What if you sang with over 2000 people the same song, at the same exact time, without ever meeting the people you are singing with or having to leave the comfort of your house?
Eric Whitacre has revolutionized this idea and shows people how this started and the culminating result.
Instructions:
-Watch the video here: http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html
In the comment section...
-Write two impressions/thoughts you had on the video.
-Write your answer to this question: Do you think that is something we, as a middle school chorus, could do in the future with other schools? Why or why not?
Happy watching!
Guest
Happy February! The weather has been pretty wonderful as of late.
The Superbowl is upon us and despite the fact that our beloved Patriots are not competing, we all know that the most important aspect of the Superbowl are the musical performances, correct? ;-)
Here is what I want you to do:
1)I want you to read through the list of Superbowl National Anthem performances
Anthem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_anthem_performers_at_the_Super_Bowl
2) Find/Watch an act that you a) don't know that much about or b) never heard of before and you can find their performances on YouTube or Vimeo or another outlet
3) Write down the names of the anthem/year, and three opinions on the performance (stage presence, breath control, etc.) and whether or not you liked this performance or not.
Happy watching!
Guest
Hi all,
I so enjoyed listening to your song choices and reading why these songs matter to you. Music is an important part of our lives and I hope you all get a chance to check out what others shared; you may find a new favorite song or two!
For the December blog post, this is what I want you to do: I want you to do one thing for someone else that makes their day brighter, makes their life easier or simply brings a smile to their face. What can you do, in the season of giving, that will be a positive contribution? Emptying the dishwasher without being asked? Tell someone how much they mean to you?
Post what you do in the comment section and take time to read other people's responses.
I am grateful for all your hard work the past four months! I look forward to our concert, as it is a culmination of all your accomplishments in our class.
Thanks so much and I look forward to reading your acts of kindness!
Guest
What song gets you passionate about singing? What song creates joy in your heart, makes you thankful, excited about music?
Please find a YouTube clip of the song that you just love (please refrain from posting inappropriate material…I do moderate the comments)! Respond in the comments below with the link to your video and three reasons why this song just makes you feel good when listening to it.
Here is mine! This song has beautiful, intense harmonies, a soaring soprano part, a deep and pensive alto and bass part and a joyous tenor part....all by using ONE word! Take a listen :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeQu-te2fgk
Guest
The human voice is amazing. It can shout, it can whisper, it can speak, it can SING. But why can’t we sing two notes at the same time? Is it an impossible feat that only a select few in the world can do?
Not anymore, according to Beardyman (yes, that is his name, you may laugh). Please watch the following video and read the questions I have posed.
Please respond to the questions at the bottom of the page through the comment section, written out or you can e-mail me the responses at [email protected].
http://www.ted.com/talks/beardyman_the_polyphonic_me?language=en
Question 1: What is his accomplishment?
Question 2: Do you think this is important in choral singing, to be able to have one person sing more than one note at a time? Why or why not?
Guest
Please read the following article. Then read the questions at the bottom and answer the questions in the comment section, an e-mail to me, or a hard copy of your written responses.
The Sound of Learning: 14 Reasons Everyone Should Take Music Lessons - Metropolitan School of the Arts
1. INCREASE YOUR IQ According to an article from The Telegraph online magazine, “New research suggests that regularly playing an instrument changes the shape and power of the brain and may be used in therapy to improve cognitive skills.” There is continually more evidence that musicians have organizationally and functionally different brains compared to non-musicians, especially in the areas of the brain used in processing and playing music. Some studies show that playing an instrument can increase your IQ up to 7 points. 2. INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF YOUR MEMORY Research has shown that both listening to music and playing a musical instrument stimulate your brain and can increase your memory. A study was done in which 22 children from age 3 to 4 years old were given either singing lessons or keyboard lessons. A control group of 15 children received no music lessons at all. Both groups participated in the same preschool activities. The results showed that preschoolers who had weekly keyboard lessons improved their spatial-temporal skills 34 percent more than the other children. Not only that, but researchers said that the effect lasted long-term. 3. INCREASE MATHEMATICAL ABILITY Reading music requires counting notes and rhythms and can help your math skills. Also, learning music theory includes many mathematical aspects. Studies have shown that students who play instruments or study the arts are often better in math and achieve higher grades in school than students who don’t. 4. IMPROVE READING COMPREHENSION
