To get your class as a whole to sing better in tune, sing songs in child-friendly keys – not too high, not too low. POINT 1

To choose a medium range for each song is reasonable, because in a large choir it usually happens that it is difficult for all to sing the very high or very low notes, and therefore one must do without some of the voices. It is therefore important that the leader should give the starting note in the proper range, so that a melody may lie in a range about eight or nine steps above or below it. Translated by Carol MacClintock (Readings in the history of music performance, 1979) Conrad of Zabern, De modo bene cantandi (1474)

To help individuals match pitch, use the vowel [u:]. POINT 2

Felicity Laurence, “Children‘s Singing“ Some years ago, I received the most dramatic confirmation of this effect when working with a group of deaf children: I sang a tone in a high and very focused head voice, emphasizing a forward and rounded lip formation, in order for them to sing any tone and thus form together a cluster chord. Nearly all of the children sang exactly my note back to me—somehow, the vibrations had penetrated, and somehow, they could also immediately find the 'right' tone with their minds and voices. From The Cambridge Companion to Singing, ed. John Potter.

Exercises for individual children Owl Calls: Mama Owl sings a short melody on [u:] and Little Owl echoes the pattern. Echo Questions: The teacher sings a question (e.g. "What color are your socks?") using the tones G and E. The child sings the answer. Remember that children are allowed as many shy days as they want or need. Don‘t force children to sing alone.

Warm up your voice at the start of the day. Breathe well and deeply. Speak in your correct range. Use good clear diction. Slow down. Drink 1 ½ to 2 liters of water during the day. If you have a cold, don‘t whisper to save your voice. POINT 3 Take care of your own voice.

Thank you. Rebecca Reese Homburgerstr. 51 CH-4052 Basel Switzerland Tel