MCHS Choral Music Department Information & Expectations              Fall/Spring

                                                                                                                        2006-2007

 

Facility

 

  1. No gum, food, soft drinks or juice in the Fine Arts Wing of MCHS.  Bottled water is permitted. Clean room = Best Learning Environment and pride in this excellent facility.
  2. Property left in this classroom (textbooks and clothes) will be turned in to the Lost and Found in the guidance office. 
  3. School telephones are for business.  Student cell phones are not allowed out in class.  Please make sure they are off.
  4. Do not play any instrument without my permission.
  5. The Fine Arts wing is off-limits without teacher permission.

 

General Departmental Expectations

 

  1. It takes courage to be a performer.  Treat others with respect.
  2. ”Professionalism is an Attitude”.
  3. Our department motto is “Excellence is our Standard, not our goal.”  Live it while representing the MCHS Fine Arts Department.
  4. All WCPSS rules and MCHS rules always apply to every choir member at ALL times.
  5. Extra Rehearsals:
    1. In WCPSS Choral Departments, choirs rehearse outside the hours of the school day after school or at night.  Refer to the WCPSS Course Description Guide.  The level of the choir and the difficulty of the music being studied and the schedule of performances determine the number and scheduling of additional rehearsals.  Extra rehearsals are almost always scheduled before concerts or competitions.  Please contact me if you have questions.  You are required to be at extra rehearsals and I expect you to be willing to alter your personal or work schedule as necessary for the good of the choir.  Be ready to plan your schedule around our rehearsal and performance schedule accordingly. 
    2. The MCHS Choral Ensemble WILL rehearse on Monday nights this Fall.  All members are required to attend these scheduled rehearsals.  A schedule is forthcoming.
    3. I will begin and end extra rehearsals on time.  Parents, please pick up your child on time after choral functions. I have non-school obligations after these events.  Curb sitting children is not one of them. Thank you for being considerate in this matter.

 

  1. As members of the Fine Arts Department, I expect choral students to attend Band Concerts, Drama Productions, and Arts Shows produced by the MCHS Fine Arts Department.  This expectation may be graded.  Extra credit is available for non-graded events. I will tell you if it is graded or non-graded event in advance.  A schedule of events will be posted and distributed.  Programs or playbills are required and written critiques of each event will be assigned.  You’re learning to be a lifelong Arts Patron.

 

Performance & Professionalism

 

  1. A performance is the most important representation of your choir, department, and school.  It is the byproduct of all our work and effort.  It gives us the opportunity to display our craft.  We represent our school, our county, and our state.  The highest level of professionalism is expected at all times
    1. Student behavior is expected to be exemplary.  Your reputation is measured by your behavior.  Performance is a byproduct of preparation, focus, and behavior.  The public sees what you show them.
    2. Students are expected to wear concert attire in the proper or standard manner as prescribed by the teacher (full concert attire for girls and boys to and from EVERY performance.  All choir members are to be dressed in full concert attire until the performance is over and you, the performer, do not represent Middle Creek High School Choral Music Department further.  This rule is ALWAYS in effect. 

 

Classroom Procedures & Expectations

 

  1. Punctuality.  Class begins daily with vocal warm-ups after the ringing of the second bell.  Please be in your seat.  Not in your seat? …You’re tardy.  Simple as that.  If you come in after the bell, sign in and list the date, your name, time, reason, and if you have one, attach a teacher or administrator’s note.  If you come in after the bell without a note from a teacher or administrator, sign in.  I will report any unexcused tardiness to the MCHS data manager. I will follow the school-wide tardy policy.  Tardiness only becomes an issue if you allow it to become one. 
  2. Roll will be taken either at the beginning, middle, or end of class daily.
  3. The teacher or a designee will take roll at each choral function or I will check role by digital photo images.
  4. Announcements will be made during class when necessary. 
  5. Attention, focus, and good posture is always expected.
  6. When we stop singing, LISTEN and LEARN.
  7. A pencil is required daily.  I give you one.
  8. Your music is your textbook.  Bring it to school every day.
  9. Purchase a flexible 3 ringed BLACK binder (like the ones I already have in the classroom) the first week of school.  No stickers on the outside of your folder please.

 

Choral Council

 

  1. The Choral Council is the choir government.  This team will assist the choral director and plan and implement non-performance student activities.  Each member of the team represents the entire Choral Department.  Events may include car washes, social events, charity events, the Dinner & A Show Variety show, choral banquet, school wide service projects, and others.

