Welcome to Middle School Choir

Welcome to Middle School Choir!

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is

impossible to be silent.

~ Victor Hugo

Ms. Kelli Wilson

Barren County Middle School Choir

Phone: (270) 651-4909

Email:

Philosophy

It is the philosophy of the Barren County Middle School Choral Department to provide students with a well-rounded choral music experience. Through participation in choral music, students learn musical skills such as literacy, history and culture, vocabulary, improvisation, technology, and many more. These skills not only develop the student’s musical competency, but help to shape the student non-musically as well.

The study of choral music also helps the student to develop many non-musical skills that they can reflect on and use in different situations throughout their lives. These include, but are not limited to social skills, patience, teamwork, responsibility, accountability, risk taking, leadership, pride, and self-respect.

Through a variety of choral music experiences, students will receive a quality learning experience where student ownership of learning is stressed daily. Through selection, rehearsal, and performance of diverse repertoire, the choral music experience at Barren County Middle School promotes diversity both inside and outside of the schools. This provides students with an unbiased look into different languages, religions, and cultures, while honoring each student’s

personal beliefs and opinions.

We are all consumers of music—the evidence is seen daily. It is the philosophy of the Barren County Middle School Choral Department to provide students with an outlet of expression through the singing and performance of choral music. The musical skills learned in the classroom are important; however, when those musical skills are combined with nonmusical skills, the learning experience becomes holistic and helps to create a better, more knowledgeable child and society.

National Standards

National Standards of Musical Education

National Standards of Music Education

Barren County Middle School choral rehearsals are centered on the nine national

standards of music education, as determined by the Music Educators National Conference (MENC):

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.

4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.

5. Reading and notating music.

6. Listening to, analyzing, and notating music.

7. Evaluating music and music performances.

8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture

Objectives: The students will…

Terms

correctly define the following terms: tutti, unison, a cappella, sacred, secular, text, chord, solo, ensemble, fine, system, grand staff, melody, harmony, interval, phrase, pick-up note, ritardando, accelerando

Notation

identify note names on the staff (bass and treble clef) and up to two ledger lines above or below the staff
recognize/define the following time signatures and conducting patterns: 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4
identify that the time signature of “C” means common time or 4/4

Symbols

correctly define and identify the following symbols: ledger line, bar line, double bar line, staff, measure (bar), repeat sign, fermata, breath mark, no breath mark, accent, tie, slur, coda, D.S. al fine, D.C. al Coda, 1st and 2nd endings, treble clef, bass clef, rit., accel.

Dynamics

correctly define and identify the following symbols: pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, crescendo and decrescendo/diminuendo
correctly list the six dynamics listed above from softest to loudest

Rhythm

demonstrate an understanding of the difference between beat and rhythm
correctly identify and count the following note and rest values: whole, half, quarter, eighth, dotted half
correctly identify and count the following rhythm patterns: two eighths, eighth note/eighth rest, eighth rest/eighth note

Tempo

correctly define and identify the following tempo markings: ritardando, accelerando

Scales

sing a major scale in tune

Form

identify 1st and 2nd endings
identify the following forms: canon, round, verse/chorus, AB, ABA
identify a four measure phrase
identify an introduction, coda and bridge

Harmony

demonstrate ability to sing harmony part in multi-part song

Ear Training

identify aurally intervals of unison, 3rd, 5th, and octave
identify aurally stepwise motion of notes from low DO – high DO

Composition: Using the Beethoven or Mozart project (or equivalent)

Create a four-measure diatonic melody based on improvisation on your instrument
Accurately notate melody (hand-written on staff paper)
Input melody into Sibelius software, and create basic accompaniment parts.

Resources:

Teacher model

Masterworks Press Music Theory for Choirs