How to Teach High School Chorus--Several Aspects

Auditioning a Singer

Vocalises

 ---should include simple major scales, simple minor scales, and triad arpeggios

 ---shoud also involve ear training/sight singing

[All of this should be done to figure out the singer's range]

Before a choral session........

Vocalises and Warm-ups, which include:

--Often, Latin vowels and English phonetic sounds  (i.e.), are done for diction warm-up.

--Sustained chords, often moved up a few minor seconds down or up from the original

    spot for pitch recognition and for "listening to each other"

--Glissandos up and down

--Like in private vocal lessons, use the half-step technique, going up or down from the

   original key.

When reading a choral song before rehearsing.....

--Figure out potential problems with

   --specific notes

   --unusual time signatures

    --changes in time signatures

    --modulations (for example, constant key changes)

    --melismas and related runs that can be difficult to execute

    --a song's specific language (e.g., Italian, French, German)

    --the character needed for the piece

   --the history of the song or songs, if any

If choral conducting, be sure to use a color-coded system for important patterns and events in the score. This will facilitate cuing. Also use your mouth as a signal.

What to look for in the song during the actual choral rehearsal.......

--listening to each other

--seating arrangment of the chorus

--pitch recognition

--problems with certain notes being over or under the pitch

--diction, whether it is English or another language.

--intonation

--balance

To Sing On Book or Sing Off-Book

Singing off-book allows for even stronger attention to the conductor.

Singing on-book makes sure that pitches are correct but the drawback is less attention to

    the conductor.