12/5 - 12/9

Mon:
We will run through everything we have learned with the accompanist.

Tues:
Review notes of
"African Noel" and "Baby It's Cold Outside"

Wed:
Review everything, as time allows. Allow students to suggest the ones they think need the most work.

Thursday:
All choir students will meet in the gym right after school for an afternoon-long dress rehearsal.

Friday:
Learn "O Come All Ye Faithful", melody only, three verses to be put with the band on Saturday.

11/28 - 12/2

Mon:
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Run through all concert music, our accompanist will be here.

Tues:
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
"Baby It's Cold Outside", polish

Wed:
Warm-Ups:
Sight-singing:
"Follow conductor" game
Singing:
Work on songs that were weaker during the run-through on Monday

Thurs:
Warm- Ups:
Sight-singing:
"Follow Conductor" game
Singing:
Any songs that still need work
Begin to memorize

Fri:
Warm-Ups:
Sight-Singing:
"Follow Conductor Game"
Singing:
Continue working rough spots
Continue to memorize

11/21 - 11/22

Mon:
Worksheet over Chromatics/syncopation
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
"African Noel"
"In The Bleak Midwinter"
fix notes and dynamics

Tues:
sing syncopated chromatics
Warm-ups:
Singing:
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
fix notes and dynamics

11/13 - 11/18

Mon:
Sight-singing:
Chromatic scale
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Review "Baby It's Cold Outside", continue to mm 77

Tues:
Sight-singing:
Chromatic scale in parts
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Review "Baby It's Cold Outside"
Add Dynamics and expression to "African Noel"

Wed:
Sight-singing
More Chromatics
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Finish "Baby"
Add Dynamics to "In The Bleak Midwinter"

Thurs:

Sight-Singing:
solfege hands in parts
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Review everything learned to this point (as time allows)


Fri:

Sight-Singing:
In-class worksheet
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Review all of "Baby"
Add dynamics and expression to "Carols Around"

11/7 - 11/11

Mon:
Sight-Reading:
Sight-read "Baby It's Cold Outside" with CD
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Review "Have Yourself", add dynamics and articulation (if notes are wrong, fix them)

Tues:
Sight-Reading:
"Baby It's Cold Outside", once with and once without background voices
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Learn rhythms, then harmonies of "Baby It's Cold Outside", at least to m. 37
Review "Have Yourself" with dynamics and articulations.

Wed:
Sight-Reading:
"Baby It's cold Outside" mm. 59, 60 - rhythm (parts)
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Continue "Baby It's Cold Outside" at least to m. 68
Review "Carols Around" Adding dynamics and articulation

Thurs:
Sight-Reading:
mm. 77-80 - rhythm, and "swinging 8ths"
Warm-Ups:
Continue "Baby It's Cold Outside", finish?
Review "In the Bleak Midwinter", add dynamics and articulation

Fri:
No Class, Veteran's Day.

10/31 - 11/4

Mon:
Sight-singing:
The students will follow solfege hand signals in a random order to see how well they can hear different harmonies and intervals.
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Continue "Have"

Tues:
Sight-singing: Same
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Continue (finish?) "Have"

Wed:
Sight-singing: Same
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Finish "Have" and add dynamics/expression.

Thurs:
Half-Day for pumpkin Palooza
Sing through all songs learned up to now with CD's

Friday:
PUMPKIN PALOOZA!!!!!!!
No class

10/24 - 10/28

Monday:
I and most of the choir students will be at the "Youth In Harmony Festival", which takes place at Eastern Illinois University all day.
The students in class will have a worksheet over how well they know their music and the terminology we use daily in class.
They will need all of the music we will be performing on the concert to complete this task.
This worksheet will be worth 9 points.

Tuesday:
Sight-reading
Warm-Ups
Singing: Continue "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (may be finish?)

Wednesday:
Half-day for Pumpkin Palooza. So, there will be a sub since I am at Mayo in the Mornings.
Singing:

All songs we have learned thus far ("African Noel", "Carols Around", "In The Bleak Midwinter", with accompaniment CD)
Older/Advanced students will help add dynamics to each.

Thursday:
Half-day for Pumpkin Palooza. So, so there will be a sub, since I am at Mayo in the mornings.
Singing:

All songs we have learned thus far ("African Noel", "Carols Around", "In The Bleak Midwinter", with accompaniment CD)
Older/Advanced students will help add dynamics to each.




Friday:
No Class, Parent/Teacher conferences.

