MCHS Choral Music Department Information & Expectations     

Fall/Spring                                                                              2009/10

 

Facility

 

  1. Property left in this room will be turned in to the Lost and Found in the guidance office. 
  2. The office phone is for business only.
  3. Ask permission to play pianos.
  4. The room will occasionally be closed during the lunch hours.
  5. Absolutely no food or sodas in this room.  Capped, non-flavored bottled water is allowed.

 

General Departmental Expectations

 

  1. Our department mottos are “Excellence is our Standard, not our goal” and “Professionalism is an Attitude”. Live these attitudes while representing the MCHS Fine Arts Department.
  2. All WCPSS rules and MCHS rules always apply to every choir member at all choir functions and activities.
  3. 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, the difficulty of the music being studied, and the schedule of performances determine the number and the scheduling of additional rehearsals.  Extra rehearsals are almost always scheduled before concerts or competitions. You are required to be at extra rehearsals and I expect you 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 (3rd Block) will rehearse on some Monday and Tuesday nights this fall.  All members are required to attend these scheduled rehearsals.  A schedule is included in this packet.
    3. I will begin and end all extra rehearsals on time.  Parents, please pick up your child on time.  I have non-school obligations after events that do not include curb-sitting your children.  Thank you for being considerate.

 

  1. Honors level III & IV choral students are required to attend Band Concerts and  Drama Productions produced by the MCHS Fine Arts Department.  Level I’s and II’s are encouraged to attend these events.  Extra credit is awarded to I & II’s who are in attendance. A schedule of all school events can be found on the MCHS Web Site.  Programs or playbills are required and written critiques of each event will be assigned.  More on this in class.
  2. Treat each other with respect.

 

Performance & Professionalism

 

  1. A performance is the most important representation of your choir and department.  It is the byproduct of much work and effort.  It gives us the opportunity to display our craft.  We represent our school, our county, and our state.  Handle yourself with dignity and class.
    1. Student behavior is expected to be exemplary.  Reputation is measured by behavior.  Performance is a byproduct of preparation.  The public sees what you show them.  We have an outstanding reputation.  Think before you act.
    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.  Late students sign in in the back of the room and list the date, name, time, and reason for your tardiness.  If you have a note from the office or a teacher place it in the plastic bin next to the sign-in book.  I will report tardiness to the appropriate administrator.  I will follow the school-wide tardy policy. 
  2. Roll.  Roll will be taken sometime during class each day. The teacher or a designee will take roll at each choral function or I will check roll by digital photo images.
  3. Announcements. Choir announcements will be made daily during class if necessary. 
  4. General Expectations. Attention, focus, and good posture are always expected. LISTEN to LEARN when we stop singing.  Have a pencil with you daily.  I give you one.  This is a graded requirement. Your music is your textbook.  Bring it to school every day. If you lose it then you pay for it.
  5. Binder.  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.
  6. Cell Phones.  Cell phones are restricted.  They are required to be turned off and stored in a book bag.  Refer to your student agenda for the rules & regulations pertaining to cell phones.  If I see or hear them, I take them. 
  7. Book bags.  Book bags and purses are to be placed around the perimeter of the class room each day. No text books, homework, or novels at your seats.
  8. Folders, Music, Pencil.  Students are to have their folders, music, and pencil with them at their seats.  If music has not been assigned, only a pencil is required at the seat.

 

 

 

 

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 2009/10 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.

 

Kate Beyersdorf, 12 – Council Chair

Troy Dang, 11 – Council Co-Chair

Casey Cleland, 11

Andrianna Cooke, 10

Sarah Doering, 12

Adrian Gilliam, 12

Hannah Gore, 10

Rebecca Harbaugh, 11

Morgan Hintz, 11

Katie Hockaday, 12

Sarah Howard, 12

Chris Lopez, 10

Desiree Marcano, 11

Nashley Mattocks, 12

 

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. Sarah Doering has been appointed Head Librarian for the department.  Katie Hockaday will serve as the departmental assistant.  I will interview for class librarians.  Morgan Hintz will serve as the departmental Librarian Intern
  3. All students are eligible to be class officers.
  4. 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: Girls will wear the same gown this year as last.  Southeastern Performance Apparel is the mail order vendor that makes these gowns.  Southeastern has a reputation for providing reasonably priced durable choir outfits.  Specific information is provided in this packet.  Graduated seniors  may make dresses available for sale.  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.

 

Girls will be fitted the first week of school.  We are crunched for time!!  The orders must go out immediately.  Details to follow!!

 

·        For the Men:  Savvi Formalwear will provide tuxedos for the choir again this year at the discounted price or $141.00.  Denise Maeyaert (783-8911) is the owner of the Pleasant Valley Promenade store.  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.  Mrs. Maeyaert will fit the men of the choir on the third day of school (Thurs., August 27th).  If returning boys have coat sleeves or pants that need altering, they should bring their clothing to school on August 27th (labeled with their name) for Mrs. Maeyaert to take the items with her to be altered.  Otherwise, the veteran boys will have to take their suits to the store themselves.  She will return any altered clothing that she picked up at school to the school at a later date. A letter from Ms. Maeyaert is included in this packet.

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 is 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 considered.
  2. Performance is an outgrowth of our musical development.
  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 opportunity and invitations.  Each choir’s work ethic and sense of responsibility and maturity will impact opportunity
  2. If the choir takes a field trip, all students ride on the bus.
  3. Academics 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.
  4. The Faculty Field Trip Committee will grant or deny choir field trips.
  5. 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.
  6. 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 scheduled trip.
  7. 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.
  8. Chaperones will accompany the choir on field trips.  Consider them me and follow their directions.