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.
Focus: Develop ensemble blend and balanced tone across sections by using targeted rehearsal strategies that refine listening, dynamics, vowel matching, and intonation.
Grade Level: 7
Subject Area: Vocal Music (Choir • Ensemble Skills • Tone Quality)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students focus on how to sound like one unified choir instead of many separate voices. They learn to listen across the ensemble, adjust volume and tone, and match vowels and pitch to create a blended sound. Through sectional rehearsals, chord-tuning activities, and short repertoire excerpts, students practice making the melody clear, supporting harmony parts, and balancing their own sound with the group. The week ends with a brief performance or recording that showcases improved blend and balance.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean for a choir to blend, and how is that different from singing solo?
- How do we adjust volume, tone, and vowels to balance sections so listeners can hear the melody and harmony clearly?
- How can rehearsal strategies (sections, listening exercises, chord-tuning) improve blend, balance, and intonation?
- How does better blend and balance change the overall sound and impact of our choir?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Describe and demonstrate the difference between solo tone and blended ensemble tone.
- Adjust dynamic level and vowel shape to match nearby singers and create a unified section sound.
- Use listening strategies (e.g., “listen left-right,” “listen across the room”) to improve intonation and balance.
- Apply rehearsal techniques such as sectional work, chord-tuning, and staggered entrances to refine ensemble blend.
- Identify when the choir’s melody is too soft or harmony is too loud and suggest adjustments to rebalance.
- Reflect on personal contributions to ensemble sound and set a goal for improving blend and balance.
Standards Alignment — Grade 7 Vocal Music (custom, NAfME-style)
- VM:Pr5.7a — Apply rehearsal strategies to improve ensemble blend, balance, intonation, and rhythmic precision.
- Example: Students rehearse in sections, tune intervals, then re-combine to improve intonation.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can listen and adjust my sound to blend with the singers around me.
- I can change my volume and vowel so the choir sounds more unified.
- I can help my section keep the melody/harmony balanced so nothing is lost or overpowering.
- I can use at least two rehearsal strategies to fix blend or balance problems.
- I can explain one way my ensemble listening and tone matching have improved.