PRACTICE FOR DISTRICT CHORUS
Barbara-Jo Vanderkraats
[email protected]
Avon Grove High School
TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:
Electronic Musical Instruments
Notation
Music Production
Multimedia
Information Processing
Level:
High School/choral
Equipment:
Korg X5 keyboard
Windows computer
Cakewalk Home Studio
Duration:
42 Minutes
Prior Knowledge and Skills:
a. Know how to read a musical score
b. Can find their vocal part on the score
c. Can use a computer and keyboard
d. Is familiar with Cakewalk software
MENC Standards Addressed:
MENC 1: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
MENC 2: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
MENC 5: Reading and notating music.
MENC 6: Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
MENC 7: Evaluating music and music performances.
MENC 9: Understanding Music in Relation to History and Culture
Materials:
Score of “He Watching Over Israel”, either octavo or
complete of the oratorio “Elijah”, G. Schirmer
midi file of the chorus
Objectives:
a. To prepare for District Chorus auditions.
b. To be able to find a midi file of “He Watching Over
Israel”.
c. To be able to open and play
a midi file in Cakewalk.
d. To listen to the complete chorus of “He Watching
Over Israel”.
e. To understand this chorus’ place in the oratorio
“Elijah”.
f. To be able to change the tempo in the midi file in
order to make it slow enough to meet the
proficiency level of the student.
g. To be able to mute unwanted tracks so that the
student can learn his/her part in the above
sequential order from beginning to most difficult.
h. To know Mendelssohn’s importance in music
history.
i. To learn an individual part for District Chorus
auditions .
j. To be able to sing an individual part with the
accompaniment.
k. To be able to sing a part with another part.
l. To be able to sing a part with the other 3 parts.
m. To be able to sing a part with all vocal parts and the
accompaniment.
n. To know Mendelssohn’s importance in choral
music history.
o. To practice at home with a CD of the tracks.
Procedures:
a. Direct students to www.classicalarchives.com
b. Direct students to the Mendelssohn page.
c. Direct students to the “Elijah” section.
d. Direct students to the “He Watching Over Israel”
midi file.
e. Have students listen to the midi of the chorus.
f. Have students save the midi to documents.
g. Have students open Cakewalk Home Studio.
h. Have students open the chorus file.
i. Have students slow the tempo since they do not
know their part at this point.
j. Have students mute all parts but theirs.
k. Have students practice singing their part alone
since eventually their audition will be a cappella.
l. Have students unmute the accompaniment tracks.
m. Have students sing their part with the
accompaniment.
n. Have students unmute one other part.
o. Have students sing with that part.
p. Have students unmute a second vocal part.
q. Have students sing with two other parts.
r. Have students unmute the third voice.
s. Have students sing with the 3 other parts.
t. Have students sing with all vocal parts and the
accompaniment.
Evaluation:
a. Students will sing their part alone a cappella to
demonstrate their proficiency and readiness for
their audition.
b. Students will sing with other District Chorus
students who are singing the same part.
c. Students will sing with other District Chorus
students who are singing different parts in order
to demonstrate that they can stay on their own part.
d. Students will sing with all other voice parts and
the accompaniment.
e. Students will practice at home with a CD of the
tracks.
f. Students will perform at the District Chorus
audition.
Follow Up:
a. Follow the same procedure with all other District
Chorus songs.
b. Follow the same procedure with all music for this
year’s school choral concerts.