Curriculum - lower division choruses
FRESCO (GRADES K-1) AND GIOCOSO (GRADES 2-3)
VOCAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Respiration
- Encourage correct singing posture that allows the breathing muscles to engage properly during singing, and encourages alertness throughout the rehearsal and performance process
- Create awareness of and engage breathing muscles for support
- Implement the natural cycle of inhalation/exhalation
- Connect the breath to a phrase of music – the foundation of a legato line
- Teach the relationship between breath and musical phrasing
- Encourage physical freedom and release of muscular tension in singing
Phonation
- Learn to differentiate between vocal sounds, upper registration and lower registration (head voice and chest voice)
- Produce a healthy sound in both the upper and lower registration and start the gradual process of blending the two together
- Resonant Tone Production
- Develop the awareness and skill of clear, resonant, and accurate singing
- Develop technique in healthfully projecting the voice
- Develop uniform vowel pronunciation in singing
- Sing with a relaxed jaw and open throat
Expression
- Develop an emotional connection to the music
- Develop confidence in the rehearsal and performance setting
- Develop an appreciation for a variety of songs
- Sing expressively through use of dynamics and tempo
CURRICULUM GOALS
Fresco Music Theory Objectives
- Explore and experience ‘comparatives’ (loud and soft, fast and slow, high and low)
- Learn to feel a steady beat and to discern the difference between rhythms (“the way the words go”) and the underlying steady pulse
- Focus on singing in tune by matching the teacher, the piano, or another instrument or student
- Sing a major scale in solfege syllables, with hand signs
- Recognize, read, write and perform simple rhythmic patterns using eighth, quarter, half notes and rests
- Recognize basic symbols in music
- Linking phrase contour to melody
- Stepping, skipping and leaping sounds
- Long and short sound durations
- Concept of lines and spaces
- Take a basic theory test at the conclusion of each singing semester
Fresco Performance Objectives
- Develop good choral singing habits: follow the conductor’s beat and cutoffs
- Singing a large repertoire of unison songs, canons and partner songs
- Learn a large group of folk and composed songs with different tonal relationships
- Learn songs which implement movement, particularly encouraging beat and rhythmic awareness and expression
- Learn songs which incorporate improvisation and individual creativity
- Prepare concert songs for performance, to be memorized and sung at a high standard
- Gain experience and confidence performing by participating in all MGC concert opportunities:
- Full chorus concerts in December and May
- Outreach concerts to retirement homes and community events
- Attend chorus summer camp (recommended but not mandatory)
- Complete a basic performance assessment at the conclusion of the singing semester
Giocoso Music Theory Objectives
- Differentiate between major and minor tonalities
- Differentiate between duple and triple meter
- Recognize, read, write and perform simple rhythmic patterns using eighth, quarter, half notes, whole notes, eighth, quarter, half and whole note rests
- Begin to work with intervals for ear training
- Sing basic melodies using Do, Re, Mi, Fa and Sol
- Sing patterns and exercises from notes on a staff, using solfege
- Learn basic time signatures, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
- Learn to track their part through a musical score
- Expand sensitivity to expression in music and apply these concepts within performance:
- Crescendo and diminuendo
- Ritardando
- Forte, fortissimo, piano and pianissimo
- Legato, staccato
- Take an informal theory test at the end of each singing semester
Giocoso Performance Objectives
- Develop skills in intonation and vocal independence through unison songs, partner songs simple 2-part songs, and canons
- Differentiate between the melody and a harmony part. Continuing learning to follow a director, specifically:
- Staying together as an ensemble
- Following changes in dynamics
- Accuracy in entrances and cut-offs
- Learn an internationally diverse body of repertoire, to develop an understanding of other cultures and languages
- Gain experience and confidence performing by participating in all MGC concert opportunities:
- Full chorus concerts in December and May
- Outreach concerts to retirement homes and other community events
- Attend chorus summer camp (recommended but not mandatory)
- Complete a basic performance assessment at the conclusion of each singing semester
curriculum - upper division choruses
ARIOSO (GRADES 4-5), BEL CANTO (GRADES 6-8), CHANTONS (GRADES 9-12)
VOCAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Respiration
- Singers will develop the technique of proper posture through exercises involving stretching and limbering, active body posturing, and mental alertness
- Singers will develop the technique of correct breathing motion (the cycle of inhalation-exhalation). Singers will gain a basic anatomical knowledge of the breathing apparatus
- Singers will develop the technique of breath management
Phonation
- Singers will develop the technique of upper-registration voice production as a means of finding and strengthening the upper register for singing, through exercises involving clarity, placement and projection
- Singers will develop the technique of coordinating the transition between registers. Singers will gain a sensitivity to maintaining a healthy speaking voice which continues to nurture the singing voice and prevents vocal damage
- Singers will gain a basic knowledge of the laryngeal physiology
Resonant Tone Production
- Singers will develop the technique of clear, resonant and accurate singing through the application of supported respiration and crafted phonation to resonant tone production
- Develop a basic anatomical knowledge of the six resonators
- Develop the technique of vocal resonance through exercises involving freedom, focus and projection of the voice
- Singers will develop the technique of uniform vowel colors for resonant singing.
