Choir Dodgeball

CHOIR DODGEBALL

We all look for things to do to shake up rehearsal - to break the monotony. This activity is one that I found to be a lot of fun for students and valuable for me as a director.

It’s called “Choir Dodgeball.” No, there are no actual dodgeballs involved. We all remember playing dodgeball in elementary school and the “picking of sides.” That’s what we do here. Pick two students you feel can be good team captains - upperclassmen and/or advanced musicians. Have the captains stand in front, facing the choir. Have the choir perform a song, instructing the captains to watch closely so they will know who they want on their team.

One coin flip later (you know, for first pick), the selection process starts. Have the captains take turns picking singers to build their team. Make sure you do one section at a time so that each choir is balanced (pick from all basses, then all tenors, and so on).

Choir Bites Interactive Slides can enhance online/hybrid lesson plans or be used as supplemental assignments. Your singers’ awareness will rise as they engage with these simple, “sticky” concepts! Click here to learn more! 

Once the teams are selected, separate them to opposite sides of the room. Give the captains time to help place their choir in whatever position they feel best and also to give some pointers. Then it’s time for the sing-off!Each choir sings the song (or portion of a song) and at the end, there is a winner. 

Benefits:
-Everyone will be surprised to hear how well each choir does at half-size due to the competitive energy
-The selection process lets students know that their performance is indeed observable, even to “lay people.”
-Once you compliment the teams vigorously on all their strengths and their courage, the choir will sound much stronger when re-combined.

I’ve done this activity with choirs grades 7-12, and they all love it. Do you have any fun activities like this to share? Please put them in the comments below!