Includes bibliographical references (pages 239-240).
Contents:
About the authors. Foreword -- Let's start at the very beginning. Organization - Communication - The choir handbook - Taking care of the little things - Chapter checklist -- Developing a professional mission statement. I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific! - Identifying strengths and weaknesses - Writing the plan - Implementing the plant -- Working with parents, principals, faculty, and statff. Working with parents - Creating a support system for the program with difficult parents - The principal/choir director relationship - Working with faculty and staff - Chapter checklist -- Managing the classroom. Classroom management pitfalls - Classroom management solutions - Training your students - The first ten days of school - Greeting the new ones - Rules, expectations, and procedures - Rehearsal plan - Preparation checklist - Chapter checklist -- The importance of the warm-up. Warm-up pitfalls - Warm-up solutions - An effective choral warm-up - Let the music making begin - Chapter checklist -- Teaching the components of singing. Posture - Breathing - Tone - Blend - Balance - Rhythm and timing - Pitch and tuning - Harmony skills - Diction - Dynamics - Phrasing and expression - Sytle - Articulation - Attacks and releases - Musical terms and symbols - Chapter checklist -- Music literacy. Music literacy pitfalls - Music literacy solutions - Music literacy overview - Pitch identification - Rhythm identification - Practice, practice, practice - Chapter checklist -- Effective rehearsal strategies. Rehearsal strategy pitfalls - Rehearsal strategy solutions - Organizing the rehearsal - Planning an effective rehearsal - Short-and long-range lesson plans - The first rehearsals - What is the song about? - Other rehearsal strategies - Chapter checklist -- Quality repertoire is the key to success. Repertoire pitfalls - Repertoire solutions - Repertoire enriches lives - Selecting appropriate repertoire - Commissioning repertoire and composing - Recommended repertoire lists - Chapter checklist -- The importance of appropriate assessment. Assessment pitfalls - Assessment solutions - What's the big idea? - Let's talk about grading set-up - Creating a safe environment for individual singing - Student performance skills (SPS) - Student musical understanding - Feedback sheets - Student-centered assessment - Chapter checklist -- Building student leadership. The difference between power and ownership - How to begin the selection process - After the selection process - Team building - Taking care of the "customers" - Ten questions and five principles - Integrity plus discipline equals success -- A myriad, plethora, and cornucopia of other things necessary for success. Creating a sense of identity in your program - Starting a booster organization - Fundraising - Traveling and the "five P's" - Schoolwide scheduling - Technology in the choir room - Private lessons - T-shirts and other apparel - Chapter checklist -- Continuing education and professional development. Your work has just begun - Get involved: serve, present, and perform - Self-study and reflection - Stay involved in your craft - Share professional goals with your students - Chapter checklist -- Work and quality-of-life issues. Four areas of focus - A famouis football coach - Your action steps - Final thoughts -- Acknowledgments -- Appendices. Appendix I. Life of a choir director - Appendix B. Timeline for the academic year - Appendix C. The choir handbook - Appendix D. Parent profile form - Appendix E. SolfeĢge hand signs chart - Appendix F. Teaching inventory chart - Appendix G. Music diagnostic test - Appendix H. Rubics - Appendix I. Additional harmonic progressions and minor scale exercises. -- References -- About the authors.
Summary:
"Habits of a Successful Choir Director presents effective teaching principles and provides a practical approach to everyday issues choir directors face. Building on the successful Habits series, Eric Wilkinson and Scott Rush have created a practical guide to all aspects of a successful choral program...This is a comprehensive book that will exponentially inspire as teaching skills grow. It will serve as a constant and essential companion throughout the career of any choir director" -- Back cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.