MUSIC - Intro to Choir (Basics for group singing) - (Ages 5-8)

WILASC is honored to work with veteran choir singer, teacher and homeschool mom Courtney Cooke to offer two quality music summer camps for two age groups (5-8 and 9-12). (For the choir camp for ages 9-12, please visit this page).  

In this week of music making, younger children will explore group singing dynamics through multicultural folk music adapted to their age and abilities, with song games and movement added in for fun.  They will learn to follow directions from a song leader and change tempo and dynamics as a group, along with body percussion and singing in rounds, movement/motions, and sign language with different songs as appropriate.  They will also learn the short histories behind the songs they will sing and the cultures they come from, and all songs are learned through imitation/repetition and demonstration from the instructor, no music reading is required.  Musical terms and concepts will be taught along the way as appropriate.

No music reading or prior background is required, but a love for music and singing is essential!   

Sample Schedule:

9-10   Opening songs and games, warming up voices and bodies, getting wiggles out, learning the songs together.

10-10:15   Bathroom and hydration* break, snack if needed.

10:15 -11  Body percussion and learning/singing more songs that go with the rhythms

11-11:15   Bathroom and hydration break, snack if needed

11:15-12   Go through favorite songs again, closing songs, songs with movement and sign language

*children should have a water bottle and are encouraged to sip as needed while we sing to keep throats/voices lubricated

*Children should bring a water bottle and are encouraged to sip as needed while we sing to keep throats/voices lubricated. Parents are encouraged to pack some snacks for the snack breaks.  

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Courtney Cooke grew up singing and performing in ensembles and choirs, moving on to advanced competition choirs in high school before leading an adult choir for three years as a young adult, and then several children's singing circles over the years since moving to Whidbey in 2014.  She is a veteran homeschool mom of 20 years (4 kids) with wide-ranging experience working with and teaching mixed ages of homeschoolers in everything from science experiment classes to "sheep to shawl" classes.  Before having her own children to teach, she lived and worked in St Petersburg, Russia, teaching and working with kindergarten-age children in an English immersion program utilizing songs and games for learning.

From Courtney: "I do absolutely love to provide a nourishing music experience for our local children. Not only is it a rewarding experience to me to lead a choir, but I firmly believe that singing together and blending voices is something everyone should have the opportunity to do because I think it is very healing for our current social climate of division, to see that varied voices can blend to make a beautiful whole in harmony.  And I also think it is healthy for children to learn to use their voices in this way, physically and psychologically.   It can be empowering and a wonderful way to experience music "from the inside".