Planning a Summer Choral Camp? Thinking of hosting a Choir Recruitment Workshop? Looking for some fun engagers or warm-ups to spice up the end of the school year or season?  This episode is for you! After getting a listener question for “my fav choir stuff for summer camp” and after teaching a MUED methods class on “classroom management,” I figured, this is the perfect time to create a solo episode. 

This episode shares my “formula” and some of my favorite ideas. It starts with “What do I want the student to learn?” and “How can we get to there together?” I then break it down into:  

Below are some of my trade and true favorite hooks, transfers, practices, and application routines - borrow them, adapt them, change them, do whatever you need to connect with YOUR singers, YOUR purpose, and YOUR musical image - then let me know how it goes! Have fun! 

Songs features in this episode: 

Closer - Chainsmokers ft Halsey

Hold My Hand - Jess Glenn

Bim Bom (little body percussion warm-up song)

Like I’m Gonna Lose You - Meghan Trainor

Swedish Counting Song (with optional snaps, claps, and stand/sit)

The Decades Blast: 

Headvoice - stole this from Arreon Harley Emerson - Kirk Franklin, Revolution

And scooping up to it - Drop it Like its Hot - Snoop

Eh vowel - Staying alive - Bee Gees

Ah and Oh - September - Earth Wind and Fire

Oo and oh and Ah - Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

Uh and Ah - Tom’s Diner - Suzane Vega

Other quick teaching vocal tech options:

He Has Done Marvelous Things - Maria Ellis! 

Fine by Me

Color (both Evan Powers) 

Some of my fav “teach in a day songs” - in no order, just as I thought of them:  

ROUNDS: 

Umoja - Zanaida Robles

Hebrew Melody

Be Like a Bird - Abbie Betinis

Yonder Come Day

Freedom is Calling 

Asante Sana

Ipharadisi

This Pretty Planet

Alleluia Round

OCTAVOS: 

I Believe - Mark Miller

More Love - Mark Miller

Two African Pieces - arr Andrea Ramsey

Three Things - Ryan Main

Two Shaker Canons - Ron Jeffers

Feel Good - arr. Baker

Storm is Passing Over - arr. Baker

Music of Life - B E Boykin

Ubi Caritas - Victor Johnson

Turn the World Around - arr. Mark Hayes

Dream Keeper - Rollo Dillworth 

I Started Out Singing - Jocelyn Hagen

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E-_rBi6wj8k 

The Music (ed) Matters Podcast is sponsored by our friends over at Perform International. Thinking of going on tour domestically or abroad, want to take a solo tour, or team up with a dynamic festival? PI offers the best educationally sound and culturally significant experiences! Check them out, and tell them Emmy sent you :) Perform-International.com  

Order your copy of “The Business of Choir”: https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/the-business-of-choir-book-g10713 or check out the website, businessofchoir.com. 

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**Show music originally written by Mr. Todd Monsell

**Episode infographic photo by Donnie Biggs/Fairfax County Public Schools