Transit Vocal Band

L3 – Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.  Specifically, during transit’s program, students learn how to utilize basic phonemes and letter components to create beatbox and vocal percussion sounds and rhythms.

R3 – Analyze how and why individuals; events; and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.  transit’s program teaches students about the history and development of the a cappella art form through explanations and demonstrations of various vocal music styles, from Gregorian Chant in the Middle Ages to the contemporary vocal band sound.

SL2 – Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.  Specifically, transit’s performance and explanation of various a cappella styles helps students to develop listening skills and to recognize how different musical formats fit within a line of historical development.

From the Arts Education, Music Standards:

K-8/B/I/P/A.ML.3 – Create music using a variety of sound and notational sources.  Specifically, transit teaches students about the specific voice parts and vocal instruments used in the vocal band style. transit also teaches students how to produce simple and complex rhythmic patterns using basic beatbox/vocal percussion sounds.

K-8/B/I/P/A.CR.1 – Understand global, interdisciplinary, and 21st century connections with music.  transit’s program helps students to understand global, interdisciplinary, and 21st century connections with music by tracing the historical roots and development of a cappella music, as well as the cultural context surrounding each style of a cappella music presented. In describing Gregorian Chant, for example, transit outlines the use of this early a cappella style in religious and church prayer life. Similarly, in describing Doo Wop, transit explains this styles roots in urban African American communities.

K-8/B/I/P/A.MR.1 – Understand the interacting elements to respond to music and music performances.  transit’s program helps students to understand interacting elements and respond to music and music performances by outlining and demonstrating the different qualities and voice range placement of the different voice parts used to create a cappella music. transit’s program also demonstrates the various historical settings and contexts in which different a cappella styles have been used.