According to a study published in the journal Psychology of Music, “Children exposed to a multi-year program of music involving training in increasingly complex rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills display superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared with their non-musically trained peers.” It’s not surprising to hear results like that because music involves constant reading and comprehension. When you see black and white notes on a page, you have to recognize what the note name is and translate it to a finger/slide position. At the same time, you also have to read what rhythms the notes are arranged in and force your tongue to produce the correct pattern 5. BUILD SELF CONFIDENCE
Overcoming musical challenges that you thought you’d never quite master can give you a great sense of pride. When you first start learning how to play an instrument, it seems like just holding a note for a couple beats or hitting a high pitch is an amazing accomplishment. Many small successes will eventually breed long term, innate self-confidence. 6. REDUCE STRESS & BE HAPPY! Listening to and playing music can promote stimulation to areas of the brain that promote increased joy and decreased stress. During the past decade, the investigation correlation between music and the brain has proven that music can modulate activity in parts of the brain that are known to be crucially involved in emotion. The potential of music to modulate activity in these structures has important implications for the use of music in the treatment chronic stress. 7. ENHANCE HAND EYE COORDINATION
The art of playing an instrument requires a lot of hand-eye coordination. By reading musical notes on a page, your brain subconsciously must convert that note into specific motor patterns while also adding breathing and rhythm to the mix. 8. LEARN PERSEVERANCE & SELF DISCIPLINE
Learning to play an instrument takes time and effort, which teaches patience and perseverance. Musicians have to work through difficult sections of music multiple times in a row before they can play it correctly. Practicing often and working on the hard parts requires perseverance. The best musicians in the world are masters of discipline. 9. INCREASE COOPERATION Cooperation is an important aspect of being successful in life. Playing an instrument requires you to work with others to make music. In band and orchestra settings you must learn how to cooperate with the people around you. Also, in order for a group to make beautiful music, each player and section must learn how to listen to each other and play together. 10. LEARN RESPONSIBILITY Maintenance and care are very important in keeping an instrument in working condition. Each instrument has different procedures to keep it functioning properly, but most instruments need cleaning and some form of oiling/greasing. In addition to maintenance responsibilities, there are other aspects such as remembering music events (like rehearsals and performances) and making time to practice. 11. LEARN CULTURAL HISTORY Music reflects history and gives us insight on what it was like to live in the era and geography of its creation. Each piece of music has a unique history that is explored upon learning it. The more diverse your musical knowledge is, the more informed you are about a variety of cultures, eras and geographic influences that shape the art form as we know it today. 12. BOOST LISTENING SKILLS Playing an instrument requires you to listen very carefully. You have to learn to hear when you’re playing a wrong note in order to correct yourself. Tuning your instrument means hearing if the pitch you’re playing is high (sharp) or low (flat). When playing in an ensemble, you have to listen for the melody and play softer if you’re the supporting part (accompaniment). Training listening skills teaches us how to be reflective and thoughtful. 13. ENHANCE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Air is one of the key components in making music. In order to play music correctly when playing an instrument (or sing music with your voice), you’ll need to take huge breaths and learn how to expel the air properly to make the desired sound. Breathing exercises are highly recommended for musicians, and they can strengthen your respiratory system. 14. MAKE LIFELONG FRIENDS When you become a musician or a vocalist, you become a part of a bigger community. Not only is it fun to play music that you enjoy, but it feels wonderful to join together with others to create a unified sound. Friendships and relationships are strengthened through common interests and artists typically find that their most meaningful (and longest lasting) relationships are found through those they meet through the sharing their art form. "The Sound of Learning: 14 Reasons Everyone Should Take Music Lessons - Metropolitan School of the Arts." Metropolitan School of the Arts. MSA Alexandria, 27 July 2014. Web. 02 Sept. 2015
Questions To Respond To
Please write your full name and the class block you meet in the comment box
Question 1: Please list three of the reasons given why one should be involved in music lessons (chorus, band, orchestra, etc.)
Question 2: When the article refers to an instrument, what would you consider to be your instrument in chorus?
Question 3: Were there any reasons, that were presented in the article, as to why you signed up for chorus? Please don't respond with "I don't know"!
Guest
Hi all!
There will be a blog post that is updated at the start of each month (ex. Sep 1, October, 1, etc.) that will require you to either watch a video or read an article, and answer 1-3 questions. The answers are due at the end of each month on either the 28, 29, 30 or 31, depending on the month and regardless if it's a weekend. This is part of your "evaluation" grade.
Guest
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