The Choir SLAM Chart: The Visual System That Changed My Rehearsals
If you’ve ever hit November and thought, “Wait… which songs are actually ready for the concert?” — the SLAM Chart will be your new best friend.
It’s the visual system I use every single day to track where each piece is in the rehearsal process. And the best part? Your students love it just as much as you do.
👉 Watch the full walkthrough here:
https://youtu.be/D-uOwcti-ik
What Is a SLAM Chart?
My real life SLAM chart currently in action.
Each piece of repertoire moves through four phases:
S — Skillwork: literacy, solfege, rhythms, context
L — Learned: accurate pitches + rhythms with the score
A — Artistry: expression, phrasing, dynamics
M — Memorized: performance-ready confidence
It gives you (and your students!) a clear picture of where everything stands — no guessing, no panic.
Why It Helps
As the guide explains, the SLAM Chart:
Builds student motivation through visible progress
Helps you plan rehearsals quickly
Keeps multiple choirs aligned
Reduces that pre-concert “Are we behind??” anxiety
It’s amazing how much calm a few boxes on a whiteboard can create.
How to Set It Up
All you need is a whiteboard, washi tape, and markers. Create rows for each song + columns for S–L–A–M. Keep the boxes big enough to read from the back row (middle schoolers will pretend they can’t otherwise 😉).
Want step-by-step setup instructions? They’re all in the download below.
Don’t Skip “Chart Checks”
This is the part students love the most — running a piece from start to finish to earn new boxes (Learned, Artistry, or Memorized). It turns rehearsal into a team challenge and gives them clear goals to work toward.
Download the Free Guide
Grab the full PDF here — it includes visuals, setup instructions, and a breakdown of each SLAM phase so you can start using it tomorrow.
And for a full behind-the-scenes look at my actual board: