Submitted by Susan Caplette, Massachusetts

Idea posted February 21, 2006

To keep my students "on their toes" when reviewing old songs, I circulate around the room with my cordless mic. As the entire class begins to sing, I put the mic in front of a student's mouth for the length of a phrase and continue up and down the rows. If students feel uncomfortable about singing a solo, I tell them beforehand that they simply have to give me a sign (like shaking their head "no"), and I move on to the next person. I do insist, however, that everyone should sing with the group.

This activity has benefits for the students and the teacher as well. Some students may feel intimidated if they have to sing a solo in front of their classmates. By using this approach, students may be more willing to sing a short solo without everyone staring at them. The teacher benefits by hearing a student's voice quality and intonation. Who knows, maybe you'll discover the next American Idol!