Lisa Conant Hopkinton Middle School Choral Director

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1 On Behalf of our music department, I would like to welcome you to the Hopkinton Choral Program. Music is an extremely important part of students lives and the Hopkinton Music Department strives to enrich students lives as fully as possible. Each student that has joined any of our ensembles is vital to the ensemble s sound, blend, intonation, and balance. Parents are equally important in their roles in the music department, as without your help, we would not be successful. Parents, please especially read the section of this handbook stating the many ways in which you can get involved! We as a music department can be as outstanding as we want to be; it all depends on you. Superior music groups are a result of many hours of hard work as well as a strong dedication and commitment from each member. This handbook is provided to make your orientation to the Choral Music Department a quick and easy task. We ask that you and your parents to read this handbook together, so that you may better understand our policies, and objectives. I am looking forward to working with each one of you. As a Hopkinton Chorus Member, you should strive for excellence in practice as well as performance. This means that your focus needs to be on the music at hand, cooperation, and having an outstanding attitude! Your talent and hard work can make this year very exciting, fun-filled, and musically rewarding for all of us! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time. I am most easily reached by . Thank You! = Sincerely, Lisa Conant Hopkinton Middle School Choral Director Lconant@hopkinton.k12.ma.us 1

2 Goals/Objectives Chorus is designed as a study in vocal production and music fundamentals. Students will have many opportunities to sing for personal enjoyment and perform a variety of choral literature. Our goals/objectives are aligned with the National Standards of Music in Massachusetts. The state frameworks are listed below with the Hopkinton Choral Department s objectives following. MASSACHUSETTS STATE FRAMEWORKS: MUSIC The Arts Disciplines Students learn about and use the symbolic language of music STANDARD 1 Singing: Students will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. STANDARD 2 Reading and Notation: Students will read music written in standard notation. STANDARD 3 Playing Instruments: Students will play instruments, alone and with others, to perform a varied repertoire of music. STANDARD 4 Improvisation and Composition: Students will improvise, compose, and arrange music. STANDARD 5 Critical Response: Students will describe and analyze their own music and the music of others using appropriate music vocabulary. When appropriate, students will connect their analysis to interpretation and evaluation. MUSIC STRANDS AND STANDARDS Connections: History, Criticism, and Links to Other Disciplines Students learn about the history and criticism of music, its role in the community, and its links to other disciplines STANDARD 6 Purposes and Meanings in the Arts: Students will describe the purposes for which works of dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and architecture were and are created, and, when appropriate, interpret their meanings. STANDARD 7 Roles of Artists in Communities: Students will describe the roles of artists, patrons, cultural organizations, and arts institutions in societies of the past and present. STANDARD 8 Concepts of Style, Stylistic Influence, and Stylistic Change: Students will demonstrate their understanding of styles, stylistic influence, and stylistic change by identifying when and where art works were created, and by analyzing characteristic features of art works from various historical periods, cultures, and genres. STANDARD 9 Inventions, Technologies, and the Arts: Students will describe and analyze how performing and visual artists use and have used materials, inventions, and technologies in their work. STANDARD 10 Interdisciplinary Connections: Students will apply their knowledge of the arts to the study of English language arts, foreign languages, health, history and social science, mathematics, and science and technology/engineering. 2

