Dr. Michael Kester-Haynes

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 16 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Expressive Interpretation

Grade 7 choir unit analyzing how dynamics, tempo, phrasing, articulation, and diction shape interpretation by comparing performances using musical evidence.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 15 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Revising Vocal Music

Grade 7 choir unit on revising created vocal music using criteria and feedback to improve accuracy, singability, and expressive intent through documented changes.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 14 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Notating & Recording Music

Grade 7 choir unit on documenting melodies with standard notation and recording tools, adding simple drones or chord tones to support and preserve musical ideas.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 13 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Organizing Musical Form

Grade 7 choir unit on organizing melodic ideas into AB, ABA, or verse–chorus form to express mood, story, or musical intent through structure.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 12 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Melody Creation

Grade 7 choir unit on composing short melodies in a set key and meter using mostly stepwise motion, simple leaps, clear phrases, and strong melodic endings.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 11 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Improvising Vocal Patterns

Grade 7 choir unit on vocal improvisation using expanded pitch sets and varied rhythms to create expressive patterns that match mood and style.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 10 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Reading Vocal Notation

Grade 7 choir unit focused on reading melodies with staff notation, solfege, and rhythm syllables to build pitch accuracy, steady tempo, and sight-singing confidence.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 9 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Unison Performance

Grade 7 choir unit performing unison repertoire with accurate pitch, rhythm, diction, expression, ensemble focus, and professional performance etiquette.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 8 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Rehearsal Strategies

Grade 7 choir unit using sectionals, repetition, and feedback to improve blend, balance, intonation, rhythm, expression, and effective rehearsal habits.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 7 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Dynamics & Phrasing

Grade 7 choir unit using dynamics and phrasing to shape musical lines, connecting tone, diction, and text to expressive meaning and vocal style.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 6 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Ensemble Blend & Balance

Build ensemble blend and balanced tone in Grade 7 choir through listening, vowel matching, dynamics, intonation, and targeted rehearsal strategies.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 5 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Rhythm & Meter Accuracy

Strengthen rhythmic precision and meter awareness in Grade 7 choir through rhythm syllables, notation, solfege, and strategies that support musical form.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 4 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Pitch Accuracy & Solfege

Improve pitch accuracy in Grade 7 choir using solfege, steady tempo, and rehearsal strategies to build confident, in-tune ensemble singing.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 3 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Expanding Vocal Range

Explore comfortable range expansion with healthy vocal technique, linking pitch, form, and expression while respecting voice change in Grade 7 choir.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 2 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Healthy Technique Review

Refine posture, breathing, resonance, and vowel shape using healthy, age-appropriate technique while adapting safely to voice change in Grade 7 choir.

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Grade 7 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 1 (Grade 7 Vocal Music): Choir Routines & Collaboration

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Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 36 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Culminating Vocal Performance

Grade 8 choir culminating unit focused on leadership, musicianship, and professionalism, showcasing expressive, accurate singing and strong ensemble etiquette.

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Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 35 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Final Performance Preparation

8th grade choir unit refining final repertoire through feedback and recordings, building accuracy, expression, stylistic integrity, independence, and performance confidence.

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Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 34 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Purposeful Music Choices

8th grade choir unit analyzing how text, diction, tone, and style fit specific audiences, connecting repertoire choices to identity, purpose, and goals.

Paid-members only

Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 33 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Evaluating Ensemble Growth

8th grade choir unit evaluating ensemble growth using rubrics, recordings, and musical evidence to analyze intonation, blend, balance, expression, and style.

Paid-members only

Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 32 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Expressive Performance

8th grade choir unit performing with expressive intent and stylistic accuracy, building independent control of pitch, rhythm, diction, dynamics, tone, and stage presence.

Paid-members only

Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 31 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Student-Led Rehearsals

8th grade choir unit building leadership by guiding warm-ups and rehearsals, practicing professionalism, collaboration, feedback, and reflective growth.

Paid-members only

Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 30 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Refining Vocal Technique

8th grade choir unit improving stamina, diction, and resonance through posture, breath support, vowel unification, and reflective use of feedback and recordings.

Paid-members only

Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 29 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Advanced Sight-Singing

8th grade choir unit strengthening sight-singing through solfege, rhythmic counting, notation reading, rehearsal strategies, and multi-part independence.

Paid-members only

Grade 8 Vocal Music Units

Unit Plan 28 (Grade 8 Vocal Music): Expressive Vocal Composition

8th grade choir unit creating original vocal music through improvisation, shaping emotions, images, and social themes with clear expressive intent and style.