| 
Arranging
Patriotic Songs for Chorus
High School Chorus
Objective
•
Students
create four-part choral arrangements of a patriotic song.
National
Standard
4B.
Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines:
Students arrange pieces for voices or instruments other than those
for which the pieces were written in ways that preserve or enhance
the expressive effect of the music.
Materials
•
Several
choral arrangements of “The Star-Spangled Banner”
or another patriotic song
•
Several
books of patriotic songs
•
Manuscript
paper
Prior
Knowledge and Experiences
•
Students
have discussed features of an arrangement of a patriotic song
they have sung.
•
Students
have studied music notation.
Procedures
1.
Introduce students to the melody only of a patriotic song of your
choice by playing it on the piano and having them sing it back
to you.
2.
Distribute the choral arrangements of the song. Discuss the arrangements
with students, having them compare the arrangers’ choices
and look for similarities and differences. Lead students to discover
the effect of many parts versus the effect of a single voice part.
Ask students why they think the arrangers made the choices they
made.
3.
Assign students a specific patriotic song to arrange for voices,
or have students peruse the patriotic song collection and ask
each student to choose one song to arrange.
4.
Have students create their own four-part choral arrangement of
the selected song. Depending on students’ individual ability,
they could sketch the arrangement or create and notate a complete
arrangement. Tell students to be ready to articulate the logic
of their choices when they submit their arrangements or plans.
Indicators
of Success
•
Students
create or plan patriotic song arrangements that are logically
crafted and expressive.
Follow-up
•
Have
students compare their arrangements, performing them in class,
if possible, and discuss the effectiveness of students’
choices in arranging.
From
Strategies for Teaching High School Chorus. Compiled and
edited by Randal Swiggum. Copyright 1998. MENC, Reston, VA.
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