Year At a Glance ic Grade Level I FIRST SEMESTER TEXTBOOK: Essential Elements for Choir, Book I by E. Crocker & J. Leavitt. Hal Leonard Co. Milwaukee, WI. 3 Weeks 1 st 3 weeks 2 nd 3 weeks 3 rd 3 weeks 4 th 3 weeks 5 th 3 weeks 6 th 3 weeks Topics/ Concepts Introduction: Posture Breath Tone Rhythm Beat Note values (quarter, half, whole notes) Rhythm Drills (quarter, half, whole notes) Five Basic Vowels (ee, eh, ah, oh, oo) Breath support (diaphragm) Basic notations (staff, clefs, note names) Measure Meter Barlines Pitch Drills Rhythm Practice Pitch Practice Speech Chorus Months of the year Review posture, breath, tone, basic vowels Review rhythm, beat, note values, basic notations, other basic terms Pitch Drills Rhythm Practice Pitch Practice Speech Chorus Tongue Twister Practice posture, breath, and vowel shape Pitch Scales Key of C major Whole steps Half steps Pitch Drills Combine rhythm and pitch Whole / half steps drill and exercises Short Song with Text Accompanied song Practice posture, breath, and vowel shape Articulation Review pitch, major scales, whole / half steps Sharps Flats Key of G major Practice (pitch and rhythm) Pitch drills Exercises Singing in parts Review posture, breath, vowels, articulation The Breathing Process Accidentals Key signature Rests (quarter, half, and whole rests) Pitch Drills Exercises Rhythm drills with rests Singing in parts Christmas Concert Resource : 6 Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. TEKS MUS,,,, 5A, 1B,,, 1C,,, 5D MUS,,,,, 4B, MUS,,,,, 4B,, MUS,,,,,,,, 5D MUS,,,,,, 5C, 5D, 6A, 6B, 6C
ic Grade Level I SECOND SEMESTER TEXTBOOK: Essential Elements for Choir, Book I by E. Crocker & J. Leavitt. Hal Leonard Co. Milwaukee, WI. 3 Weeks 1 st 3 weeks 2 nd 3 weeks 3 rd 3 weeks 4 th 3 weeks 5 th 3 weeks 6 th 3 weeks Topics/ Concepts Resource Vocalization Melodic intervals Melodic interval practice (C major and G major) A cappella songs Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Review of vowels Additional vowel sounds Harmonic intervals Practice with harmonic intervals Accompanied songs Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Posture Breath The neutral vowel Triads The Tonic Chord Tonic chord practice A cappella songs Accompanied songs Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Diphthongs Key of F major Dotted half notes Chord Drills Sing each exercises with combination rhythms A cappella songs Accompanied songs Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Articulation ( t and d ) Eighth notes Eighth rests Beat / Division of beat Pitch Drills Rhythm Drills Rhythm Practice Pitch Practice A cappella songs Accompanied songs Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Articulation (singing r ) Meter Down beat Secondary stress Practice with changing meters Practice with combination rhythms A cappella songs Accompanied songs Spring Concert Essential Elements For Choir Book I and skills and practice worksheets Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Internet resources relative to music / Fine Arts topics Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Library publication and video resources Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. Instructor obtained resources from inservices, workshops, and conferences. TEKS MUS,,,, MUS,,, 5D MUS,,,,, 5D MUS,,,, MUS,,,,,, MUS,,,, 6A,, 6B, 1C,,, 5C, 6C 2
ic The Basics for Beginning the Course of Study Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 1 st 3 weeks 1. The students will develop the posture and breath 1. The students will understand beat and rhythm, and be able to read and perform quarter, half, and whole notes accurately. 2. The students will compose rhythm patterns of quarter, half, and whole note patterns. Posture Expanded rib cage breathing Producing a tone Steady Beat Read and perform quarter, half, and whole notes Essential Elements for Choir EE1 Written 1. The students will read and perform quarter, half, and whole note rhythms accurately. 2. The students will compose rhythm patterns of quarter, half, and whole note patterns. Rhythm reading drill using quarter, half, and whole notes. 3
ic The Basics of Vocal Production and Notation Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 2nd 3 weeks 1. The students will develop the posture and breath control needed to support choral tone 2. The students will sing with tall, uniform vowels. 3. The students will develop the posture and diaphragmatic breathing needed to support choral tone. 4. The students will sing tall, uniform "oo" vowels 5. The students will apply information learned in music (anatomy of the breathing mechanism) to science class. 1. The students will become familiar with the grand staff, pitch names, and clefs, as they relate to the piano keyboard. 2. The students will understand the concepts of measure, bar line, and meter. 3. The students will compose rhythm patterns of quarter, half, and whole note patterns. 1. The students will echo and read melodic patterns. 2. The students will read and perform rhythm patterns in various meters. 3. The students will echo-sing rhythmic pitch patterns. 1. The students will be introduced to Classical period instruments. 2. The students will become familiar with musical terms presented on the music. 3. The students will combine text and rhythm. 5D 5A 1B 1C 1B 1C 5A Five basic vowels Vocal exercises using the "ah" vowel Activating the diaphragm Vocal exercises using the "oo" vowel Staff, Grand Staff Names of the lines and spaces Middle C Treble clef, Bass clef Pitch identification practice Measure, barline, double barline Meter Time signature 4 3 2 4 4 4 Echo sing short melodic patterns Read rhythm patterns in different meters Echo-sing and read short unison melodies. ic History - the development of the piano ical terms - paino, forte Unison pitch chorus combining text and rhythm Essential Elemetns EE2 EE3 Written 4