 

  1. The MCHS Choral Council has been appointed for the 2006-2007 school year.  This appointment is based on yearlong observations and interviews from last school year.  This team of students will lead this program this school year. Congratulations Choral Council! The Council meets every Monday after school.

 

Choral Council Chairman – Janet Beyersdorf

Choral Council Leadership Intern – Sarah Humphrey

 

 

Class Officers

 

  1. I will appoint a President and a Librarian for each class.  Appointments will be based on interviews.  Any interested student may interview for leadership roles.
  2. Class Officers are not automatically Choral Council members.  All students are eligible to be class officers.
  3. Officer interviews and appointments will occur soon after school starts.

 

Attendance

 

  1. All choir members are required to be present at each scheduled choral performance and rehearsal throughout the school year.  Each performance is considered to be a major test and is a significant part of the grading component.
  2. Students must attend ½ of any given school day to be eligible to participate in a choral function for that day.  That means a student must be present a full 2 of the 4 blocks in order to participate in functions.
  3. Non-performing social events (seasonal celebrations, spring banquet, etc…) are not required and there is no grade influence related to attendance at these events.  Social events are important to the department and it is recommended that students attend when possible.
  4. Each student earns 1 award letter point for each day they are in class.  Letters and pins can be earned and are presented to students at the Awards Banquet in May.
  5. Students are expected to attend all called rehearsals.
  6. Attendance at all concerts and performances is required and is grade based.

 

Concert Attire 

 

  1. MCHS Choirs are expected to purchase the selected concert attire.  Female students will wear gowns.  Male students will wear tuxedos. This is the attire that is worn traditionally by Wake County high school choral students. 

 

·        For the Ladies:  The same gown that was worn last year will be worn again this year.  Southeastern Performance Apparel is the mail order vendor that makes these gowns.  Southeastern has a reputation for providing reasonably priced durable outfits.  Remember that these gowns are not tailored but generally sized.  Alterations usually are necessary and are extra.  The cost of dress will be in the $80 range.  Specific information will be provided as soon as possible.  Choir members from last year who wish to sell dresses that no longer fit may do so.  I will not broker these sales.  Dress purchase price is between the individual parties. The required shoe is a PLAIN black pump with a 1 ½ inch heel.  Ask the shoe salesman to make sure that the heel is accurate (no straps, no open toes, no special designs).  The height of the shoe insures even hemlines.  We’ll be graded on that at the State Choral Festival in March.

 

·        For the Men:  Savvi Formalwear will provide tuxedos for the choir again this year at the discounted price or $150.00 (this price represents a savings of 15%) including tax.  Denise Mayeart (783-8911 or 851-1633) is the owner/manager of the Pleasant Valley Promenade & the Crossroads Plaza stores.  The ensemble includes adjustable waistband slacks, jacket, white wing-tipped shirt, red cummerbund, and red bowtie.  Black dress shoes and black socks are required but not included in the tuxedo package price.  I will provide the men with metal studs and cufflinks one time.  They will have to purchase replacements after that. 

Grades

 

  1. The grade “C” represents average progress.  “B” represents above average progress.  “A” represents outstanding progress and is reserved for exceptional effort by exceptional students.  It may be a mistake to assume that choir is an easy “A”.  Grades are based on Effort, Attendance, Behavior, Participation, Skill Development, Pre-Concert Evaluation and Attitude.  Talent is not a criterion.
  2. A grade may drop multiple letter grades for an unexcused absence from a performance or a required function.
  3. A more detailed description of the choir grading system is included in this packet.

 

Awards

 

  1. You can earn an award in choir.  Awards consist of letters, pins, and plaques.  The description of the awards program is included in this packet.

 

Field Trips

 

  1. Performance is an outgrowth of the program.  Some performances may be scheduled at other locations during the school day.  This may enable us to take advantage of unique learning opportunities.  I will chose choirs for field trips based on the choir’s work ethic and sense of responsibility and maturity.
  2. If the choir takes a field trip, all students ride on the bus.
  3. Chaperones will accompany the choir.
  4. Academics must come first.  If a student feels it is in his or her best interest to remain in school and not travel with the choir on a scheduled field trip, I will honor that request.
  5. The Faculty Field Trip Committee has preapproved all Choir Field Trips.
  6. Field Trips will not be scheduled on a school day 5 days before a major holiday or 2 weeks before exams unless permission is granted by the principal.
  7. Students receiving failing grades on a report card will not be eligible to travel with the choir for the next quarter unless teachers will verify that they are passing at the time of the trip.
  8. If I or another teacher feels it is in the best interest of a student to remain in class on field trip day, it will be so.
  9. Chaperones will be asked to accompany the choir on field trips.