Warm-ups for the Boys’ Changing Voice
Mary Hochkeppel
MJHochkep@aol.com
Buzz Aldrin Elementary School
TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:
CAI
Level:
Middle School
Class:
Choral
Equipment:
Mac OS X
or Windows XP
Sibelius Software
MIDI Keyboard and Interface
Projection Device and cable hook-ups
Duration:
45 Minutes
Prior Knowledge and Skills:
Basic singing ability
Basic knowledge on how to produce a pleasing tone
Basic rhythmic and melodic notation reading
NAfME standard of 1994 Addressed:
NAfME standard of 1994: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
NAfME 2014: Performing
NAfME standard of 1994: Reading and notating music.
NAfME 2014: Creating
NAfME standard of 1994: Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
NAfME 2014: Responding
Materials:
Stereo
Piano
Mac OS X or Windows XP Computer with sound card and speakers
Text: Voice Building by F. Haussman
Choral Literature: Kyrie Eleison, arranged by John Leavett
Changing Voice Sibelius Slides/Cards
Objectives:
1. The Student will be able to improve his/her singing of high/low registers by signing/reading Sibelius Software created warm-ups cards/ slides.
2. The Student will be able to improve vowel unification and consonant articulation within his/her singing by performing warm-up activities using Sibelius Software created warm-up cards/slides.
Procedures:
1. Greet the class and do your routine for starting the class session.
2. Using the projection device that is connected to a computer, show Changing Voice Card 1 and demonstrate the material on this card for the class.
3 Repeat each consonant and/or consonant blend again and have the class echo speak each one.
4. Follow the same procedure numbers 2 and 3 for Changing Voice Cards 2, 3 and 4.
5. Introduce John Leavett’s Kyrie Eleison by either playing a recording of a choir performing the work or by singing the entire
piece with piano accompaniment.
6. Sing the first phrase of this piece for the class and have the students echo sing it back. If students are having difficulty in singing the register changes with a smooth line, have them practice Changing Voice Cards 5-8.
7. Follow the same procedure mentioned above while working on part 2 of this choral piece.
Evaluation:
By the end of this lesson, the Student will be able to identify a smooth line of sound from high to low register by teacher demonstration. The Students will also be able to demonstrate smooth register changes by a group performance of the warm-ups and by singing the first two phrases of the John Leavett Choral Piece. This evaluation may be assessed by the teacher via the performance output of a vocal section, a row of students singing and/or by a large group of singers.
Follow Up:
Students can evaluate subsequent rehearsals by recording the sectional and/or entire group performance of the Joh Leavett Choral Piece. Students can write a critique of each performance and identify a Changing Voice Warm-Up Card that may help improve choral techniques like clarity of tone, vowel unification and proper articulation of the consonants and consonant blends.
