A Note from the author:
Bruce Phelps
As a former director of an active choral program, I can easily identify with the need for quality rehearsal time. I know how much effort is needed to prepare the students for the various types of programs in which they participate.
I also realize that if I only teach for the performances, my students will miss out on many aspects needed for a well rounded, comprehensive music education. In the later years of my education career, I started teaching mini-units that dealt with basic music knowledge. The students had covered much of the materials many times on their journey through elementary and middle school education.
Much was review but many students knew that and they were also challenged to new levels of musical awareness. I also discovered that the more basic information the singers had, the better they were prepared to deal with the literature I gave them. So, I continued working on these units and have put together sixteen dealing with music fundamentals.
Some units are shorter than others. Some units are easier than others. Some units take a long time to teach while others are mastered in a few days. Some units need supplementation while others stand alone. By choosing unit's to teach each quarter, I can give students the foundations of a good musical understanding and keep the concert preparation on track.
When we moved to the four period day, we were fortunate to have 85 minute choir rehearsals every day all year long. While our advanced ensembles thrived on the extra time, our younger groups needed a wider variety of activities to keep them focused throughout the entire period. I started experimenting with other classroom activities and have included 10 that worked the best in my situation. Some are music related, others are not. I used those to develop social groups skills with our students.
After a while, we started the game called "So You Think You Know Music" patterned after the familiar TV game show, "Who wants to be a Millionaire." I had the students write some questions and I wrote more. That too, was a huge success so I decided to expand on that and make it a part of this manual.
This tool has worked for me and will work for you as well. Add your own units. Add to what is presented here. Incorporate this into your curriculum and enjoy the immediate benefits you will see as your students grow to a more comprehensive understanding of this art form called "music."
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5:
Note Naming Vocabulary Vowels and More Vocabulary More Vocabulary
their function dealing with tempo
and dynamics
Chapter 6: Chapter 7: Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Chapter 10:
Consanants and Signs and Musical Form Musical Tonality Writng of Scales
their function Symbols Major, Minor,
Augmented, Diminished
Chapter 11: Chapter 12: Chapter 13: Chapter 14: Chapber 15:
Key Signatures Identifying intervals Writing Intervals Rhythmic Dictation Modes
You Hear
Chapter 16: Chapter 17:
Ice Breakers, Classroom So You Think You Know Music
Projects, Games
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All information Copyright 2010. Phelps Music Company. Shoreview, MN
