This is the lesson plan used when going into schools typically 1-2 weeks before the RHYTHM assembly. The goal of this session is to teach the students about the power of making music through the lens of activism to create social change.
This is the lesson plan used when going into schools typically 1-2 weeks before the RHYTHM assembly. The goal of this session is to teach the students about the power of making music through the lens of activism to create social change. We start the session by talking about the rich history of our Chorus and why we exist as a Chorus. We then do a warm-up with some technique and pedagogy work. We end the session by teaching the students one of the songs in the assembly so that they can join us on stage and sing alongside our chorus.
In an effort to accommodate all skill levels we have multiple arrangements of the song that accompany SFGMC’s TTBB arrangement. We have a unison, 2-part, SAB, and SATB version that schools can choose from based on the student skill level. We also have solo opportunities so the students can be featured soloists in front of their school – this is always a highlight.
The last note I will say about this workshop is that not every school has a choral program. Some schools will have an a cappella club, so we’ve collaborated with them. And some schools have even created a pop-up choir specifically for this program where a group of students come together just to learn this one song and to get a little more vocal training. For school’s that don’t have any vocal program, the pop-up choir can be a really special treat.
Lesson Plan
Warm Ups (10 mins)
- Alignment
- do the “list” of “how to hold your instrument for singing”….have them slump, then count 1, 2, 3 – holding instrument for singing
- massage (if appropriate)
- do faux exercises – jog, standing sit ups, windmills, etc.
- TSA pat down
- Breathing exercise
- 8-handed breathing – rib cage, abdominal wall, diaphragm, pelvic floor
- Farinelli – count to 1 while they inhale, etc.
- I always like sternum power – hand on chest, bend over, let all your air out – stand without inhaling, deep breath, exhale allowing sternum to stay up
- Partner hold shoulders down
- you know I like “home row”
- find one pitch, sing your perfect ah in unison
- Voice Activation
- Noh-ee oh-ee oh-ee oh-ee oh
- Zing-a-ma-ma, zing-a-ma-ma, zing-a-ma-ma, zing-a-ma-ma, zing zing zing
- Ya-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha ha
- Vee____ ee-ee-ee-ee ee____ah
- Reverse Octaves (head move down when singing up the scale and up when singing down)
- Dynamics/Color
- messa di voce – then give them an example of where you want a 1 and where you want a 7 or 8 in the song they are singing
- woofer tweeter
- 5 vowels with gestures on their choice of note in D major chord
Introduce RHYTHM (2 mins)
- Give the history of RHYTHM/SFGMC
- Explain how they will fit in to the program
Rehearse “Love Can Build A Bridge” (15 mins)
- Tractor pull to demonstrate legato
- Bring back numbers for dynamics
Questions from students
- They will receive t-shirts next Friday
- Talk about Survey
- WEAR BLACK SHIRT/DARK JEANS