Curricular Goals and Learning Sequence:
Debut
What do singers learn and do during their time in Debut? Read on to find out!
Grade level: 1-2
Rehearses: 1 hour per week
Performances: Approximately 7 per year (in October, December, March, and June)
Home practice expectation: 1 hour/week (15 minute sessions 4x per week)
Debut 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, sixteenth notes
- Whole, half and quarter rests
- Time signatures presented in their music. May include: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4
Solfege/Pitch:
- Singers will be introduced to singing and signing the major scale using the following developmentally appropriate sequence, taught through singing games and repertoire.
- Step 1: Sol-Mi (Ex: “Hey Ho, Here We Go”)
- Step 2: Sol-La-Mi (Ex: “Doggie Doggie”)
- Step 3: Mi-Re-Do (Ex: “Baker’s Shop” or “All Around the Buttercup)
- Step 4: Adding Fa and Learning the Do-Sol scale (Ex: “I’m Stretching Very Tall”)
- Step 5: Adding Ti and performing the Major scale
- Singers will be introduced to major and minor tonalities
Singing/choral techniques: Singers will learn…
- How to match pitch
- To access healthy head voice and chest voice
- Vowel pronunciation for singing
- How to make their voices loud and soft
- To place consonants on rests and utilize basic shadow vowels
- Basic choral blend
- Performance repertoire that includes easy songs in unison and simple rounds
Literacy: Singers will learn…
- Basic dynamics: piano (soft) vs forte (loud)
- Basic score reading (staff, treble clef, time signature, etc.)
- How to follow and read the vocal line in their music
- How solfege and rhythm relate to repertoire. (Director provides scaffolding by writing in solfege and rhythm for singers.)
Performance/interpersonal skills: Singers will learn…
- To perform with good posture
- How to use facial expression to convey meaning
- Performance etiquette including walking onstage, maintaining professional composure and watching the conductor while onstage
- How to be a respectful audience member
- To have patience with their peers and themselves
- To respect the artistic value of every student
- That making music is fun!
