Honor Baker
Junior High Choir Unit Plan Fall 2023
8 weeks – 24 lessons – 49 minutes per class
Central Focus Statement for this unit –
Students will apply rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, and tonal principles to a concert program after 8
weeks of rehearsal patterns. Students will internalize pitch intervals in G major, G minor, E minor, and
Eb major scales utilizing daily solfege, jersild, and melodic practice.
Repertoire for concert cycle -
1. GM - Hope is the Thing With Feathers – Penny Rodriguez – 3 pt mixed
2. Gm - Windy Nights – Cynthia Gray – 3 pt mixed
3. Gm - Hitch A Ride – Mary Donnelly – 3 pt mixed
4. Em - Rapsodia Espanola No. 1 – Judith Herrington – 2 pt
5. Em - S’vivon – arr. Nancy Grundahl – 3 pt mixed
6. EbM - Dark Brown is the River – Audrey Snyder – 2 pt
7. EbM - Obwisana – arr. Mary Donnelly – 3 pt mixed
Concert Cycle Dates -
Monday August 14-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of G Major (key of Hope is the Thing With Feathers) focusing on
melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in GM
• 10 minutes- Write in solfege for first verse and chorus of Hope is the Thing With Feathers (8 mins
in groups/pairs then 2 mins go over all together)
• 21 minutes- Work through first verse and chorus
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Wednesday August 16-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of G Major (key of Hope is the Thing With Feathers) focusing on
melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in GM
• 16 minutes- Run through first verse, chorus, and ending of Hope is.
• 15 minutes- Run through Windy Nights once, then
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Friday August 18-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of G minor (key of Windy Nights) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Gm
• 10 minutes- Write in solfege for first verse and chorus of Windy Nights (8 mins in groups/pairs
then 2 mins go over all together)
• 21 minutes- Work through first verse and chorus
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
• Monday August 21-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of G minor (key of Hitch A Ride) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Gm
• 21 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Hitch A Ride
• 10 minutes- Run Windy Nights and Hope
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
• Wednesday August 23-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of G minor (key of Windy Nights) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Gm
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Windy Nights
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, Run, and do sectional work on Hitch A Ride
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, Run, and do sectional work on Hope
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Friday August 25-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of E minor (key of Rapsodia Espanola No. 1) focusing on melodic
solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Em
• 10 minutes- Write in solfege for first verse and chorus of Rapsodia (8 mins in groups/pairs then 2
mins go over all together)
• 21 minutes- Work through first verse and chorus
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Monday August 28-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of E minor (key of Rapsodia) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Em
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Rapsodia
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Hope
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Hitch
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Wednesday August 30-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of E minor (key of S’vivon) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Em
• 10 minutes- Write in solfege for first verse and chorus of S’vivon (8 mins in groups/pairs then 2
mins go over all together)
• 21 minutes- Work through first verse and chorus
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Friday September 1-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of E minor (key of S’vivon) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Em
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on S’vivon
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Windy Nights
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Hitch
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Monday September 4- IN DEPTH LESSON
Time needed: 49 minutes
Materials needed: Choral folders and scores, piano, sight singing books
Learning objectives: Accurate application of and execution of solfege syllables in Dark Brown is the River.
Assessment: Students will write in solfege syllables in groups/pairs, then will reconvene for us to go over
the correct solfege syllables as a class.
Personal objectives: Run smooth transitions between each subsection of rehearsal.
Procedures:
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Eb Major (key of Dark Brown Is The River) focusing on melodic
solfege
o Dee Dee Dee, Doo, Doo, Doo, Dah…
o Down to the bottom of the sea we go…
o Pizza is nice, can’t believe it’s only 5 dollars a slice…
o One bottle pop…
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in EbM (from sight singing book)
• 10 minutes- Write in solfege for first verse and chorus of Dark Brown is the River (8 mins in
groups/pairs then 2 mins go over all together)
• 21 minutes- Work through first verse and chorus
o Everyone run part 1 chorus on solfege 2x through
o Students on part 2 run part 2 chorus on solfege 3x through
o Re-address part 1 chorus on solfege 1x through
o Try running both parts on chorus on solfege together, then addressing any pitch/interval
issues and running again 2x
o Everyone on part 1 first verse (initial melody) on solfege, then address any issue
pitches/intervals
o Students on part 2 run part 2 first verse to that point on solfege, then address any issue
pitches/intervals
o Try running both parts on verse 1 on solfege together, then addressing any pitch/interval
issues and running again 2x
o Run everything from beginning to end of first chorus on solfege 2x through
Closure: 1 minute – closure and announce practice assignment
Wednesday September 6-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Eb Major (key of Dark Brown River) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in EbM
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Dark Brown River
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on S’vivon
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Hope
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Friday September 8-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Eb Major (key of Obwisana) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in EbM
• 10 minutes- Write in solfege for first verse and chorus of Obwisana (8 mins in groups/pairs then
2 mins go over all together)
• 21 minutes- Work through first verse and chorus
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Monday September 11-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Eb Major (key of Obwisana) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in EbM
