CHORUS HANDBOOK

1. CHORUSHANDBOOK

2. This handbook should give you a detailed understanding of chorus class, including information about and rationale behind:1) Our activities2) Class guidelines, procedures, and expectations3) Concert schedule and expectations4) Full-group rehearsal schedule and expectations5) Grading6) Resource usage (click on a category above to go directly to the section you need, or scroll through this entire presentation to see all of it)

3. Mrs. Griffin’s Goals for Chorus Through my teaching, each student will: • Give 2 excellent concert performances. • Become a better musician and singer. • Learn how to effectively work in a large group. • Enjoy both the process AND the product of hard work. Everything in this handbook is written and implemented with these goals in mind. Back to Table of Contents

4. The Basics… Back to Table of Contents

5. What Will We Do? • SING! • Daily Warm-Ups • Music Reading Exercises • Rhythm • Pitches • Short melodies • Concert Music • Improve Music Reading Skills • Pitch, rhythm, melodies, expression markings, following the music, etc. • Improve Singing Skills • Physical aspects of singing: Posture, Breathing, Face Shape, Expression, etc. Back to Table of Contents

6. Room 510 Guidelines Please be sure to show Respect and Responsibility: • Get to class on time! • You will usually have a couple minutes in class before rehearsal starts. • Keep the room neat. • Straighten chairs • Pick up trash • Recycle appropriate items. • No trash in recycling bins! Back to Table of Contents

7. Room 510 Guidelines Respect and Responsibility (continued): • Leave chairs where they are set up, unless you are given permission to move them. • Avoid playing the piano unless you are given permission to do so. • Avoid using my computer, unless you are give permission to do so. Back to Table of Contents

8. What should you bring to class each day? • Positive Attitude! • Please bring a folder and 6 sharpened pencils to class by the 2nd week of school. These items will be stored in your class container and used occasionally. Back to Table of Contents

9. Entry Procedures Follow this procedure every day, unless otherwise directed! 1) Leave backpacks, books, etc. lined up in the hallway outside of the room. Make sure your belongings are against the wall. 2) Enter class, look for any specific directions on the white board. 3) Get your music. 4) Tape any music that is falling apart. Please tape lengthwise – down the spine of the music. 5) Sit in your chair and wait for Mrs. Griffin to start rehearsal. Back to Table of Contents

10. Exit Procedures 1) Carefully put your music back in the appropriate place. 2) Straighten chairs. 3) Grab your belongings and go.

11. Chorus Expectation YOU US It’s not about YOU, it’s about US! Back to Table of Contents

12. Chorus Expectation Chorus is unique because: #1 - It is the only class where you take the final test as a group (twice a year at our concerts!). US Back to Table of Contents

13. Chorus Expectation Chorus is unique because: #2 - NO ONE can ‘ride the bench!’ Everyone is in the starting line up when we sing as a group in front of our audience! US Back to Table of Contents

14. Performancesand Full Group Rehearsals… Back to Table of Contents

15. Performances Mandatory Dates:* Winter Concert- Monday December 9th @ 7:00pm Spring Concert- Tuesday May 6th @ 7:00pm 9th Grade Exchange West** Monday December 16th@2:30pm 9th Grade Exchange East** Monday January 12th @2:30pm !!!Report time for all concerts is 6:30pm!!! *Refer to handout **Required for 9th grade students only Back to Table of Contents

16. Excused Absences from a Concert There are very few reasons to be excused from a concert. Our concerts are the ‘final tests’ of chorus class, and should be treated with the same respect. You should put our concerts on your family calendar IMMEDIATELY, and avoid scheduling other things at the same time. If there are any possible conflicts with these dates, please have your parents contact me by the end of September!!! If you are home sick, you will be excused from the concert. Back to Table of Contents

17. Excused Absences from a Concert • Excused Concert Absences from the Winter or Spring concertmay be made up for full credit. You will sing the concert songs with other absentees for a small audience after school, on a date soon after the concert. • Excused Absences from other concerts do not need to be made up. • Unexcused Absences earn a failing grade. Back to Table of Contents

18. Concert Dress for Winter and Spring Concerts* - Give the chorus a uniform, ‘professional’ look, - Minimize distractions due to clothing, - Help to make the concert performance special. *Please note – concert dress for other concerts will be less ‘uniform’ and will be specified closer to each concert. Chorus students wear a particular outfit in order to: Back to Table of Contents

19. Concert Dress • Black pants • Solid white shirt • Dark shoes/socks • NO Ties, NO Skirts • DRESSY - NO Jeans, T-Shirts, or Sneakers Back to Table of Contents

20. After School Rehearsals(for Select Choirs Only) • In order to prepare effectively for our concerts, there will be weekly after-school rehearsals for select ensembles throughout the year. Select groups include: • Tohickon Singers • Women’s Ensemble • Chamber Singers (formally known as 21) Back to Table of Contents

21. After School Rehearsal Schedule: • Women’s Chorus will rehearse 4:15-5:15 every Monday. • Tohickon Singers will rehearse 5:20-6:20 every Monday. • Chamber Singers (formally 21) will rehearse after school until 3:30 every Wednesday. • Rehearsals will start the week of September 30th.