10/17 - 10/21

Monday:
We will be working on the boys' Youth in Harmony Music "Cabaret" for most of the period.
For what remains, we will continue working on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Tuesday:
We will be working on the girls' Youth in Harmony Music "Give My Regards To Broadway" for most of the period.
For what remains, we will continue to work on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Wednesday:
Sight-reading:
There will be a sight reading activity (for the 5th Hr class, there will be an example on the board in G maj; for 8th hr, they will complete the worksheet that they weren't given on Friday).
Warm-ups
Singing:
Review everything we have learned up to this point:
"African Noel"
"In the Bleak Midwinter"
"Carols Around"
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Thursday:

We will be working on the boys' Youth in Harmony Music "Yes, Indeed" for most of the period.
For what remains, we will continue working on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Friday:

We will be working on the girls' Youth in Harmony Music "Yesterday" for most of the period.
For what remains, we will continue to work on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

10/11 - 10/14

Sorry this is late, but here's what he DID this week:

Mon:
No School, IMEA auditions in Effingham

Tues:
Sight-reading:
Handout of "circle of fifths" for key signature identification
Sing short example in F major
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Continue work on "In the Bleak Midwinter"

Wed:
Sight-reading:
Short example in D major
Warm-Ups:
Singing:
Finish "In the Bleak Midwinter"
Begin "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Thurs:
Shortened schedule, substitute teacher
Study Hall

Fri:
Shortened schedule, substitute teacher
Key Signature/Rhythm worksheet completed in class (students may use the handout given to them at the beginning of the week)

10/3 - 10/6

Mon:
IMEA practice for those auditioning
Study Hall for the Rest
REMINDER auditions are one week from today- BE PRACTICING

Tues:
Sight-reading:
Sing a 2 measure example in a melodic minor, with a 3/4 time signature
Warm-Ups:
Maj/Min (natural, melodic, harmonic) scales
maj/min/aug/dim triads
Singing:
"In the Bleak Midwinter" pp 7 and 8
announce auditions for solos on Thursday

Wed:
Sight-Reading:
Sing an 2 measure example in a harminoc minor, with a 4/4 time signature.
Warm-Ups:
Same
Singing:
Finish "Bleak"
Revisit "African Noel"

Thurs:
Sight-Reading:
Sing a 2 measure example in a melodic minor, with a 2/2 time signature
Warm-Ups:
Students' Choice
Singing:
"Bleak" solo tyrouts
Revisit "Carols"

Fri:
INSTITUTE DAY NO SCHOOL

9/26 - 9/30

Mon:
Sight-Reading: (10 min)
Learn the Major, Minor, Augmented, and Diminished triads
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Singing: (rest of class)
"Carols Around" pp 9 - 10

Tues:
Sight-Reading: (10 min)
Practice the above mentioned triads within a CM example
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Singing: (20-25 min)
Finish "Carols Around" all pages, adding dynamics
Assignment: Optional writing assignment given at the end of class

Wed:
Sight-Reading: (8 min)
Sing Maj, Min, Aug, and Dim triads on different starting pitches
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Singing: (rest of class)
Continue to learn "In the Bleak MidWinter" pp1-5
Review "Carols", if time

Thurs:
Sight-Reading: (10 min)
Learn what a harmonic minor sounds like and use it in an example in am
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Singing: (rest of class)
Continue "Bleak" pp5-7 (8 if time)

Fri:
Sight-Reading: (10 min)
4 measures of a harmonic m
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Singing: (rest of class)
"Bleak" all

9/17-9/21

Mon:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (8 min)
Short solfege example in 2/4 time, C Maj
Singing: (rest of class)
All of African Noel in preparation for test on Wed.

Tues:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (10 min)
Short solfege example in 4/4 time, in corporating natural m, am
Singing: (rest of class)
"African Noel" all
"Carols Around (and a Round)" pp 1-5

Wed.:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (none)
Singing: (rest if class)
"African Noel" Test
"Carols", if time pp 1-5

Thurs:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (8 min)
2/4, am (nat)
Singing: (rest of class)
 "Carols" pp 1-5
"Bleak" pp 1-3

Fri.:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (12 min)
Group game -  students will be seperated into 3 groups, each group will be assigned a sight-reading example. The groups will confere with each other on how the melodies should be sung, and when they are ready will stand and sing the examples as a group. If they sing the example 100%  correctly on the first try, they will recieve 3 extra credit points. If they singing it correctly on the second try, 2. If they sing it correctly on the third try, 1, and if they cannot sing it correctly until the fourth try, they recieve no extra points for the game.
Singing: (rest of class)
"Carols" pp 1-7 (8 if time)

9/12 - 9/16

Mon:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-reading: (10 min)
Short example including rhythm and solfege syllables
Singing: (rest if class)
"African Noel" rest of song (pp 8-11)
Announce Singing Test for "African Noel" on Monday

Tues:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (8 min)
Same
Singing: (rest of class)
"African Noel" all

Wed:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (8 min)
Same
Singing: (rest of class)
"In The Bleak Midwinter" pp 4-5

Thurs:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (8 min)
Same
Singing: (rest of class)
"African Noel" all
"In the Bleak Midwinter" pp 4-5
Pre-auditions for "High School Idol" during class

Fri:
I will be out of class for a workshop, and will have a substitute teacher
There will be a worksheet for the students to complete individually or in groups.
This will be collected at the end of the class.
When students are finished with their worksheets, they may have a study hall.

