Nolan's+Lesson+Wiki



This lesson was given a week before our first performance of the semester. Our greatest struggle with Concert Choir is getting this group of kids to make musical decisions on their own. They love to be given information and never have to worry about being "wrong". This lesson was designed to force them to take a chance and make music on their own, without the "right answer" being given to them by a teacher. As you can see in the lesson plan, the students moved throughout the choir room to make circles (first in their parts, then as one large group). They had to use their hands to display the dynamics they thought they should be showing as they sang. The next part (which gave them feedback and assessment) was to have a volunteer quartet sing for the circle. The quartet showed their dynamics with their hands while the rest of the choir showed what they heard. After the quartet finished, we were able to talk about whether or not the two sides agreed. Often, the quartet learned that what they thought they were doing dynamically was not big enough to be discerned by the group--it was a good time for realization that it's encouraged that our singers make bold decisions and sing fearlessly. We then did a final run as a group and they had to follow MY hands. It resulted in a very musical culminating performance, as they were more willing to follow my cues and make BIG decisions--the timidity was gone.

EDIT: Revised lesson plan attached containing edits per Kevin Cooley's suggestions