22. If you are interested….-Take a hand-out and read over the important dates and information.-Take a copy of the audition piece “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”.-Talk with your family about a good time to sign up for an audition.-Sign up for the appropriate time on the list posted in the hall. Back to Table of Contents

23. Excused Absences from After School Rehearsals Q: What if I.... Am absent from school (or sent home early by nurse)? A: If you are absent from school you are excused from rehearsal. You DO NOT need an excuse note. Be sure to make up the rehearsal at resource. Back to Table of Contents

24. Excused Absences from After School Rehearsals Q: What if I.... Have a Tohickon Sports Practice? A: You will share your time between chorus rehearsal and your sports practice. 1) Inform your coach ahead of time. 2) Get dressed for practice right after school. 3) Come to chorus rehearsal by 2:30. 4) You will be dismissed at 3:30 to go to your practice. Back to Table of Contents

25. Excused Absences from After School Rehearsals Q: What if I.... Have a Tohickon Sports Game/Meet/Match? A: You are excused from rehearsal. Be sure Mrs. Griffin knows you are on the team ahead of time, then go kick butt! Note – if your game is cancelled/postponed due to inclement weather, you are expected to come to rehearsal instead! Back to Table of Contents

26. Excused Absences from After School Rehearsals Q: What if I.... Have a doctors appointment / dance lesson / paid tutor session / etc. (any outside of school event)? A: Check your calendar. Try to avoid outside conflicts whenever possible! If conflicts are unavoidable, you will be excused with a parent note or email. Back to Table of Contents

27. Excused Absences from After School Rehearsals Q: What if I.... Don’t have a ride home? A: Please check with friends to see if you can carpool!!! If you are unable to secure a ride, you will be excused with a parent note or email. Back to Table of Contents

28. Excused Absences from After School Rehearsals Q: What if I.... Have a last-minute situation that requires me to go directly home instead of rehearsal. (ex. you get sick at the end of the day) A: You will be excused with a parent note or email THE NEXT DAY YOU ARE IN SCHOOL. Back to Table of Contents

29. After School Rehearsals: Excuse Note Details • When excuse notes are necessary, a parent note or parent email is accepted. Communication directly from a student is NOT ACCEPTED. • Excuse notes are due BEFORE rehearsal, except last minute situations, when the note is due the NEXT DAY YOU ARE IN SCHOOL. Back to Table of Contents

30. Grading… Back to Table of Contents

31. Choral Grading Philosophy My grading system is based on 2 principles: • Performing in a music ensemble is a real-world (authentic) experience. Therefore, chorus grades should be based in part on the same criteria that an audience would use (subconsciously perhaps) to evaluate a choral performance. • As a class in school, I am also able to assess students’ level of understanding of various musical, singing, rehearsal, or choral concepts that ultimately lead to the concert performance that an audience experiences. Back to Table of Contents

32. How will you be graded? 3Categories • Choral Rehearsal Skills (CRS) 40% • Choral Singing Skills (CSS) 30% • Assignments and Vocal Tests 30% Back to Table of Contents

33. Choral Rehearsal Skills (CRS) (page 1) Efficient use of rehearsal time is essential for any chorus to reach its potential. As a chorus member, you should develop the following skills that relate to rehearsing in a group: • Preparing yourself for rehearsal when you get to class. • Follow entrance procedures • Book bags outside in the hall • Get music and pencil • Make sure you are ready to rehearse Back to Table of Contents

34. Choral Rehearsal Skills (CRS) (page 2) • Transitioning appropriately between rehearsal activities. • Rehearsal activities are usually divided into ‘chunks.’ • You may talk/relax/focus attention elsewhere briefly BETWEEN chunks, but not WITHIN chunks. • Typical rehearsal chunks: • Warm Ups • Rehearsing a song • Learning/Reviewing a concept Back to Table of Contents

35. Choral Rehearsal Skills (CRS) (page 3) • Maintaining focus when your section is not singing. • Pay attention • you will probably be singing the same section soon! • It’s quite possible you have similar notes, rhythms, lyrics, diction, phrasing, or expression in your part. • Listening to how other parts fit with your part increases your musicianship. • Listening carefully to and following all rehearsal directions. • Rehearsal is fast-paced, with lots of quick directions Back to Table of Contents

36. Choral Rehearsal Skills (CRS) (page 4) • Respecting other singers. • Every voice is different; all have potential • Music sharing (if applicable) • Taking good care of the music. • Don’t fold it backwards • Don’t throw it • Tape it when necessary • Put it away carefully and correctly Back to Table of Contents