Expression
- Singers will develop the ability to sing expressively, through exercises related to phrasing, dynamics, tempo, range and agility
- Singers will understand the making of a musical line and develop the technique of both agility and range extension
CURRICULUM GOALS
Arioso Music Theory Objectives
- Differentiate between major and minor tonalities
- Learn about compound meter, especially 6/8 time
- Recognize, read, write and perform simple rhythmic patterns using eighth, quarter, half notes, whole notes, sixteenth notes, dotted quarters, dotted half notes and quarter, half and whole note rests
- Sight-sing simple melodic lines using solfege
- Become familiar with treble staff letter note names
- Continue to work with intervals, including major and minor intervals
- Learn how to follow a score through following the movement of melodic line through contour of notes
- Apply note and rhythmic reading to develop independent learning of new music
- Take a basic theory test at the end of each singing semester
Arioso Performance Objectives
- Increase skills in maintaining a vocal line within a 2 or 3-part song
- Increase skills in following a director, especially:
- Following changes in dynamics, tempo and phrasing
- Accuracy in entrances and cut-offs
- Learn an internationally diverse body of repertoire, to develop an understanding of other cultures and languages
- Gain experience and confidence performing by participating in all MGC concert opportunities:
- Full chorus concerts in December and May
- Outreach concerts to retirement homes and community events
- Attend and participate in all chorus retreats
- May include participation in festivals and competitions
- Possible opportunities to sing solos in rehearsals and concerts
- Complete a basic performance assessment at the conclusion of each singing semester
Bel Canto Theory Objectives
- Continue progression of skills and concepts from Arioso level
- Recognize and notate intervals, both melodically and harmonically
- Continue work with solfege syllables, practice sight-reading using solfege syllables
- Study primary triads and basic inversions
- Begin to learn key signatures – study the keys up to 2 sharps and 2 flats (C, G, D, F, Bb); familiarity with the circle of fifths
- Work with compound and complex meters
- Continue score study, including the concepts of form (including repeats and other form indicators) and tracking individual lines on a multi-stave page
- Practice reading more complex rhythmic values, including ties and syncopations
- Take a basic theory test at the end of each singing semester
Bel Canto Performance Objectives
- Increase skills in singing harmony through multiple-part arrangements
- Become skilled at maintaining a vocal line within a 2 or 3-part song
- Sing in 2 and 3 parts acapella
- Learn an internationally diverse body of repertoire to develop an understanding of other cultures and languages
- Possible opportunities to sing solos in rehearsals and concerts
- Gain a sense of leadership within the chorus, especially Chantons
- Gain experience and confidence performing by participating in all MGC concert opportunities:
- Full chorus concerts in December and May
- Outreach concerts to retirement homes and convalescent hospitals
- Participate in festivals and competitions
- Attend and participate in all chorus retreats
- Complete a basic performance assessment at the conclusion of each singing semester
Chantons Music Theory Objectives
- Continue progression of skills and concepts from Arioso level
- Recognize and notate intervals, both melodically and harmonically
- Continue work with solfege syllables, practice sight-reading using solfege syllables
- Study primary triads and basic inversions
- Begin to learn key signatures – study the keys up to 2 sharps and 2 flats (C, G, D, F, Bb); familiarity with the circle of fifths
- Work with compound and complex meters
- Continue score study, including the concepts of form (including repeats and other form indicators) and tracking individual lines on a multi-stave page
- Practice reading more complex rhythmic values, including ties and syncopations
- Take a basic theory test at the end of each singing semester
Chantons Performance Objectives
- Increase skills in singing harmony through multiple-part arrangements
- Become skilled at maintaining a vocal line within a 2 or 3-part song
- Sing in 2 and 3 parts acapella
- Learn an internationally diverse body of repertoire to develop an understanding of other cultures and languages
- Possible opportunities to sing solos in rehearsals and concerts
- Gain a sense of leadership within the chorus, especially Chantons
- Gain experience and confidence performing by participating in all MGC concert opportunities:
- Full chorus concerts in December and May
- Outreach concerts to retirement homes and convalescent hospitals
- Participate in festivals and competitions
- Attend and participate in all chorus retreats
- Complete a basic performance assessment at the conclusion of each singing semester