Reply To: Choir with student who are new to singing

[nafmeadmin]

Kids who choose to not participate: have them respond to the rehearsal. Give them a composition book and ask them to write their observations from the rehearsals: what was good, what needs more work, what didn’t go over well, what they would do differently…. okay maybe not that one haha. Have them study recordings of the pieces you are preparing. Have them use music vocabulary in their writings and take notes on the things you taught in the rehearsal. You might have a conference with these students during lunch or before school one day to discuss what they have written and what they have learned from observing and taking notes during the rehearsals.

You could also have them do a research project about a piece / composer you are teaching and have them present it to the group — teach them about the piece they are learning. This may spark a short discussion into which parts of the piece evoke which emotions or ideas and help the musicians to better understand the music they are learning. 🙂