Energizers from MS/JH teachers on Choralnet.

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1. Singdown... split into 3 or 4 large groups, give everyone 5 minutes
to come up with a song that has the word... (insert word here) in it
(you can start with something simple like "love," and then get more
obscure, even use categories, etc. Go around and each group sings a
song (any group that has that song on their list has to cross it out, so each song
can only be "sung" once) and continue until only one group has a song left.
2. Name that Tune using obscure songs or classical repertoire or choral
pieces of note
3. To split people into groups, it's often fun to have them pick a song
name out of a hat (rather than a number) and have them find the rest of
their group by singing the song loudly.
4. Have each group pick out of a hat the names of 2 unrelated nursery
rhymes/fairy tales/children's stories, and any number of lines from
songs (perhaps even obscure famous quotes) and give them 5 minutes to
encorporate these into a skit.
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There are related ChoralNet resources:
choralnet.org > Rehearsal > General rehearsal > Choir Games
choralnet.org > Rehearsal > General rehearsal > Icebreaker Games
(Other resources there may also be of interest: how to make choir fun,
what to do the first week with a new choir, etc.)
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For 1 suggestion, how about having the students in groups or 6 or so or
even do this as an entire group "thing". Have a subject such as
'favorite things to do'. They have a conversation, but they can only
talk in song titles. They cannot use words from a song, it must be a
song title. With the group you will have, you should get titles from
all realms of music.
Another suggestion, have 4 students make up a song....but each person in the
group can only sing 1 word at a time. Each person has to use a word in
conjunction with the word sung before him or her. Use a familiar children's
melody that you or someone else can accompany them on a piano with. It will be
funny. Give them a subject....like their favorite vacation spot, or a song about
their school mascot (even funnier if they are from different schools!), favorite
food. Good Luck!
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From the moment the kids arrive in your rehearsal room, they must be made to
feel the importance of each other. Throughout the rehearsal I call on someone,

have them stand up on their chair, and ask them to tell the group how happy they
are to be there, and encourage them to express how they are feeling about ...a
certain phrase, text..etc. It really works to give the kids the chance to share their
insights througout the entire rehearsal.
Be enthusiastic, patient and don't let on that they stink. Also if you were to let
them feel you respect and expect enough of them to challenge them with some
quality stuff. There are tons of things that are terrific for men's and women's
choirs.
Unison aria type pieces are terrific. Two part pieces are also available that are
challenging and worth while, they might learn something.
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Make sure YOU'RE having fun. (And showing it.)
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Great Literature is the most fulfilling and "fun" to do. Teach them the
fundamentals of singing and reading music. When they have skills and feel
successful, they will have more a rewarding experience that feels like fun.
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Carl, perhaps you should give the reluctant choir members a choice of some
popular song they want to sing. Maybe make it a yearly tradition for graduation
or something. Is there a good reason your choir are segregated by sex? I think
that limits your repertoire and the social aspect as well. Perhaps you should
have elections for choir officers or form some kind of committee so that the kids
feel like they have a say in what goes on. Of course, in order for that to work
you'd have to be willing to hand over some control!
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I always found that by avoiding "fun" and striving for discipline and excellence
was a far greater reward for high school students than having a good time.
Maybe the "fun" can come from winning competitions, taking trips and doing lots
of concerts, even in a local nursing home.
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Please get in touch with Joe Liles JLiles@spebsqsa.org . He will
give you the address of the Sweet Adeline organization and you will
have the finest teaching tools, for both of your choral groups, that
exist in the business of choral music. There is no greater fun in
singing. Ask Mr. Liles for the Barbershop Polecat materials that can

