Cornwall Youth Training Choir for KS3 singers develops musical skills learnt in CCC, while providing a supported stepping stone to CYC. CYTC repertoire is chosen carefully to build on what singers already know and adding new skills such as singing with sheet music. One of the pieces they have learnt recently is The Fox. Read why below...

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Song choice: The Fox

Arranged by Blake Richter and Taylor Shaeffer

Purchased from J.W. Pepper Sheet Music

 

We chose this piece:

 

• To develop the singers rhythmical awareness and ability. The song has relatively challenging rhythms, but falls nicely in with the natural shaping of the text and most importantly the rhythms repeat. I found once the first verse was taught with call and response the singers were able to sight read subsequent verses with a good deal of success. There are also body percussion rhythms, in unison and in canon. These body percussion rhythms are also on the beat and syncopated. 

• As a steady progression into part singing. The song is mainly unison, but in the chorus it breaks into 2-part harmony, predominantly in thirds, the tune is in the lower part with a soprano descant.

• To develop knowledge of staff notation. In this song, I start by recapping the overall layout of the sheet music. Then, I used the body percussion section you can see to go into reading the music in more depth. Quavers, half a beat in length, syncopated, so off the beat. Semiquavers, 1 = a quarter of a beat, we see them in groups of 4 which make a whole beat. We can feel that as a movement "running faster". As I teach the different sections of the song, I repeat musical vocabulary: unison, harmony, upper voices singing a descant, crescendo, diminuendo, forte, piano syncopated. Once a term is explained, we never shy away from it. 

• To sing confidently with fluency and expression. A piece like the Fox, that is energetic and playful, lends itself to developing young singers' performance skills. Folk singing is all about storytelling, so along with good diction we have to sell the story. We can do this with vocal colour, especially when being the narrator, the duck or the old woman. A good dynamic range. Facial expression and body language. 

 

Tips for working with KS3 singers:

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• Choice of repertoire is the most important. You need to cover a range of styles and genres, but in each piece there needs to be something that "hooks" the singers whether it be familiarity, interesting topic or an exciting speed/dynamic range.

• In rehearsals, make sure you have enough pieces in a variety of styles and genres to keep energy, interest and focus. 

• Always have at least a couple of pieces that you can incorporate movement/choreography. This works well to improve performance skills, but it can als be a collaborative exercise with your singers, so they feel that they have ownership and pride in their performances.

• Opportunities for solo work within warm ups and repertoire. This builds confidence and vocal progression. 

• Explain the schedule for your rehearsal, including break times and do your best to stick to it.  

• Provide rehearsal aids to encourage work to be done in between rehearsals.