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Fun activities
we've done as CBMS Choirs!
"Retreat" for 7th & 8th Grade
Students in 7th & 8th Grades stayed after school on a Friday and came in on a Saturday afternoon to rehearse for a few hours, as well as build community through team-building games. I'm a firm believer that good music cannot be made unless you trust and rely on the people you are in an ensemble with, so the purpose of this retreat was to build that trust.
CoffeeHouse
Auditions were held for students to who wanted to sing covers or original songs as solos, duets, small groups, and with optional instruments. I workshopped with the students after school for a few weeks, and then we had the "CoffeeHouse" after school on a Friday. Tickets were sold to help raise funds for the music department, and Starbucks donated coffee for all to enjoy while listening to performances! Our first one ever in January 2020 was an absolute hit!
Kazoos
I purchased kazoos for every single member of the choirs in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades alike. Most of my students were overly conscious about their voice, and being in such a vulnerable state of ego while in middle school really makes singing an extra vulnerable act unless you create a safe place to make mistakes.
Kazoos don't function unless the user hums, and humming is the gateway to singing. What middle school child (or any child OR adult, for that matter) wouldn't love to have a kazoo in their hand to learn music! The buy in was huge, and even the students that struggled to participate because of disinterest or shyness always enjoyed themselves that much more, and felt themselves an equal to the rest of the members of the class. Attention spans, memory of pitches, rhythms, and dynamics/articulations, as well as overall classroom environment increased tenfold. It was worth every penny (and an added bonus, it didn't even cost that much to begin with!)
Stairwell Rehearsals
On Fridays, I love taking my students on a field trip to the nearest stairwell to rehearse. It is a great motivator to help them learn their music throughout the week, and makes their progress apparent when singing in the stairwell. The change of location improves their attention spans, and the ringy-ness of singing in that location makes them feel like a more sophisticated ensemble. It is easier to hear individual sections and across the ensemble, tuning their ears much more to blend and musical sensitivity.