FLI Choir Online

Greetings FLI Choir!

I look forward to starting this journey of online classes with you.  I've created this blog for easy communication.  I plan on sending you a Remind text whenever there is a new post, but you can always check it yourself by going to https://flichoir.blogspot.com/   In case you aren't on the Remind, text @flichoi to 81010 (note that there is no "r" in @flichoi). Students and parents are welcome to do this.  There's a lot in this first post, but hopefully it will give you a complete understanding of choir will look like this next month.

Individual Musical Activities/Video
Thank you to those of you who have been emailing me videos of your individual musical endeavors.  Keep them coming! Perhaps you are considering making a video, but don't know what to do.  Here are some ideas:

1. Sing a song.  You can use a Karaoke track, sing a cappella, sing with your brother/sister/mom/dad, or accompany yourself
2. Play an instrument.  Perhaps you are using this time to make progress on a musical instrument such as piano, guitar, flute, violin, accordion, ukulele, etc.
3. Create music electronically.  There are many ways to do this.  I have used Garageband and Audacity in the past.  Audrey recently sent me a video using Song-Maker.  Here is the link: https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/
4. TikTok:  Some of you saw Kiki's TikTok video dueting with Mack.  I also ran across some cool videos where someone has made harmony tracks for others to sing along with.  You could even send in dance videos if you wanted
5. Write a song
6. Looping yourself (as you saw Sterling do at PopCycles)

If you have another idea that isn't on this list, let me know.  Some have asked if they could send me a video but it not be put on social media. That is totally fine. How about you let me know in the communication if you are okay with the video going on social media, or not.

Community Engagement #3
You will see on Google Classroom that you have an assignment due that was assigned while we were in school.  Obviously it isn't possible to go in person to a LHS event if you haven't already.  So, if you already went to something but haven't written about it, please do so.  If you haven't gone to something yet, then please write about something else that you participated in.  It could even be the Spring Choir Concert.  The deadline is extended until April 10.

Virtual Meetings on Zoom
Our virtual meeting time is 9-10am on Tuesdays.  In this blog you will find information about how to join our meeting and how to prepare for each one.  We will be using Zoom as I have found that platform easy to use and good for large groups.  The same meeting link can be used for every meeting. The dates are listed below.

        Apr 7, 2020      Apr 14, 2020    Apr 21, 2020    Apr 28, 2020  May 5, 2020 
        May 12, 2020   May 19, 2020   May 26, 2020   Jun 2, 2020

Fingers crossed that we go back to school at some point before the end of the year.  If so I will cancel the rest of the online meetings.

Link to join Zoom meeting:
https://zoom.us/s/485133424?pwd=MW9aM1NRcm0yaFZna09LYm9zRFozUT09

You can follow that link, or you can go to https://zoom.us/join and enter the code below.
485-133-424

Our meetings are password protected so we don't have any unexpected visitors. Password: choir

Meeting Activities
You may be wondering what we will be doing in our virtual sessions.  As cool as it would be to try to sing together, it doesn't really work due to lag.  I found this clapping video to be a funny demonstration of that:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAt5T-lYtpk  Though we can't sing together, I think it is still important that we meet and connect with each other socially, and use this opportunity to learn about music and life in other ways.  Please view the blog each week for posts about how to prepare for our sessions.  Also, please do check Google Classroom for assignments related to our FLI curriculum.

Meeting #1 - Tuesday, April 7 at 9am
Please prepare the following.  Choose ONE:
1. Check in: A couple sentences about how you have been holding up or what you have been up to.
2. A joke:  I think we could all use some laughs right now. Appropriate please!
3. Fun Fact: Maybe it's something you learned recently that would be great to share with others.

Try to not take longer than one minute.  That would be about 25-30min which is perfect and leaves time for another activity.

We will also talk a little bit about how we can build resilience during this pandemic.  Please view this TEDx video before our meeting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWH8N-BvhAw

There will also be an assignment posted on Google Classroom related to this topic next week.

Zoom Behavior Guidelines
Mr. McGee is sending out guidelines for appropriate behavior on group meetings.  For now, please make sure there is proper lighting on your face and that you are dressed appropriately.  I will want you to use the chat option on Zoom for things like attendance, responses and questions, but it shouldn't be a running stream of off-topic chats that distract from who is speaking.  Please also refrain from any distracting side conversations on your phone.  Use appropriate/professional language please.

For Fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcS0Nbo7Ng

Have a good week.  See you on Tuesday!

-Mrs. Riffel