Avon Lake High School Choral Music Education Handbook

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1 Avon Lake High School Choral Music Education Handbook Mr. Michael Lisi, Director

2 Welcome Back Parents and Students! I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you back from what I hope was a relaxing and enjoyable summer and to welcome the students and parents who are new to the choir program at Avon Lake High School. The Avon Lake City Schools have enjoyed a long tradition of excellence in choral music. There is a pride felt, not only by those presently singing in the Avon Lake choirs but also by the community and alumni who have contributed to the programs in the past. Performing music is an important part of a student s education and not just an extra. This class will stress music education not music entertainment. This should not imply that choir will not be fun, but that the most important aspect of what we do in the classroom will be educational, and all of the music performed will be selected for its vocal, musical and artistic merits. Students will perform a variety of music - several classical styles, folk, multicultural, and music in several foreign languages. All students have the ability to sing and there is no such thing as being tone deaf. It just takes some longer to develop the mental and physical coordination necessary to sing in tune. With hard work all students will improve. I have compiled a short handbook of procedures, policies, and guidelines that will serve as a guide for those singing in our choirs. Please take the time to download and read the following pages. The Signature/Agreement Form is due at the beginning of class on Friday, September 2. This handbook should be kept throughout the year as a reference to policies pertaining to grading, performance dates, class participation, class attendance, concert attendance, concert dress, etc. Please discuss the policies and requirements with your son or daughter. Concert participation is mandatory and unexcused concert absences will affect the grade and promotion to the next level for future years. Parents should feel free to call me if there are any questions regarding policies, procedures, or the choir program in general, or just to say hi. If I have neglected anything that you feel is important within this document, please free to let me know and I will amend and send out a memo including those changes. Parental support is very important to our program and I urge all parents to attend performances in which your son or daughter participates. The most important way you can contribute to the program is by contributing time, talent, or financial assistance to the Avon Lake Choral Boosters. Without this invaluable organization, we would not be able to provide the many opportunities and support for the choral students which currently exist to support our quality program. Michael K. Lisi Avon Lake High School Director of Choral Activities 175 Avon Belden Rd. Avon Lake, OH x1501

3 Educational Philosophy Performing music is an integral part of the secondary curriculum. It should not be considered any less of a class than math, science, language arts, etc. The course objectives are academic and provide the student a consummate music education. The choral classes will focus on developing each student s voice within the group setting while working with each student to improve music reading and analysis skills. Students will learn to sing as members of a traditional choral ensemble and will perform music appropriate for this setting. All music selected for rehearsal and performance will be for the sake of vocal development and general music education. Music selections will be chosen from both sacred and secular repertoire. Sacred music will be studied from a musical heritage standpoint and for cultural and musical education, not for the purpose of worship or praise. When appropriate, discussion pertaining to religious texts and purposes will be part of the classroom activities. All students are capable of learning to sing and read musical notation! Contrary to the popular belief that some people are more musically talented than others and just born with the ability to sing, research has proven that musical skill and knowledge are not fixed traits, and that a structured, sequential curriculum based on developing both, the physical coordination necessary for singing and the listening skills relevant to analysis of pitch, form, style, etc., will facilitate the development of well-rounded musicians. The music education of all students will be based on this theory and the premise that each student can improve musical skill and develop musical knowledge. These teenage years are a very important window of opportunity in terms of this musical development. All choirs are instructed according to Bel Canto principles of vocalization. The Bel Canto technique originates in the days of Italian opera where control and the tone quality of the voice were paramount. Although translated, Bel Canto simply means "beautiful singing," it is much more than a descriptor of any given singing style. The practitioners of Bel Canto such as Lamperti used specific techniques in producing the voice that resulted in resonance and purity of tone, consistency of tone across the registers of the voice, a high degree of breath control, excellent projection, and longevity of the voice. Unfortunately, over the years, the term "Bel Canto" has become watered-down and too broadly used such that it has lost a lot of the specifics of the original meaning it once had. Bel Canto is ALL of the following: 1. a style of singing that originated in Italian opera 2. a technique of producing the voice in such a way as to achieve the aesthetic of the above style of singing 3. a way of singing where your voice does not tire, but actually gets stronger over the course of a performance, tour, etc. 4. a natural way of singing that "makes sense" as it is rooted in simple physical and physiological principles 5. has four key components - the lift of the throat, the mask of the face, the inhalation of the voice, and the hold of the breath. 6. should appear as effortless as speaking - it does not strain the voice in any way - getting nodes is impossible if you are using the technique. Any technique that leaves out ANY of this (note the inhalation of the voice especially!) is a version of Bel Canto that has been manipulated for the sake of convenience or is lacking due to ignorance. Many people who claim to use and teach Bel Canto genuinely believe they are doing so, but that is only because the teachers they studied with were victim to someone else's sense of convenience or ignorance along the way The Bel Canto Technique

