Musical Theatre/Vocal Soloist Auditions

Ted Rood
t.rood@staff.chuh.org
Roxboro Middle School

TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:

Electronic Musical Instruments
Notation
Sequencing
Multimedia/Digital Media

Level:

Middle School

Class:

Choral

Equipment:

Midi Keyboard, Computer, Finale Software

Duration:

45 Minutes

Prior Knowledge and Skills:

Basic understanding of Finale, cd burning, and use of keyboard.

NAfME Standards of 1994 Addressed:

NAfME Standards of 1994: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

NAfME 2014: Performing 

NAfME Standards of 1994: Improvising melodies, harmonies, and accompaniments.
NAfME Standards of 1994: Composing and Arranging Music within specified guidelines.
NAfME Standards of 1994: Reading and notating music.

NAfME 2014: Creating 

NAfME Standards of 1994: Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
NAfME Standards of 1994: Evaluating music and music performances.

NAfME 2014: Responding 

Materials:

A computer with a cd burner. Any vocal fakebook anthology. (ex. musical theatre , folk songs)

Objectives:

1) Students will listen to and select a song from a vocal fakebook. 2) Students, with the use of notation software, will determine and then create a key that would be most comfortable for them to sing. 3) Students, with the use of notation sofware, will arrange an accompaniment for the song to burn on a CD for rehearsal purposes.

Procedures:

1. Students will begin by selecting a song that they are interested in taking on as a solo project or audition piece. 2. Once selected, they can use Finale and a keyboard to create the melodic line of the song. (Students that have less piano skills, can have a melody preset) 3. Playback the melody and listen to/sing with to determine if the key selected is in their vocal range. 4. If the melody is not in a comfortable range, the student will adjust the key using finale by finding range and key transposition incorporated in the set-up wizard. This step may repeat a few times to where students are comfortable singing the melody in the adjusted key. 5. Once the correct key is selected, students will create an accompaniment using Finale’s Band in a Box Auto-Harmonizing – again this may take a few times to select a style appropriate for the song. The student can determine that through past experience of listening to the song. 6. Once an appropriate accompaniment is created, burn the version created on a cd for practice.

Evaluation:

Is the song selected in the student’s vocal range? Is the accompaniment appropriate for the style of music selected? Does the student have a rehearsal cd for audition preparation?

Follow Up:

The student should use the internet to research the history, and meaning of the song. Character development through synopsis searching can help prepare the student for their audition. Continue this activity throughout year, to continue a singer’s exploration of repetoire, and musical technology.

Items to Purchase:

computer(s) with cd recording capabilities, Finale software, blank cds, vocal songbooks

When budget should be submitted:

If materials not available at time, probably the school year before applying lesson. It truly depends on what equipment you already have.