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Obwisana
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on S’vivon
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Hitch
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Wednesday September 13-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Em (key of Rapsodia) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Em
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Rapsodia
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Dark Brown
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Windy
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Friday September 15-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of G Major (key of Hope) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in G
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Hope
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Windy
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on S’vivon
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Monday September 18-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Gm (key of Hitch) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Gm
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Hitch
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Dark Brown
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Rapsodia
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Wednesday September 20-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Eb Major (key of Obwisana) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in EbM
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Obwisana
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on S’vivon
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Hope
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Friday September 22-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Gm (key of Windy) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Gm
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Windy
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Hitch
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Rapsodia
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Monday September25-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Em (key of S’vivon) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Em
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on S’vivon
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Dark Brown
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Obwisana
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Wednesday September 27-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of GM (key of Hope) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in GM
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Hope
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Windy
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Hitch
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Friday September 29-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of Em (key of Rapsodia) focusing on melodic solfege
• 10 minutes- Solfege work, Jersild and melodic examples in Em
• 11 minutes- Run and do sectional work on Rapsodia
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on S’vivon
• 10 minutes- Retonicize, run, and do sectional work on Dark Brown
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Monday October 2-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of GM (key of Hope) focusing on melodic solfege
• 7 minutes- Run Hope is the thing
• 7 minutes- Retonicize and run Windy Nights
• 7 minutes- Retonicize and run Hitch A Ride
• 7 minutes- Retonicize and run Rapsodia
• 7 minutes- Retonicize and run S’vivon
• 6 minutes- Retonicize and run Dark Brown
• 1 minute – closure and practice assignment
Wednesday October 4-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of G Major (key of Hope) focusing on melodic solfege
• 25 minutes- Run the whole program in concert order.
1. GM - Hope is the Thing With Feathers – Penny Rodriguez – 3 pt mixed
2. Gm - Windy Nights – Cynthia Gray – 3 pt mixed
3. Gm - Hitch A Ride – Mary Donnelly – 3 pt mixed
4. Em - Rapsodia Espanola No. 1 – Judith Herrington – 2 pt
5. Em - S’vivon – arr. Nancy Grundahl – 3 pt mixed
6. EbM - Dark Brown is the River – Audrey Snyder – 2 pt
7. EbM - Obwisana – arr. Mary Donnelly – 3 pt mixed
Friday October 6-
• 2 minutes for students to get folders and sit in seats.
• 5-minute warm-up in key of G Major (key of Hope) focusing on melodic solfege
• 25 minutes- Run the whole program in concert order in auditorium.
1. GM - Hope is the Thing With Feathers – Penny Rodriguez – 3 pt mixed
2. Gm - Windy Nights – Cynthia Gray – 3 pt mixed
3. Gm - Hitch A Ride – Mary Donnelly – 3 pt mixed
4. Em - Rapsodia Espanola No. 1 – Judith Herrington – 2 pt
5. Em - S’vivon – arr. Nancy Grundahl – 3 pt mixed
6. EbM - Dark Brown is the River – Audrey Snyder – 2 pt
7. EbM - Obwisana – arr. Mary Donnelly – 3 pt mixed
Sunday October 8- Concert Day!
Explanation of chosen language function –
I chose analyze as my language function because over the course of this 24 lesson unit, students will
practice and perform daily sight reading on solfege syllables, as well as write in solfege syllables for each
piece of music from this concert cycle when given “do”.
Informal Assessment Strategies –
Once every 2 weeks throughout the concert cycle (4 times total) students will be asked to submit
anonymous feedback on what they need from the next few weeks of choir rehearsals. 3 example options
of new rehearsal techniques will be listed for the student to chose from, or to write in their own
suggestion in an area provided.
Formal Assessment Strategies –
The week before the concert date, students will be assessed on their jersild patterns, solfege sight
reading, and performance execution of the concert repertoire. These assessments will last the 3 class
periods the week before the concert. Rubric attached below.
Students will also be formally assessed through weekly practice assignments. Two of the assignments of
the week will be on their own (ex: mm. 1-20 of Obwisana), but one practice assignment each week will
be a formal written assessment that they will physically or virtually (email) bring back to me. An example
of this could be a 5 question guided assignment asking leading questions about the performance
practice of Obwisana and the culture surrounding the piece.
Additional Informal Assessments –
Multiple times a lesson, I will check in with the students using a thumbs up, down, or neutral system to
check how they felt or where they’re at with a technique or song.
Choral Formal Assessment Rubric
Sight Reading solfege and jersild patterns
Rhythm 5 4 3 2 1
Pitch 5 4 3 2 1
Interval accuracy 5 4 3 2 1
Time signature accuracy 5 4 3 2 1
Key signature accuracy 5 4 3 2 1
Interpretation
Dynamics 5 4 3 2 1
Tempo 5 4 3 2 1
Phrasing 5 4 3 2 1
Technique
Flexibility 5 4 3 2 1
Breathing 5 4 3 2 1
Vowel Placement 5 4 3 2 1
Diction 5 4 3 2 1
Pronunciation 5 4 3 2 1
Accuracy
Articulation 5 4 3 2 1
Note Accuracy 5 4 3 2 1
Rhythmic accuracy 5 4 3 2 1
Total: 80 possible points