ic The Concept of Diaphramatic Breathing Review and Practice Time: 3 weeks. 3rd 3 weeks The students will describe and demonstrate the posture, breathing, and vowel placement necessary for good singing tone. The students will describe and review elements musical notation 1. The students will read and sing rhythmic and melodic patterns. 1. The students will become familiar with musical terms presented on the music. 2. The students will combine text and rhythm Review Chapter 1-3 ic sheet provided for singing using quarter, half, and whole notes in different meters Review Chapter 1-3 Sing-Reading: Read rhythm patterns using quarter, half, and whole notes in different meters Identify notes on the staff Read or echo-sing stepwise melodies ical terms: crescendo Unison speech chorus combining text and rhythm EE 4 Written 5
ic The Concepts of Pitch, Whole Steps, and Half Steps Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 4th 3 weeks EE 5,6 1. The students will develop the posture and breath 1. The students will define pitch, scale, and key. 2. The students will apply language arts skills by listing different words which mean pitch. 3. The students will sing and recognize whole steps and half steps in a C major Scale. 4. The students will use music notation software to notate a C Major scale. 1. The students will echo and read melodic patterns in the key of C. 2. The students will describe the polyphonic entrances of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voices using appropriate musical terminology. 1.The students will apply music reading skills to the performance of short a capella songs. 2. The students will improvise short melodies over repeated rhythm patterns. 3. The students will apply music reading skills to the performance of a short accompanied song. 4B 1B The "oh" vowel Pracitce the five basic vowels. Stress "ee" and "eh" vowels Pitch, scale, key, keynote Key of C Half Step, whole step. major scale C major scale Practice with melodic patterns in the Key of C The four voice types: soprano, alto, tenot, bass Combinable exercises (harmony) Practice with half steps and whole steps in the Key of C Combinable exercises in the key of C 3 short unison songs in C Major Accompanied unsion song, "Rain" Sing unsion melodies Combine melodies in 2-or- part bracketed systems Add text to a 2-or 4-part exercise to create a short a cappella song Written 6
ic Huge concept Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 5th 3 weeks EE 7 1. The students will develop the posture and breath EE 8 2. The students will sing with tall, uniform vowels. 3. The students will articulate consonants precisely. 1. The students will describe and review elements of musical notation. 2. The students will sing and recognize whole and half steps in C major and G major scales. 3. The students will correctly interpret the notation symbols of sharp, flat, and natural. 1 The students will read and sing rhythmic and melodic patterns. 2. The students will develop intonation awareness through the study of whole steps and half steps. 3. The students will echo and read melodic patterns in the key of G. 1. The students will develop performance techniques of a variety of musical periods. 2. The students will apply music reading skills to the performance of a short a cappella song. 3. The students will define and aurally discriminate between monophony, homophony, and polyphony. 4. The students will describe poetic imagery in the poem "Winter" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. 5. The students will become familiar with the musical terms which appear on the music. 6. The students will apply music reading skills to 1B 5D Practice concepts of good posture, expanded rib cage breathing, breath support, and tall, uniform vowels. Expand repertoire of vocalises Holding music and maintain good posture Articulation New vocalises Review concepts presented in Chapters 1-6 Sharp, flat G major scale Ledger Lines Practice sight-reading stepwise melodies in the key of C Practice reading rhythmic and melodic exercises which use quarter, half, and whole note patterns Practice half step and whole step patterns in the key of C Sight-read combinable exercises in the key of C Melodic patterns, and combinable exercises in G Major Written 7
