Curricular Goals and Learning Sequence:
Debut Prep
What do singers learn and do during their year in Debut Prep? Read on to find out!
Grade level: Kindergarten
Rehearses: 45 minutes per week
Performances: Approximately 7 per year (in October, December, March, and June)
Home practice expectation: 10 minute sessions 3x per week
Debut Prep rehearsals focus on teaching fundamentals through musical games and activities. Singers grow their confidence, responsibility, and teamwork as they work together on their repertoire and performance skills.
Rhythm: Singers will learn how to perform and identify…
- Whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes
- Whole, half and quarter rests
- Time signatures presented in their music. May include: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4
Solfege/Pitch:
- Singers will learn how to perform and recognize high vs. low sounds
- Singers will be introduced to the solfège system by…
- Recognizing note patterns in singing games
- Learning the solfège and hand signals to simple note patterns
- So-Mi
- Sol-La-Mi
- Mi-Re-Do
- Singers will be able to sing and sign the major scale (with help)
- Singers will be introduced to major and minor tonalities
Singing/choral techniques: Singers will learn…
- To use their voices through singing games
- How to match pitch
- How to make their voices loud and soft
- To repeat simple musical phrases
- To access healthy head voice and chest voice
- How to perform simple songs
Literacy: Singers will learn…
- Basic dynamics: piano (soft) vs forte (loud)
- What a vocal line looks like in music
- How to find where solfege and rhythm are written in music. (Director provides scaffolding by writing in solfege and rhythm for singers.)
Performance/interpersonal skills: Singers will learn…
- To perform with good posture
- How to feel and look confident on stage
- Performance etiquette, including how to walk onstage, watch the conductor, and bow
- How to be a respectful audience member
- How to share ideas and materials
- That making music is fun!
