Pirates 2: The Hidden Treasure
Notes regarding rehearsal and performance.
STUDENT PARTICIPATION
I began the school year with 55 students (4th and 5th grade) in choir. A few weeks in I realized that was too many to put on a performance this caliber. We decided to only have the 5th grade students participate in Pirates 2, these students were part of the Pirates production in 2022 that was submitted to the CMEA selection committee. As rehearsals began in late October we had some students drop out who were less committed. In January we added 5 stellar 4th grade students to the cast. All rehearsals were conducted outside of the school day with one rehearsal per week until December when additional rehearsals were added.
VOCALS:
We study Broadway music in September and October of 5th grade. We discuss and learn differences between head voice and chest voice and how to sing in each. Students in this performance have sung in after school choir and worked extensively on singing in a choral head voice. For this program began right away with learning to sing these songs in a chest voice or music theater style. We discuss breath support from the diaphragm and singing in the 'mask' as well as how to not over sing. I am proud to say that while these students are learning to sing in this style, none of the students lost their voice due to over-singing or incorrect singing during rehearsals or performances.
EQUIPMENT:
Audio - I recently purchased this Focusrite Scarlett Audio Interface and love it! I am able to attach this interface to my school (or performing facility) system then attach my school laptop, cordless microphones, a new omnidirectional microphone and a monitor speaker to project music behind the students. For this program I am sitting with the sound equipment. I have used the an app to control my computer (and therefor the music) from an iPad, but I am still working on perfecting that.
Props - Honestly we used things we already had either at school or our homes. We love doing theater with students so we reuse and repaint things often. Students individual props like mops and buckets were provided by students. See the theater boxes information below. The mast was built by a parent when we performed Pirates in spring 2022.
STAGING:
- Levels! Staging in any musical is all about creating levels and depth on stage. We use theater boxes made by Angelo Valdez (Valdez Woodshop on Instagram) to allow for moveable, low sound height levels. (Note: These boxes are used in all of the shows that Rosina directs, between the two of us we own the 8 boxes used in this performance.)
- Forward Facing! It is important when teaching any kind of performing art that students learn to 'cheat' to the audience. (They of course don't always remember.) We often remind them that the other characters on stage already know what they are going to say, but the audience hasn't heard it yet.
- Spatial Awareness! "Your parents are going to be so upset if they can't see you!" This is a tough concept. While students are assigned places to stand and move, it is important to teach them to move if someone is directly in front of them.
- Choreography! Easier is better. Rosina had some amazing moves planned that were just too difficult and had to be changed.
- Character Development! Teach students to become their character while they are on stage. Here is one idea for a written activity. This idea is a work in progress for us.
- Divide the stage! We find dividing the stage into 4 quadrants, then assigning students to move from one to another helps them to remember and looks more random but is actually organized and easier for them to remember. (Starting with whole groups moving from one to another helps too.)
