daily Choir Routine
  1. Sight Reading (5 min)
  2. Stretches (3 min) - Student Led
  3. Warm-Ups (10 min)
  4. Good Things (5 min) - Student Led
  5. Concert Music (remained)

1. Bell Ringer (5 minutes) - Student Director

Students grab their materials from their cubby as they enter the room and then copy one of the following four measure melodies into their bell ringer sheet. Students should not be walking around the room. Take attendance (student director) and check for participation during this time. If you feel comfortable, have the students sing through the exercise. (5 minutes)

2. 7 Stretches (3 minutes) - Movement Coordinator

Movement Coordinator: I have a student designated each week to lead the class in a "Self-Start" warm-up routine after the bell ringer. The MC for the week will be on the board. If it's not, you may select a student. The stretches are laminated and on the board (also a PDF below).
7_super_vocal_warm-ups_to_improve_singing_skills__1_.pdf
File Size: 62 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

3. Vocal Warm Ups ​(10 minutes)

Students should stand and demonstrate good singing posture, breathing technique, and vowel shaping (see below). Select the appropriate warm-up below and check for participation. There is a warm-up from each category (bottom left of the slides). The audio starts automatically, have the kids sing through each song.

Alignment

​1) Stand with feet apart
2) Knees relaxed
3) Hips swaying
4) Sternum raised
5) Arms loose
6) Spine lengthened

Breathing

​1) Full, deep breath
2) Keep shoulders steady
3) Rib cage lifted
4) Expand at the waistline
5) Keep gesture of the inhale”

Vowel Shaping

​1) a relaxed jaw
2) vertical mouth shape
3) space inside mouth
4) Lips Relaxed
5) Tongue forward

4. Good Things & Burning Questions (5 minutes) - Inspiration Instigator

Inspiration Instigator - We share "good things" at the beginning of class after opening warm-ups. Sometimes, I switch it up and ask the kids random questions instead (we call this "burning questions' '. Questions like, what is your spirit animal? Embarrassing moment, etc? The Inspiration Instigator gets to select the students who will share, hold the mic and basically interview/facilitate the whole process. They also lead the applause at the end of the Good Things.

5. Concert Repertoire (30 minutes) ​

I keep an extra director's copy of the sheet music in the piano bench at each building. We are working on music for our holiday concerts in December.
  • The songs are recorded on the piano, the screen is broken so it can be a pain. SONG SELECT > TAB RIGHT 3 times > Select Song.
I usually let the kids pack up a minute early. Sometimes the bell rings while we are rehearsing. The Student Director is supposed to make sure that the students put their materials back in their cubbies properly.

Seating Charts (Middle School)

1st Hour - 7th Grade
2nd Hour - 8th Grade
3rd hour - 6th Grade
5th Hour - Concert Choir
6th Hour - Show Choir

Emergency Sub Plans

Part 1 - Warm-ups
​(15 minutes)

#1. Stretch
#2. Vocal Workout

Part 2 - Solfege
​(10 minutes)

#3. Major Solfege
#4. Minor Solfege

Emergency Sub Rehearsal Aid

Lesson Plan

Before Class: Turn on computer and sound system (turn on surge protector on top of black cart behind computer).
  1. Attendance
  2. Just Dance/physical warm-up - (button >>>)
  3. Vocal Warm-ups - (button >>>)
    1. stand and sing.
  4. 3rd hour: Chromebooks (they can play games from the choir website.
  5. 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th: Choose an option below.
Option #1
  1. Sing concert music using piano
  2. Piano instructions (students help)
    1. students have music in their folders
    2. turn sound system and piano on
    3. on the left of the screen, select "song select"
    4. choose one of the songs from folder
    5. press play
  3. Run the songs at least once. If you don't hear a section (or if they want to) have that section sing alone with the piano. 
  4. Have students put their folders away. 
  5. If you still have time, you can:​
    1. Sing some solfege (other warm-up >>>)
    2. Play a DVD from my desk.
Option #2
  1. Work through book
  2. Each student has a workbook in their cubby (except 3rd hour).
  3. You can work through the pages together as a class.
  4. We are currently working on the first four units. 
  5. Have students put their folders away. 

Links

Feel free to pick a different Just Dance from Youtube!
The main sub warm-up. Sheet music and sound!
Warm-up videos on Youtube. Feel free to choose any.

​Last Resort

If all else fails, watch music audition videos. Here's one on Youtube...
(Just Dance Playlist)
​Or
​Best 20 X Factor Auditions of All Time HD - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sp5Ws-u8EU
​
BEST Dance Auditions Got Talent Of America & Britain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhUNK_lt6fE​