Course Description
Intermediate Choir provides students with opportunities to develop musicianship and specific performance skills through ensemble and solo singing. The choir may be composed of (1) male choir, (2) female choir, (3) mixed choir, or any combination thereof. Activities create the development of quality repertoire in the diverse styles of choral literature appropriate in difficulty and range for the student. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music into other subject areas. Choir classes provide instruction in creating, performing, conducting, listening to, and analyzing, in addition to focusing on the specific subject matter. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students have the opportunity to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. A limited amount of time, outside of the school day, may be scheduled for dress rehearsal and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom. Choral repertoire should be developmentally appropriate. Additional emphasis is placed on sight-reading, critical listening skills, and vocal technique. (A Core 40 and AHD one-credit course, this course may be taken for successive trimesters.)
Grading
The ECHS vocal music courses are, by their very nature, mostly
"applied" classes, meaning that the majority of what
is done in class is active, not objective "pen and paper"
course work. This does not mean, however, that an "A"
is an automatic grade. Students earn a grade through each
day's active participation as well as some written course work.
There will be varied assigned work, from basic music knowledge
assignments to evaluation of performances (self and others) and
of recordings, in addition to the evaluation via the group performances.
Attendance at these performances is mandatory and is part of the
term grade as well as establishing eligibility for earning a letter.
Appropriate rehearsal/classroom behavior and participation is
expected, as is being on time. The calendar of performances
is posted at www.blueblazers.org/echs/music/music4.htm
The grading scale in general is
100
A+
78-79
C+
0-59
F
93-99
A
73-77
C
90-92
A-
70-72
C-
88-89
B+
68-69
D+
83-87
B
63-67
D
80-82
B-
60-62
D-
Daily class participation is 50% of the class grade. Points
will be deducted for repeated talking, unexcused absences, or
tardies to class. Concert/festival performances are 20% of the
class grade, with a two letter grade penalty for an unexcused
absence from a concert/festival performance. Assigned paperwork
is 15% of the class grade, and quizzes/tests are 15% of the class
grade. Final exam grades are added after the class grade
is calculated, and are 20% of the trimester grade.
Ten Basic Classroom Rules
1. Regular school attendance is extremely important in
every class, but is vital in an applied class such as choir.
Every minute available needs to be productive. Credit
course and performance attendance guidelines are established by
ECHS administration and will be followed. ECHS conduct and
attendance policies will be followed.
2. Be on time to class. When the bell rings to signal the
end of the five minute passing period, all students need
to be in the choral rehearsal room and getting folders out in
order to start rehearsal and instruction immediately upon completion
of attendance and/or any announcements needing to be made.
ECHS tardy forms will be used. Tardy students need to complete
these forms before being seated.
3. Please dispose of any gum, candy, etc. upon entering
the room. In order to produce the best possible vocal sound,
there should be nothing in the mouth that can obstruct vocal production
or projection. There are garbage cans in the room for this
purpose. Detentions may be assigned for repeated problems
in this area.
4. Restrict talking in class to appropriate times.
When the choir is rehearsing, there should be no talking, as all
voices will be used in singing. If the group is not singing
and is receiving instruction, clarification, etc. from the director,
there should be no talking. If a specific section is being
rehearsed (tenors, sopranos, whatever) and your section is not
involved, this time should be utilized for students to go through
their part silently in order to make more progress. Repeated
talking and/or inattentiveness to the class activity may result
in a detention being assigned.
5. Participation is expected at all appropriate times. It is realized that illness may occasionally prohibit participation. At such times, the student needs to inform the director at the beginning of the class period of the illness and is expected to pay attention to what is happening in class. Studying other subjects is not permitted. If the inability to sing continues longer than one class day or is frequent, a doctor's/parent's note is requested or the student's participation grade may suffer. If there are other circumstances which prohibit a student's participation, it is the student's responsibility to make these other circumstances (religious or cultural beliefs, etc.) known to the director. Simply not wishing to participate or sing a particular selection is unacceptable.
6. Take care of personal matters between classes.
Brief and occasional use of the water fountain in the room is
encouraged during class as long as your section is not rehearsing.
Only one person should be at the water fountain at a time to limit
distraction of other students. Other drinks are not to be
outside the cafeteria area.
7. Ask questions whenever necessary. If there is a
problem with a specific song, line, note, etc., please feel free
to ask for clarification. This should be done in a proper
manner through raising a hand and waiting to be called upon,
just like other classes. Please respect others when they
need to ask a question.
8. Discipline will be handled as the need arises.
All students are expected to exercise proper school behavior as
explained in the student handbook. Any problems in class
or concerning the ECS/ECHS conduct code will be handled in accordance
with school policy.
9. Maintain proper singing posture in the class. As
with chewing gum, in order to produce the best possible vocal
sound it is necessary to sit correctly. The group will also
be requested to stand periodically, and all students are expected
to promptly do so.
10. Work to maintain a positive attitude toward the choir and the class in general. We are all in this together and need each other's best efforts in order to be successful!
Attendance/Performance Conflict Resolution Policy
The following policies govern choral organizations which are selected
by the student. All efforts are made to avoid calendar/schedule
conflicts, but they do happen. Many times a conflict can
be worked around if enough advance notice is given. It is
the student's responsibility to notify the director of a potential
conflict. The following basic guidelines shall be used in
determining appropriate resolutions to conflicting performance
schedules:
1. Scheduled IHSAA tournaments, ISSA Division of Student
Activities contests, and ISSMA events shall take precedence.