4 Choral Rehearsal Objectives 1. Students will demonstrate the basics of good singing posture. 2. Students will demonstrate good breath control. 3. Students will demonstrate and identify good intonation through singing and listening to others. 4. Students will demonstrate proper use of modified, resonant vowels and consonants. 5. Students will demonstrate the proper use of dynamics. 6. Students will demonstrate an understanding of musical form. 7. Students will successfully perform their part of a multiple-part choral piece. 8. Students will be positive contributors to the choir and demonstrate responsible participation during group rehearsals. A conscious, visible effort must be made to achieve the above objectives. Classroom Expectations 1. There should be no talking while the rehearsal is in progress. If you have a question, raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged. 2. Phones will be turned in to phone slot at the beginning of each class. Attendance will be taken, on a daily basis, using phones which are placed in the shoe hangers that will be numbered and assigned to each student. No student should be in possession of a phone during class. 3. Have your required materials every day 3-ring binder, music, sight-reading, sharpened pencil, and anything else as directed by the teacher. 4. Be prepared to sing individually and demonstrate mastery of literature and sightreading at any time during the rehearsal 5. Show respect toward the teacher and support for other students in the class. 6. Gum chewing or having any object in the mouth, eating and drinking are not permitted. 7. Respect the property of the school and the personal belongings of other students and teachers. 8. Tardies are unacceptable. Repeat offenses will be dealt with according to school policy. 9. Restroom passes are to be used sparingly. Abusing this privilege will result in no passes being provided during future classes. 10. Follow directions the first time given! Consequences 1. Verbal Warning (including those given to the class) 2. Detention 3. Office Discipline 4. Parent Communication via , phone call, or through written correspondence. 5. Removal from performance and forfeiture of the performance grade. 6. Removal from Choir Any infraction of the above rules or refusal to follow directions will affect the Effective Participation/Positive Contribution part of the student s grade. Concert Attendance All students are expected to attend every performance! Each individual is important to a performance and the group must be the same size and configuration as when we rehearse. A performance is the culmination of all rehearsals that precede it and should be viewed as a final assessment for that literature and the skills required for successful performance.

5 Any student participating in an extra-curricular activity, within or without of the school, should provide the coach or activity supervisor with a list of concert and rehearsal dates on the first day of the season. Coaches must know ahead of time that you will be missing a scheduled practice, game or activity. If you are absent from school because of an extreme illness on the day of a concert, a parent must call and leave me a message in addition to the attendance center. There will be students in school the day of a concert, but for excused reasons, will not be at the concert. There will also be students absent from class that day for excused reasons who will be able to perform at the concert. Because of this it is not possible for me to know which students will be absent from the concert by looking at daily attendance list. Seniors and juniors should not schedule college visits which will conflict with scheduled performances or rehearsals. Colleges offer more than one day for visitations and students should schedule a date which enables you to fulfill your obligation to the choir. The student s grade will be lowered by two letters for each unexcused concert/performance absence, not providing timely request for excused absence or prior excused conflict during the quarter (at the beginning of the academic year). Excused Absences 1. Death in the family. 2. Extreme Illness 3. Religious Holiday If a student misses a concert, a parent can submit an Excused Absence Request form in complete detail and the director will make a decision regarding an absence being excused or not based on the information provided. In the event that an absence is excused, a recorded, performance assignment relative to the music being performed will be assigned and this assignment, graded for accuracy and mastery of the literature requirements, will substitute for the concert grade. Please remember that communication is necessary and required in all instances of a possible or probable concert absence! Grading Below are the areas included in each quarter grade. Percentages are not fixed and could be adjusted based on group and individual achievement and pace. It is possible that Effective Participation could be 100% of the quarter grade so students should be conscientious about having materials and attention to instruction. Vocal and written assessments will be conducted on an as-needed basis. New state mandated assessments and reporting of student progress will require that additional testing take place to demonstrate that all students are progressing at an acceptable rate during the year. These assessments will be performance-based but comprehensive. Areas tested will include but not be limited to sightreading and demonstration of the basics of good vocal production. Effective Participation/Positive Contribution 75% Score Notation/Marking/Tests 10% Vocal Assessment 15% Concert Attendance (Unexcused absence = two letter grade drop for quarter)

