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Call and Response

Initially ‘Call and Response’ uses imitation as a tool for learning. Imitation is used to establish and share the leader/follower relationship in the classroom. Once a skill is absorbed the student can be the ‘caller.’ Call and Response formats also provide a way to instruct beyond imitation with the use of ‘varied repetition.’ Pedagogically, imitation or the ability to imitate, is NOT THE GOAL of imitation’s use.

Imitation in Call and Response is used as one way to embed short, medium, and long- term memories that contribute to all musical endeavor and can be used as a way to gauge students’ progress over time.

Basic Call and Response Formats

  1. ‘First Me then You’ – same material imitated back and forth
  2. First Me then You – varied repetition
  3. First You then Me – Same thing back and forth
  4. First You then Me – varied repetition
  5. Voice to Voice
  6. Instrument to Voice
  7. Instrument to instrument

Call and Response examples

Rhythm

  1. Teacher performs a basic rhythm pattern in a Simple Meter
  2. Students repeat it
  3. Students performs a basic rhythm pattern in a Simple Meter
  4. Other students repeat it

Melody

  1. Teacher performs a 4 note melody
  2. Students repeat it
  3. Students perform a 4 note melody
  4. Other students repeat it

Harmony

  1. Teacher performs a four- Chord Combination
  2. Students repeat it
  3. Students perform a 4 chord combination
  4. Other students repeat it