Week Of 9/6 - 9/9

Since I was sick last week some, a few of the assignments and activities have been moved. Here is this week's schedule

Mon:
Sight-reading: (8 min)
Identifying note names and correlating them to a solfege syllable, then singing some solfege examples from verbal cues.
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Singing:
Alleluia Pg 4 (review all, if time)

Tues:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-reading: (8 min)
Sing an entire two measure example with correct solfege syllables and rhythm.
Singing:
Alleluia pp 1-4 (sing through only 1 or 2 times)
African Noel pp 1-6

Wed:
Sight Reading:
Students will sing all of an example with correct solfege and rhythm
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Singing:
African Noel pp 1-8

Thurs:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-Reading: (8 min)
Worksheet on note names and solfege syllables for 20 points
Singing:
African Noel pp9 and 10

Fri:
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight Reading: (rest of class)
New song, "Fum, Fum, Fum"

Week of 8/29-9/2

Monday:

Grades: Participation
Warm-ups: (5 min)
Sight-reading: a solfege scale plus dotted rhythm pattern (10 min)
Singing: (rest of period)
Listen to complete recording of "Alleluia, Glorious is Thy Name" then sing first two page with recording a few times (remediate as necessary).
Start learning next page.

Tuesday:
Grades: Participation
Warm-ups: (5 min)
Sight-reading: Identification of solfege syllables/note names in an example.
Singing: (rest of class)
Continue work of "Alleluia" finishing the third page
Begin "African Noel" (try for first two pages)

Wednesday:
Grades: Participation, worksheet 
Sight-Reading: (12-15 min)
Short worksheet on note-names, and
solfege syllables
Warm-Ups: (very short)
Singing: (rest of class)
"Alleluia", pp. 1-3
"African Noel" pp1-2, work on 3

Thursday:
Grades: Participation
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Sight-reading: (10-12 min)
Sing all of an example with solfege syllables and rhythms.
Singing: (Rest of period)
"Alleluia" pp. 3 and 4
"African Noel" pp. 1-4

Friday: Participation
Warm-ups: Students' choice (5 min)
Sight-reading: same as Thurs
Singing: (rest of period)
Alleluia pp. 1-4
African Noel pp. 1-4
If time allows, let students pick a song from a folk music book to have fun with.

Second Week

Since the schedule is still a little wonky for the next few days, this plan is subject to change but I'll update it if there needs to be additions or subtractions.

Monday: Grades - participation
Go over the unified class rules. (5 min)
Warm-ups: (5 min)
focusing on proper posture, breathing, and vowel shapes first.
Voice Placement: (20 min)
Have short range trials for each student to make sure that they are in the right sections. Due to limited space and time, this will mean that each student will sing individually in front of the rest of the class, HOWEVER it is something they will have to get used to because this will not be the last time it will happen.
Sight-reading in groups: (10-15 min)
At this point I need to assess how well the students read music (if at all), so we will do some sight-reading in their voice parts.

Tuesday: Grades - participation
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Still focusing on posture, breathing, and vowel shapes
Singing: (15-20 min)
Finish vocal placement.
Discuss rhythm

Wednesday: Grades - participation
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Same
Sight-Reading: (10 min)
A short written example will be on the board for students to clap its rhythm.
All students will clap the rhythm. We will not move on until all can demonstrate that they understand the example.
Singing: (20-25 min)
We will sing a new song, "Alleluia, Glorious is Thy Name"
Announcement:
Reminder that an informational meeting about After school choir and Show choir will be held tomorrow afternoon from 3:45-4:30. Anyone interested can come by.
Also, I nheed to know who is interested in participating in IMEA auditions. I have to order music soon, so that they can start practicing.

Thursday: Grades - participation
Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Same
Sight-reading: (10 min)
More rhythm work with a longer example on the board
Singing: (25-30 min)
Continue work of "Alleluia", with added expression (15 min)

Friday: Grades - participation, short in-class worksheet
Sight-reading: (15-20 min)
Short worksheet to be done in groups for 10 points each (all students must write their own answers).
Worksheet will include note-naming, and rhythm identification. Students can use their note sheet that they received earlier in the week.

Warm-Ups: (5 min)
Students' choice
Singing: (20-25 min)
Continue work on two songs introduced before.

First Week

I know I'm very excited to get started making music, and I hope everyone else is too.
This first week, we'll be getting a slow start.

I'll begin with introductions on Tuesday. I will give each student a short form to fill out about themselves, which I will use to get to know them. Hopefully, we'll still have some time to do some singing. We will then be singing the "America the Beautiful" in unison as well as in parts as the group allows.

The next class day, Thursday, we'll go over the class rules, which the students will help to devise. Then we'll do some warm-up exercises. These will include breathing exercises, range testing, and diction drills. We will then move on to some sight-singing exercises and music reading drills. This will be for the purpose of gauging the group's skills and the type of exercises they are used to doing.