6 Classroom Participation/Positive Contribution (see the Effective Participation Rubric) Exhibits strong work ethic and works to improve in all areas of musicianship and vocal skill. Attention never wavers from rehearsal. Brings required materials to class (students will not be sent back to lockers). Prompt Attendance in seat with materials and ready to rehearse when the bell sounds. Phone should never be with student on the risers! Tests/Quizzes Sightsinging tests can perform a melodic or rhythmic pattern alone. Written Tests - knowledge of choral scores being rehearsed. Vocal Tests - knows music and can demonstrate by singing an individual part alone or in a small ensemble as asked by the director with the required musical and interpretive nuances. ALHS Choir Uniform Responsibility Men s Chorus: Women s Chorus: DaCantari Women: DaCantari Men: Chorale Men: Chorale Women: Long Sleeve White Button-down Oxford Shirt, dark tie Black dress pants (ABSOLUTELY NO CARGOS, JEANS, ETC.) Black DRESS shoes (Entire Uniform is Student s Responsibility) Burgundy Blouse (Provided by ALHS Choir) Black Skirt (Provided by ALHS Choir) Black CLOSED Toe Dress Shoes (Student s Responsibility) White Blouse, Black Skirt and Pearls (ALL Provided by ALHS Choir) Black CLOSED Toe Dress Shoes (Student s Responsibility) White Tuxedo Shirt (Student s Responsibility) Black Bow Tie (Student s Responsibility) Black Tuxedo Pants (Provided by ALHSChoir) Black DRESS Shoes (Student s Responsibility) Black Tuxedo Jacket and Tuxedo Pants (Provided by ALHS Choir) White Tuxedo Shirt (Student s Responsibility) Black Tow Tie (Student s Responsibility) Black DRESS Shoes (Student s Responsibility) Black Satin Long Dress, Black Opera Length Gloves and Pearls (All Provided by ALHS Choir). Black CLOSED Toe Dress Shoes (Student s Responsibility) No other jewelry/accessories are to be worn other than what is provided by the Avon Lake Choir! Message to the Ladies!!! Please remember to wear the appropriate colored bra/cami under your tops. (Black for Chorale, White or Beige for DaCantari, and Black or Beige for Women s Chorus) All Uniform/Garment Bags are to be returned in the same condition as they were received.

7 All parents must sign the Uniform Agreement Responsibility Form before uniforms will be assigned! Replacement Cost TUX JACKET $75.00 TUX PANT $35.00 CHORALE DRESS $65.00 CHORALE GLOVES $15.00 PEARL NECKLACE $10.00 ACCESSORY BAG $ 5.00 DA CANTARI SKIRT $36.00 DA CANTARI BLOUSE $36.00 WOMEN S CHORUS TOP $36.00 WOMEN S CHORUS SKIRT $25.00 BLACK NYLON GARMENT BAG $15.00 CHORALE S NYLON DRESS BAG $20.00 Choral Performance Dates November 1 Chorale Fall Concert 7:30pm Avon Lake HS PAC December 15 Holiday Choral Concert 7:30pm Avon Lake HS PAC (All Choirs) February 11 OMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest TBA (Merples and Students selected by the Director) March 9 Winter Choral Concert 7:30 Avon Lake HS PAC (All Choirs) March 3 or 4 OMEA District Choir Contest TBA TBA (Possible date for all choirs) March 30-April 3 Chorale Tour Toronto and Niagara Falls April 28 or 29 OMEA State Choir Contest TBA TBA (Possible date for all choirs) Contingent upon qualification through district event May 11 Spring Choral Concert 7:30pm Avon Lake HS PAC (All Choirs) June 3 Commencement 6:30pm Avon Lake HS (Chorale required date) *I will inform you of TBA contest/performance times and places when I receive notice. Students will receive solo and ensemble performance times one week prior to the contest. Please keep all dates open!

8 OMEA Solo & Ensemble Contest OMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest is a chance for the more advanced vocal music students to perform a solo and/or as part of an ensemble for a judge who will provide written comments and assign a rating to the performance. Students who are interested in performing a solo or in an ensemble for this contest should see Mr. Lisi as soon as possible. Students wishing to perform a solo are required to sing their solos at least 2 weeks in advance of the registration deadline which is 30 days ahead of the event. A student will be permitted to register after demonstrating proficient performance with proper vocal technique (bel canto) and appropriate musical style relative to the selected required piece for the correct voicing. All soloists will be responsible for the registration fee and ensembles will be paid for by the Avon Lake HS Choral Boosters. Membership in the Ohio Music Education Association is an individual choice by each director and since students are sent under the personal membership of each director and not the private instructor, Participation is entirely at the professional discretion of the school choral director. Promotion to Da Cantari and Chorale Students will be promoted to Da Cantari and Chorale based on a combination of recorded voicings and demonstration of proper rehearsal deportment throughout the current academic year. Students must demonstrate mastery of a supported tone throughout the entire range. Vocal tone must be vibrant with vertical space, resonance, pitch-accurate, and with no tension and appropriate for the specific gender-based, physical voicing. Promotion to Da Cantari or Chorale will be at the discretion of the director and will be final. Auditions for the next school year begin with the first rehearsal of the current year. It is not possible to cram for an audition that is based on vocal techniques that can only be mastered with continued proper vocalization. Although a strong work-ethic is admirable and necessary to succeed within the choirs, this alone will not be enough to ensure promotion. Private Lessons Students who wish to gain mastery of the voice to a level necessary to move forward through the ALHS choral program, should consider studying voice with one of our endorsed private instructors. Not all who teach voice do so in a proper, healthy manner. Even some who teach at reputable institutions are less acceptable when it comes to proper instruction and continuous reinforcement of proper skills. Please see me for suggestions or private instructors.

9 Date Received Date Returned Excused Absence Request Name Event Please provide the specific circumstances surrounding the absence and the reasons you believe this absence should be approved and is not covered by present policy. This form must be returned within one week of the missed performance for absences that follow the excused absence policy. For prior conflicts, this form should be returned one week after learning of the performance requirement which was scheduled AFTER the personal commitment. The director will make a decision regarding the absence being excused or unexcused based on the information above. Parent Signature Student Signature