Choir Session #1
Welcome to Session #1! In these strange Coronavirus times, choirs are unable to meet in person but this does not mean that community and music making need to stop. To share the words of Kellie Walsh
"If a choir is only about singing and performing - there will be no choir for a while. If choir is about teaching and learning, growing, connecting, community, cultural exploration and transmission, and innovating - we will find a way to have choir."
Until we are safely able to gather again, I feel incredibly inspired to dig deep with my musical learning and work on developing skills and deepen my love of music. I would love to be with you all right now but until it is safe - let's keep singing!
In addition to online Zoom sessions, Choir Cabarets and potentially some safe outdoor small group singing - we will be working through a music course together here.
This program will consist of...
- Vocal Technique
- Vocal Warm-ups
- Physical Warm-ups and helpful Body Practices
- Rhythm Training
- Ear Training
- Theory
- Historical Background and Context of where the music we are singing comes from.
- Specially selected repertoire that we will learn and sing. We will aim to deepen our musicianship and ability to hold our harmony parts while working through music that will be enjoyable to learn and will be suitable for singing in smaller groups.
- Teaching videos for each song.
- Practice tracks for each song (a separate track for each part + tracks with only one part missing so we can all experience singing our part and hearing the harmony around it.)
- Any applicable language or diction study.
- Lists of resources for further listening, reading or watching.
- Chord charts for our songs in case you are interested in learning to accompany the songs.
- Special guest teachers
- Professional musician backing tracks
Physical Warm-Up
Do this warm-up every day before you sing this week.
Vocal Technique
Concept of the week - Can do before every vocal warm-up this week.
Vocal Warm-Up
Do this warm-up every day before you sing this week.
Rhythm Training
We will start with our building our fundamental rhythm skills - in reading rhythm, singing rhythm and moving in rhythm.
Ear Training
Let's start with looking at the basics of Solfege.
Theory
We will begin with understanding semi-tones, tones and how you build a major scale.
A semi-tone is the closest distance between two notes (i.e C-C#)
A tone is built with 2 semitones together (i.e. C-D)
Major scales are built this way
Tone-Tone-Semitone-Tone-Tone-Tone-Semitone
Background Information
Here is some history of the song we're learning this week.
Original Recording
Language and Diction
Siyobalanda is in Xhosa.Lyrics - Siyobalanda
Bongani Magatyana will speak out the words for us here.
Song #1-Weary Day
Teaching Video
Practice Tracks
Song #2 - Lonesome Wind Blues
Teaching Video
Practice Tracks
Song #3 - Siyobalanda
Teaching Video
Practice Tracks
What to work on and taking it further...
What to practice this week?
-Try to sing 2-3 times this week. If you have time do the physical warm, vocal technique and warm-up. If you are short of time, just do the vocal warm-up.
-For the songs - get comfortable with your part - sing it through in three different sessions.
-Watch/read/participate in the Rhythm Training, Ear Training and Theory, Background Information and Language and Diction at least once.
-Chords for songs - plunk these chords out on whatever instrument you have - piano, guitar, ukulele, mandolin....
For our next ZOOM session, you can ask any questions related to this week's study, we will do a group warm-up, sing through these three songs and have some Breakout Rooms for chatting!
**Don't forget to send in your Bio and Photo for our choir 'Getting To Know You' Google Doc.
Invitation to A Cappella App and Bandland Collaboration - links coming soon.
If you want to listen further or learn more go here...