Division:  Middle School

Department: Fine and Performing Arts:  Vocal Music 

Course Title/Code:  Sixth Grade Vocal Exploration      ARTVOEXP

(6^th grade, 1 trimester/ 2 days per week)

Course Description:     Students are introduced to the singing voice by singing songs and studying the vocal mechanism. Students actively participate in music activities that teach and reinforce basic elements of music reading and written notation. Students sing a mixed repertoire of music that reinforces the music theory concepts being taught in class. 

Goals

The 6^th grade vocal music minors class is an exploratory class intended to offer students a fun, “make it happen” type of class that in a thirteen week period builds an appreciation of singing and the art of choral music.   

Activities/Content 

Activities are based on student participation and involvement. 

• Vocal Technique
  Much time is spent making technically correct, but very interesting and rather silly sounds.  Such sounds allow students to locate their singing voice and differentiate between high, low, and medium pitches.  Students participate in breathing exercises and silly songs, which build strength, confidence, and accuracy in singing.
• Music reading
  Students participate in daily rhythm exercises that are performed in a variety of ways.  Rhythms are creativity taught so that students can transfer what they learn in the vocal music class to any other music class they may take. 
• Singing choral literature
  Students learn to sing some choral selections with the goal being to sing in at least two vocal parts, if not three.  Styles will be diverse in hopes to promote an appreciation of all styles of music.