ic Huge concept Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 5th 3 weeks the performance of a short a cappella song in the key of G. ic The Concept of Key Signatures and Rest Values Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 6th 3 weeks EE 9 1. The students will articulate consonants precisely. Practice good articulation, especially "s" EE 10 2. The students will develop posture and breath and "st" Expand students' repertoire of vocalises 3. The students will continue to build a repertoire of Coordinated breathing: inhalation, effective vocalises. exhalation, release 4. The students will develop an understanding of the Action of the diaphram, intercostal breathing mechanism. muscles 1. The students will correctly interpret the notation symbols of sharp, flat, and accidental. 2. The students will understand and apply the concept of key signatures. 3. The students will describe and demonstrate understanding of quarter, half, and whole rests Key Signature Half step, whole step melodic patterns in the key of G Quarter, half, whole rests Written 1. The students will read and sing rhythmic and melodic patterns in the key of G. 2. The students will read and perform quarter, half, and whole note and rest rhythms accurately. 3. The students will compose rhythm patterns using quarter, half, and whole notes and rests. Combinable exercises in the key of G Practice rhythm patterns using quarter, half, and whole notes and rests. 1.The students will become familiar with the musical terms which appear on the music. 2. The students will recognize and perform a musical example of canonic form. 3. The students will apply music reading skills to the performance of a short a cappella song in the Tempo, rit., a tempo, crescendo. descrescendo, diminuendo, repeat sign Canon, melody, harmony, texture, a cappella Three-part a cappella cannon Four-part speech chorus 8
ic The Concept of Key Signatures and Rest Values Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 6th 3 weeks key of G. 4. The students will combine text and rhythm. ic The Concept of Interval Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 7th 3 weeks Essential 1. The students will continue developing breathing Vocalization Elements for techniques emphasizing the open throat. Larynx Choir 2. The students will develop an understanding of the 5D Vocal folds EE 11 vocal mechanism. EE 12 3. The students will develop an appreciation of the care needed for responsible use of the voice. 4. The students will relate information about the ears, nose, and throat to issues of voice production and vocal health. 1. The students will sing and recognize melodic intervals. Interval, melodic interval Practice identifying intervals of a 2nd, 3rd, 4h, and 5th Written 1. The students will sing and recognize melodic intervals. 1. The students will practice singing melodic intervals in a short a cappella song. Practice identifying intervals of a 2nd, 3rd, 4h, and 5th in the keys of C and G SA, TB, and SATB songs which prepare and practice interval skips in the key of G 9
ic The Concept of Interval Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 7th 3 weeks ic The Concept of Interval Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 8th 3 weeks Essential 1. The students will sing with tall uniform vowels. Elements for 2. The students will display the posture and breath Choir EE 13 1. The students will recognize harmonic intervals. Review the five basic vowels: ee, eh, ah, oh, oo Extend the principle of singing tall, uniform vowels to vowels other than the five basic vowels. Written 1. The students will recognize and perform harmonic intervals in an ensemble. 1. The students will become familiar with the musical terms which appear on the music. 2. The students will apply music reading skills to an accompanied song in the key of G. 3. The students will recognize form through repetition and contrast of musical material. 4. The students will discuss and analyze the characteristics of a madrigal. 5. The students will perform or observe the addition of instrumental accompaniment to a madrigal-like vocal piece. 1C Harmonic intervals Chord Harmonic interval practice Chord building Combinable exercises which produce harmonic intervals and chords Perform an SA, or SATB song which 10
ic The Concept of Interval Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 8th 3 weeks 6. The students will combine drama, poetry, dance, 5D includes intervals of a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and and music to create a Shakespearean scene. 5th ic The Concept of the Word "Stress", Review and Practice. Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 9th 3 weeks 1. The students will develop posture and breath 2. The students will understand and practice the neutral vowel (schwa). 3. The students will review the posture, breathing, vowel placement and articulation necessary for good choral tone. 4. The students will review the vocal mechanism. 1. The students will understand and be able to identify triad and tonic chord. 2. The students will review intervals, chords, and triads Schwa, unstressed words and syllables Importance of physcial fitness for a singer Revies Chapter 1-14 Triad Tonic, tonic chord Tonic chord melody drills and chord builders in the key of G Review Chapter 12-14 Essential Elements for Choir EE 14 EE15 Written 1. The students will read and sing melodic patterns 11
