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Voices Within

Week 1 | Planning Session and Pre-Assessment

• Training session with participating teachers and artists
• Coordinate curriculum and thematic planning
• Administer student pre-program assessment tools

Week 2 | Program Introduction

• Students introduced to artistic team and program
• Learn basic framework and structure of a song

Week 3 | Free Association Writing

• Class-wide free-writing exercises
• Individual listening exercises
• Discussion of imagery and feelings related to music

Week 4 | Rhythm/Beat

• Group formations occur based on similar subjects
• Groups decide upon four lines to set to music
• Groups start to put verse to rhythmic settings

Week 5 | Style/Form 

• Explore repetition, contrast, variation, and rhythm
• Set rhythmic verse to melodic lines
• Students record their rhythmic/melodic lines

Week 6 | First Performance of Song

• Artistic team performs each song for the groups
• Groups revise first draft: text, melodies, rhythm, etc.
• Groups discuss performance techniques

Week 7 | Continue Revisions/Rewrites

• Artistic team and groups practice revised versions
• Revise, edit, and finalize shape of song
• Artistic team sets harmonic accompaniment to songs

Week 8 | Dress Rehearsal

• Music Director Grant Gershon advises groups
• Groups practice singing and staging techniques
• Artistic team finalizes performance day details

Week 9 | Final Concert Performance

• Groups from each school meet their “co-composers” 
• Dress Rehearsal with schools and Chamber Singers
• Performance for schoolmates, family and friends

Week 10 | Program Evaluation and Follow Up

• Artistic Team Wrap-up visit to classroom 
• Administer post-program student assessment tools
• Administer post-program teacher/staff assessment tools

Teacher/School's Responsibilities

• Be an integral part of the planning process and available for initial site visit.
• Think creatively about how this program can fit into your academic curriculum.
• Work in between visits on specific exercises that you and the teaching artists have agreed upon. 
• Teacher will serve as the fourth artistic team member, actively participating in weekly classroom instructional sessions.
• We require that an administrator be assigned to the program, to attend the initial orientation meeting and serve as the second contact person for the Master Chorale staff during the residency.
• School will assist in funding portion of program costs.

Master Chorale's Responsibilities

• Provide artistic personnel and administrative support of the program.
• Be available for guidance, mentoring and serve as a resource to the school during the program.
• Provide printed materials and resources to supplement the program.
• Collaborate with teachers to customize the program curriculum for each class.