Choirs at Arlington

Junior Choir

On Monday mornings, the Lighthouse Keepers and the Loft Room children come together for Junior Choir. First, we warm up our voices with things like lip trills, rainbows, sirens and puppy whimpers. Next, we perform some vocal warm-up repertoire. These warm-ups help us learn and practise different vocal techniques and explore the many ways we can use our voices in singing. We pay attention to the type and quality of sound we are making, and reflect on how we are singing together as a group. These warm-ups area great fun and the children delight in taking turns choosing their favourites. Short, bouncy voices in warm-ups such as ‘My Mum Makes Me Mash My Mini Ms’, ‘Fox In Sox’ and ‘Chica- Poppa’. Long, smooth, lyrical singing in warm-ups such as ‘How Now Brown Cow’ and ‘La Mer’. This helps us transfer these vocal skills to help create the mood of the songs we are learning. This term the children have been put to work on our pirate ship as we learn the sea-shanty ‘Donkey Riding’. The children sing a rousing rendition of this song whilst in groups they perform different actions: steering the ship, scrubbing the deck, looking for land, or hoisting the sails. We seem to have followed on with a theme of donkeys with our Caribbean folk song, ‘Tingalayo’. The children expressed love of singing this song and performing the actions to the comical lyrics. Student reflections:

“I feel special, proud and happy”. Sophie.

“I like singing together in a group, and I love singing “My Mum Makes Me Mash My Mini M and Mson a Monday Morning”. Alethea

“My favourite song is ‘Tingalayo’. I like the rhythm and the actions for the funny words.” Rana-Mae

“I feel happy when we sing together”. Flo

“I like that we get to choose the warmup.” I love ‘R- P- T-Ka’. Harriet

“I like singing the sea shanty and performing the actions on the ship.” Daiynan 

Senior Choir

Warmed up from Whole School Singing on a Tuesday morning, the Sunroom and the Peppercorn children gather again as 3 to 6 Choir. We begin with vocal warm-ups that engage the core muscles to bring our awareness to the diaphragm and its importance in vocal production. Over the year so far, we have looked at singing rounds, such as Yonder Come Day and Frère Jacques. The children use their voices as instruments to provide counter melodies, rhythmic textures, and to work on keeping a steady beat. Earlier this year, the children appeared to enjoy singing a bluesy, rock n roll piece, Green Door, which was first recorded by Jim Lowe in 1956. However, you may remember the more famous version from 1981 by Welsh singer, Shakin’ Stevens.

Last term, we performed Cindy Lauper’s True Colours with the Prep-2 Choir, and we were then joined by the senior choir in their delivery of Tshotsholoza, a song, which includes a mix Zulu and Ndebele languages (South Africa). 

Currently, we have been learning Wake Me Up, written by the late Swedish DJ, Avicii. I must say, when the chorus drops, these voices are something to behold!