When I first started teaching at Bednarcik, I found myself with choirs full of students who were terrified of people hearing them sing. Obviously, this was a problem. I figured that the best way to overcome a fear of singing was to sing, so I started doing weekly "vocal checks". Each week students will sing a VERY short section of music or musical exercise for the class. As long as students do their best; and give a loud, confident sound, they get the full 10 points for the assignment.
In addition to helping build singers' confidence, the vocal checks serve as a great way for me to check in on whether students really understand how to sing a certain passage or concept, or are just keeping up with the class. It allows me to adjust the pace of rehearsal because I really know how well we really know the music. It also allows me to adjust the seating to achieve the best choral sound.
And, after students are used to it, it's kind of fun.
Students who are terrified of singing out loud can "pass" on the vocal check if they need to. No pressure. They've got a "zero" in the gradebook for that check until they come to me and schedule a 15 minute private voice lesson outside of class to make those points up.
In addition to helping build singers' confidence, the vocal checks serve as a great way for me to check in on whether students really understand how to sing a certain passage or concept, or are just keeping up with the class. It allows me to adjust the pace of rehearsal because I really know how well we really know the music. It also allows me to adjust the seating to achieve the best choral sound.
And, after students are used to it, it's kind of fun.
Students who are terrified of singing out loud can "pass" on the vocal check if they need to. No pressure. They've got a "zero" in the gradebook for that check until they come to me and schedule a 15 minute private voice lesson outside of class to make those points up.