get your men started. Trust me! Once I did what I'm suggesting to
you. The results were wonderful.
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There are lots of "things" you can do which help:
1. Choir tours and competitions.
2.Hosting visiting choirs (especially when your students house the
choir for a night).
3. Have small groups sing for certain events or holidays {i.e. excellent fundraiser
on Feb. 14 when guys want to impress their gal by paying a few bucks to have a
quartet serenade her in class.
4. Sing repertoire they like.
5. Team building exercises which bind the group together.
6. Singing at events during normal school time (i.e. a nursing home or
elementary school)
I feel the most important aspect is for the director to build a concept
of excellence among the students by:
a) not waste any time talking when they should be singing
b) maintain high standards of performance and behavior
c) work hard to achieve those high standards
d) get excited when a standard is reached (with some kind of reward)
If the director gets excited, then the students will get excited,
especially if they worked hard to achieve a goal, thereby making the
director excited.
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They will respond to your "passion and love" for the art of choral singing. Just let
yourself go, and get totally crazy about the power of choral singing. They have to
be successful right away. I hope you play piano...you will need to win them over
with your ability to "do it all" from the very beginning. Good luck.
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Do easy music. Get them to feel success as a singer. Build their confidence.
They will become more proud of what they can do and thus, have more "fun".
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Since not all of them are into choral performance, you could make it a
combination skills/performance/listening class. Just about everybody responds
to music in some form. If you use the time for solfege and notational work, it
becomes more like a regular class, thus more familiar and less self conscious for
some (men?). Ask them if they want to concentrate on learning songs or

learning how to read - then they have some ownership of the content, tho of
course you'll ultimately determine the structure and content. Controlled
listening/musical video can be a great addition too, as long as specific learning
objectives are assessed. Use pop songs for notational material - you "take
dictation" from their favorite hit, as you teach them simple melodic/rhythmic
dictation, etc.
A pure choral experience is maybe not right for some of these people, but then
as you say you identify those who will be potentially good choir members.
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Get them singing popular music - at least the music from the last 50 years. We
have a good variety of a cappella pop music, which may be a bit challenging for
kids who don't want to be there, but sometimes challenge is a good thing!
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Listen and then learn to sing South African, African-American and Latin
American songs. I've seen that kids respond to rhythmical things that they can
sink their bodies into (even if they don't really move) and also many of these folk
songs or hymns are call-and-response, and easy for those new to part singing to
hook into.
I've had great success with Oh Freedom (Leck); Siyahamba, and Ipharadisi, all
South African.
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What about:
Dividing them into small groups of three or four, assigning a short song (either
they choose or you choose) that 3. Have small group they not only learn
(unison) but also must put actions (choreography?) to it, and perform for each
other.
Have them bring in songs (pre-approved by you, of course) on C.D.'s that they
like, to which they must have the words already typed out. Xerox the words or put
on overhead for the entire class for a sing-a-long as the C.D. plays.
Do speaking choruses: speaking might be more comfortable at first for those that
have never done such a thing as group singing. Compose your own (or rap?)
rhythm with words, write it out or do it by rote: divide the group into half, or thirds
or (whatever) and do a call and answer speaking (rap) type thing. It might have
some solos for the brave.
Do some snapping or clapping with it.

Similar to above: Have students find poetry they like and create some rhythms to
it themselves for group speaking. Have them teach it to the group. (Or have
them put it on a tape so that you can learn it first, then play it for everyone. This
is especially good if students are too shy to get up in front of the class.)
Do any play instruments well enough to perform? Have them bring them in on
Fridays, and insist they play songs on their guitar/clarinet/piano/sax (whatever) to
which everyone can sing along with them. Words must be provided.
Find some leaders in the group who would like to teach a song to the group.
As a project, have them sing a song on a tape at home alone, that you have
done in the class and make a contest out of it. You select the top six tapes
(American Idol imitation - now the rage - but with tapes, not live.) and play them
for the class without letting them know who it is. Vote for 3rd, second and first
place! The tapes would be in lieu of doing it live if they are too shy to sing alone
in front of people. If they are not, well, then, do it live! Or, invite the top three to
perform live, a cappella if need be.
Food Rewards: these are always good. Put a few candy bars on the
piano/desk/music stand/whatever and ask for volunteers. If they ask "what for"
don't tell them. Then, when you get the two or three volunteers, JUST GIVE
THEM the candy bars! (Simply for volunteering without even having to do
anything.) The next day (or day later) do it again. You'll get more volunteers, but
this time . . . not so easy. They will have to "do" something for it . . . . i.e. sing a
passage from a song, the rap, the rhythm, or - - - if that is too extreme, have the
volunteer be the "leader" to pick TWO OTHER people to do the phrase or stanza
with them. They will usually pick someone they know can sing well, even if they
don't LIKE them! Then, you will also know who the good singers are and begin
to form a seating chart based on the strong vs. weaker singers.
As you do all of this, sneak in a song or two that you want them to learn, even if
only a round or partner song to get them singing harmony in some way.