If the conflict is between two of these activities, the student
shall make the choice without penalty.
2. Regularly scheduled games and performances beyond Item #1 shall
be the #2 priority.
3. A previously scheduled event on the official school calendar
will take precedence over a calendar addition or a rescheduled
event.
4. The importance of the student's participation in the
success of the total group's performance.
5. Attendance at routine rehearsals scheduled outside of
school hours is required unless excused by the music director.
Unexcused absences may be a factor in determining student grades
and eligibility for awards.
ECHS Attendance/Performance Policy
Students are expected to attend all scheduled performances.
The ECHS choirs will excuse a student from a performance for the
following reasons: student's illness (verified via attendance
office or parent note within one week), verified attendance at
religious services, death in the family/funeral, and emergency
situations which will be handled and excused at the director's
and administration's discretion. Other school activities
will be worked around as much as is possible, including the option
when possible of splitting time between two activities' rehearsals/practices.
Work is NOT an excuse for missing a performance or rehearsal.
If an absence which is not approved occurs, any of the following
disciplinary actions (or combinations of same) will occur:
·Loss of performance award points (toward
awards at the end of each year). A second absence from a
performance may forfeit any award for which a student would
be eligible. This will be handled with ECHS administration.
·Loss of grading period points toward
grade (normally a two letter grade deduction).
·Removal from all remaining performances
for that trimester. If another absence occurs in the same
trimester, the student will be advised to drop the class.
Guidance counselors and parents/guardians will be involved since
a schedule change may be in order.
·Removal from the activity/performing
group for the academic year.
Proper attire is a necessity for performances. When wearing
school-provided robes, the primary concern is for what is visible
outside the robe. It is necessary for all students
to be clothed appropriately: for men, dark), dark dress shoes
(no tennis) and slacks (no jeans of any kind). For women,
dresses/skirts are fine with nice shoes (not sandals) and hosiery.
Any skirt or dress should not be longer than the robe being worn
over it. If slacks are worn by women, they should be nice
(no jeans) with appropriate shoes. Questions about whether
an item of clothing is appropriate must be asked in advance. Rehearsals
for the choirs which occur outside the school day will occur only
when absolutely necessary, and it is expected that students who
are involved will attend.
Choir Fees/Costs
In order to provide and appropriately maintain robes for the various
ensembles at ECHS, an $8.00 fee is charged each student at the
beginning of the class, and is due by Winter Break. Individual
student fund raising profits may be used to pay these fees/costs.
Choir Leadership
Positions
The following leadership positions may be elected by each choir.
Periodic meetings may be held to discuss upcoming events
and concerns of relevance to the choral music program. Any
elected leaders not fulfilling their duties or who are representing
the choirs in a less than positive manner may be removed.
Additional leadership positions may be utilized, at the discretion
of the group's director.
President: Assumes leadership within the choir, will
be primary student help for any substitute teacher. Will
substitute for Secretary and/or Treasurer if those students are
absent. May be asked to make announcements at concert performances.
Secretary: Takes daily attendance in class; also
takes attendance at concerts. Must be prompt (if not early)
to events in order to take attendance. Must be accurate in attendance.
Frequent errors will result in replacement.
Treasurer: Works with the collection of robe fees,
trip payments, and fundraiser proceeds, and will work with
director on money items such as ISSMA solo/ensemble fees.
Will write receipts for any monies turned in by students.
Accuracy is a requirement.
ECHS Choral Awards Points System
The number of award points needed for a year's award recognition
is calculated via the number of events during the year at which
attendance is expected. This number is reached via number
of choir concerts x 250 points per concert, plus 50 miscellaneous
points accumulated throughout the year (service, additional vocal
music activities, etc.). This number may vary yearly depending
upon the activity of the ensembles. In this way, students
receive their yearly award only if they have fulfilled the basic
expectations of the ensemble. Awards points are not accumulative
year-to-year. It is the student's responsibility to check
the award point listings (posted on the Choir Room bulletin board)
for accuracy, and to submit information concerning any event for
which points may be awarded. At the end of the year, the
appropriate award (letter, chevron, etc.) will be awarded to the
student.
Points
Activity or Activity Type
50
Attendance
at summer choir camp
10 Per hour school choir rehearsal outside school day (does not include rehearsals for school musical)
250 Each
required ECHS Choir performance (concert, ISSMA Organizational
Festival)
25 All State Choir auditions
25
Solo
performance at ISSMA piano or solo/ensemble festival
15
Ensemble
performance at ISSMA solo/ensemble festival
25
Per
performance at pre-festival recital or other school-organized
recital
50 Ensemble/Chorus
role in school musical
100 Principal
role in school musical
25 Performing
solo or other feature or accompanying at concert
50 max. Church music activities/choir (during school year, 2/month min.)
20 Working backstage during concerts
Other categories or credits may be added/awarded as deemed appropriate.
For 2008-2009, the number of points (as of July, 2007) needed to earn a letter for Intermediate Choir is 1050. If a choir has additional required performances, members of that group will need to earn the 250 additional points per additional required performance.
No allowance is made for "excused" or "unexcused" absences from performances - it is the student's responsibility to make up any points lost from absences through working for the choir program outside of class time, working backstage at concerts, etc. Students who have unexcused absences from more than one concert performance may forfeit any award they may have received, even if enough points have been earned in other ways. Any exceptional medical circumstances will be handled on an individual basis in accordance with ECHS administration.
Revised 07/05/08 by WN