I have a good friend who has been teaching music in a private studio for a number of years.  She has recently been hired to teach elementary music for the next school year. 

 

Part of the gig is a fifth grade (with possible inclusion of some fourth graders) honors chorus.  This is not an optional ensemble at this point, so an argument about the merits of such an enemble is not useful at this time.  The administration of the school has firm ideas about this ensemble.  In future years I suspect she may want to have some discussions with the administration about how this ensemble is handled, but it is, at least for this year, set in stone.   Also, this group has traditionally done a "musical" presentation written by the director.  This sounds to me like a concert based on a theme and including some movement.

 

I would like to ask the list wisdom for suggestions in two specific areas.

 

1.  There is to be an after-school audition.  The tradition has been to invite judges other than the music teacher to help evaluate auditions.  This is all pretty much set, for better or worse.  The nature of the audition is, howver, not set at all.  What should the students be asked to do and how are they scored?  This topic is wide open.  All of the students will have music class and could work on a piece to perform in the audition, or it could all be pitch-matching, tonal memory etc.

 

2.  Would anyone care to recommend music or a "musical" suitable for students who are niine and ten years old?

 

Thanks in adavnce!  I believe this person shows every sign of being an outstanding elementary music teacher and I hope your suggestions can provide some much needed guidance.