
|
Warmups by
Michael
Dean
SFA
Assistant Director of Choral Activities |
The warmup time is an extremely important time. During this
time you have the opportunity to teach several critical concepts
and reinforce many others.
Breathing
This is the time to remind them they
are singing and that they need good breathing. Roughly 78.9%
of all vocal problems arise in young singers because they do
have enough breath support. This is the time to teach it
and reinforce it.
Vocal Tone
Take this time to let them focus on what they sound like without the
distraction of finding notes, counting rhythms and pronouncing words.
Intonation
Make them sing in tune from the very first note. Check that vowel and make them listen to match everyone else. Also, listen to those descending lines. The majority of intonation
problems occur during a descending line...Nip it in the BUD!
Blend
What better time for listening to your neighbor
and making an ensemble sound that balances tone, volume and quality.
Aural Skills
Is there a difficult interval they don't hear? Is there a chord they
can't sing in tune? Get that into your warm up without the trappings
of the song or the words. Spending a little time on it before they try
it again in the song may be just what they need.

If
you would like to be added to the TSMP
Email Mailing List and receive
periodic notifications of new articles and updates to this website,
then please email
TSMP.
The Texas School Music
Project is a source for ideas and information
concerning pedagogical
practices in the music classroom or rehearsal hall. The TSMP is a service provided to
all music specialists by the faculty
of
the Department of Music
at Stephen F. Austin State University.
For questions about this
site contact [email protected].
Copyright © 2002, Department
of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University
|
|