ic The Concept of the Word "Stress", Review and Practice. Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 9th 3 weeks using the tonic chord. 2. The students will sight-read exercises which emphasize the tonic chord and "pickup notes". 1. The students will identify and perform the musical terms and style marking in a short piece. 2. The students will perform short songs which emphasize the tonic chord. 3. The students will relate a song based on the poetry of Christina Rossetti. 4. The students will improvise a harmonic accompaniment to the reading of a Christina Rossetti poem using an autoharp or other chordal instrument. 5. The students will combine history, drama, and music in an in-class presentation. 5D Tonic chord practice in the key of G "Pickup" notes Practice sigh-reading melodies in the key of G which include tonic chord melodic intervals Combinable exercises ical Terms: opt. div. ostinato, fine, ode Perform SA, TB, and SATB songs in the key of G which include tonic chord melodic intervlas Sing SA, TB, and SATB songs in the key of G major which include tonic chord melodic intervals ic Key of F Major Scale. Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 10th 3 weeks 1. The students will develop the posture and breath 2. The students will understand and practice the appropriate pronunciation of diphthongs. 1. The students will understand and apply the concept of key signatures in the key of F major. 2. The students will recognize and interpret the notation of dotted half notes. Diphthongs Key of F Dotted half notes EE 16 Written 1. The students will practice singing chord patterns in the key of F major. 2. The students will perform dotted half note Key of F practice Dotted half note practice Combinable exercises in the key of F 12
ic Key of F Major Scale. Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 10th 3 weeks notation. 1. The students will review the style markings which appear in the songs. 2. The students will apply music reading skills to the performance of a short song in the key of F major. SA, TB, and SATB songs in the key of F, and in 3/4 meter, allow students to apply musical concepts presented in this and previous chapter. ic The Concept of Eighth note and Rest rhythms. Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 11th 3 weeks 1. The students will develop good diction through the articulation of consonants. 2. The students will review diphthongs and articulation. 1. The students will recognize and apply eighth note rhythm notation. 2. The students will review rhythm values of eighth, quarter, half, and whole notes and rests in 2/4, 3/4. and 4/4 meter. Clear diction using "t" and "d" Review diphthongs and other aspects of articulation Eighth notes and rests Eighth note rhythm practice Rhythm review and practice Essential Elements for Choir EE 17 EE18 Written 13
ic The Concept of Eighth note and Rest rhythms. Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 11th 3 weeks 1. The students will read and perform rhythm patterns of eighth notes and rests accurately. 2. The students will compose short rhythm compositions. 3. The students will improvise short melodies over repeated rhythm patterns played on rhythm instruments. 4. The students will review rhythmic and melodic patterns in the key of F major Eighth note rhythm practice Combinable exercises in the key of F 1. The students will combine text and rhythm. 2. The students will arrange a nursery rhyme or other poem for speech chorus. 3. The students will apply music reading skills to an a cappella song in the key of F major. 4. The students will become familiar with the stylistic markings in the songs. 5. The students will practice good articulation in an a cappella song. 4B Perform a 2-part speech chorus which uses eighth notes and rests SSA, TTB, and SATB a cappella songs in the key of F major which use eighth notes ic The Concept of Consonant "r", Meter Change, Comprehensive Review Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 12th 3 weeks 1. The students will develop the posture and breath 2. The students will articulate the "r" consonant correctly. 3. The students will review aspects of breathing, posture, and vocal technique. The consonant "r" Comprehensive review of Chapter 1-19 Essential Elements for Choir EE 19 EE 20 Written 14
ic The Concept of Consonant "r", Meter Change, Comprehensive Review Approximate Time: 3 weeks. 12th 3 weeks 1. The students will read and perform rhythm patterns in various meters. 2. The students will describe and review elements of musical notation. 1. The students will read and perform rhythms in changing meter. 2. The students 4. The students will Meter Downbeat Comprehensive review of Chapter 1-19 Eighth note rhythm practice Combinable exercises in the key of F 1. The students will perform an a cappella song with changing meter. 2. The students will apply music reading skills to an a cappella song using changing meter. 3. The students will compare changing meter examples from Western art music, African polyrhythmic percussion, and Indian tabla. 4. The students will apply music reading skills in the performance of a choral piece. Perform an SA, TB, or SATB a cappella song in the key of F major which uses changing meters. Perform an SA, TB, or SATB accompanied song in the key of F major 15