37. CRS Grading Students earn a regular (usually weekly) grade, out of 10 points, based on their exhibition of appropriate Rehearsal Skills. • Each student starts the week with 9 out of 10 points. • Consider this to be the grade for ‘acceptable’ rehearsal skills. • I observe students during our rehearsals. • Students exhibiting exemplary rehearsal skills get a point added to their grade for the week. • Bonus points are also possible. • Students exhibiting poor rehearsal skills will lose one or more points from their grade for the week. Back to Table of Contents

38. Choral Singing Skills (CSS) (page 1) As a chorus member, you should develop the following skills that relate to singing: • Singing and stopping on cue, as directed. • Focusing your energy on singing. • Not socializing, daydreaming, doing work for other classes, etc. • Singing with good posture. Back to Table of Contents

39. Choral Singing Skills (CSS) (page 2) As a chorus member, you should develop the following skills that relate to singing: • Using your jaw, tongue, lips, and other parts of your face to correctly shape the sound coming from your mouth. • If you have something in your mouth, you cannot possibly do this correctly!!! • Using your face to express the music you are singing and communicate with your audience. • Moving in appropriate ways while singing. • Some music calls for no or little movement • Some music calls for specific choreographed movement • Some music calls for in-control free movement Back to Table of Contents

40. CSS Grading Students can earn up to 50 points a marking period based on their exhibition of appropriate Singing Skills. • Each student starts the marking period with 45 out of 50points. • Consider this to be the grade for ‘acceptable’ singing skills. • I observe students during our rehearsals. • Students exhibiting exemplary singing skills get a points added to their grade. • Bonus points are also possible. • Students exhibiting poor singing skills will lose points from their grade. Back to Table of Contents

41. Choral Performance Skills (CPS) (part 1) Choral Performance Skills are a natural outgrowth of Choral Rehearsal Skills. You will see some similar descriptions below: • Preparing yourself for the concert: • Arriving on time, in the appropriate attire, to the correct location. • Recognizing appropriate and inappropriate times to talk. • There will be ample time for socialization before and after your performance. • There are also times when SILENCE is expected. These times include, but are not limited to: • When Mrs. Griffin walks in your ‘holding room’ to speak to you. • When ANY ADULT is giving you directions. • When you are walking in the hallways toward the auditorium. • When you enter the auditorium and walk onto the risers. • When you get off the risers and exit the auditorium. Back to Table of Contents

42. Choral Performance Skills (CPS) (part 2) • Maintaining focus when you are on the risers. • Even if you see your friends and family in the audience. • Even though the risers are crowded. • Even if something unexpected happens. • Listening carefully to and following directions. • A Tohickon concert performance affects more than 1000 people. It’s not about you, it’s about ALL OF THEM. Do your job to make the concert run smoothly. • Respecting other singers. • Everybody makes mistakes, even in performance. Good performers don’t give them away. Back to Table of Contents

43. Rehearsal and Concert Etiquette • Concerts • Each is worth 40 points. • See “Concert and Rehearsal” section of this presentation for information about absences. Chorus Concert 4-point grading scale 40 – Excellent Choral Performance* and Singing Skills exhibited. 30 – Poor Choral Performance* OR Singing Skills exhibited. 20 – Poor Choral Performance* AND Singing Skills exhibited. 0– Unexcused absence OR Excused absence not made up after school. Late excuse notes incur a 10ptpenalty from the grades above. • *Explanation of Choral Performance Skills on next page! Back to Table of Contents

44. Classwork and Quizzes • In class written and/or computer assignments • Written and/or computer quizzes • Topics: • Music Reading • Pitch – letter names • Rhythm • Solfege – key signatures • Expression markings • Following the music • Singing Skills • Posture, Breathing, Face Shape • Aural Skills Back to Table of Contents

45. Vocal Tests As your chorus teacher, I can learn a lot about the sound of the chorus by listening to the individuals that make up the chorus. While large-group singing is our main goal, hearing you sing individually or in a small group can help me learn where to focus my efforts with the larger group. They are also an indication of your success learning concepts we work on in class. Back to Table of Contents

46. Vocal Tests • Are not given in every single marking period. • Will usually be sung in small groups. • Are graded on teachable concepts, not the quality of your voice. • Each have their own rubric or grading scale. Back to Table of Contents

47. Other important stuff… Back to Table of Contents

48. Utilizing Resource Near the time of our concert, I will hold a rehearsal during Resource: • Check chart on whiteboard / listen to announcements for the particular day. • Get a pass from me BEFORE resource. • Sign in upon arrival. • CRS and CSS. Back to Table of Contents

49. Website My “Teacher Site” includes • This handbook. • Electronic copies of class handouts and assignments. • Reminders of important dates. • Other misc. chorus and singing information. Back to Table of Contents

50. TO SUM IT ALL UP…