3 1. Develop correct vocal techniques. Hopkinton Choral Department: Goals and Objectives 2. Develop fundamental music skills in notation and sight-singing. 3. Recognize musical elements and demonstrate expressive qualities in varying styles of choral music. 4. Contribute to the blend, balance, and quality of the ensemble by developing the ability to sing a part securely and accurately. 5. Develop confidence in performing by practicing performance etiquette and decorum. 6. Have opportunities for the enjoyment of music through active participation. 7. Develop self-discipline by functioning as a responsible member of the organization. 8. Develop personal character traits of leadership, poise, and dependability, as well as provide an avenue for self-expression. Quarterly grade breakdown: Chorus Grading Policy 6th Grade Rehearsal Effort/Participation 60 Homework 10 Tests/Quizzes 10 Concert performance 20 Total: th and 8 th Grade Rehearsal Effort/Participation 50 Homework 10 Tests/Quizzes 20 Concert performance 20 Total: 100 Grading Category Descriptions: Concert Performance: A large purpose of daily rehearsals is to prepare and perform a concert. The concert is the culmination and reward for all the weeks of rehearsals. It is a time of accountability where we demonstrate to parents and the community the quality of our music program. As mentioned earlier, each student is vital to the ensembles sound, blend, intonation, and balance. For these reasons, participation in the concert is mandatory for all ensemble members. Failure to attend a scheduled concert will result in loss of 20 points from your term grade. If you are absent from school or if there is a death in the family, you are excused from the concert. Please have your parents write a note to me or leave me a 3

4 message at the school. In the unlikely event that you miss a required concert for an excused reason, you will need to sing your pieces for me to receive full credit. Students are required to stay until the end of any concerts: Part of the students growth musically happens from watching and supporting the other ensembles. Effort will be determined by: 1. Daily observation of vocal production (Posture, breathing, pitch, diction, rhythm, and tone) 2. Misc. Grades such as: a. Returning completed handbook agreement, field trip forms, etc. by the assigned date. b. Using only pencil for all classroom activities, having materials ready when class begins, and returning music folders/binders to their assigned spot if necessary. Please always bring a pencil and agenda to class! 3. Periodic checking of parts: In the middle school, checking of parts will always be done in small groups of 2 or more on a part. This type of assessment is not to make a student sing by themselves. 4. Showing the work of practice outside of class. Choral Assessments: These are recordings done at home by the singer and ed or brought to me by the due date. I need to hear each student individually, but I do know how stressful singing alone in front of a class can be. Students will instead use my website to play an accompaniment that they will record themselves singing with and it to me. Students musical assessment and growth will be determined using the MICCA Rubric and/or the District Rubric. Chorus Procedures: Music Folders: There will be folders in the room that the students will be borrowing. They are to treat these folders as if they were library materials that will be returned at the end of class. Folders are to last the whole year and should be taken care of. As students will be sharing these folders, they may only decorate their designated area and should make sure to keep all words and drawings school appropriate. Should a folder not be treated correctly, the involved student will receive a yellow or pink slip depending on the offense. Care of Music: School owned music is purchased by the school for use by the Choral Department and is loaned to students for use while in Chorus. It is not the property of the student and must be treated as borrowed material or as any other textbook. A replacement fee and shipping charge per missing or damaged piece of music will be assessed. Students are to use PENCIL when writing in their music. 4

5 Pencils: Each student must bring a pencil to every rehearsal. The best way to do this is to put one in your music folder so that it will always be available for your use. Water and Food: Water (and only PLAIN WATER) is allowed in the chorus classroom. Food is NEVER allowed due to severe allergies within my classroom. Gum: Gum is never allowed during class as it becomes a safety hazard while singing. Seating: Students will be assigned to their seats based on the tone quality and register of their voice. This seat is permanent and is vital to the sound of the chorus. You may be asked at any time to change seats or scramble the seating due to sound or behavior. If you feel your voice has changed during the year, please request to have your voice tested. Entering or Leaving the Rehearsal: Upon entering the rehearsal area, go directly to the folder bookcase and find your folder or take a seat if you brought your folder home. You should then quickly get ready to start warm-ups. This is to occur before the class starts, not after! Please ask to use the bathroom BEFORE class. If you are late without a pass, you will make up the time after school. If tardiness becomes a reoccurring issue, points will be lost and you will still need to make up the lost rehearsal time. You may also be referred to the office. Warm-ups: No athlete would think of practicing without stretching and warming up the muscles. To do so would be asking for torn muscles and strained tendons. Likewise, your voice is a muscle that must be stretched and warmed up prior to use. Make no mistake! Proper singing is a very athletic activity, requiring many muscles and a lot of channeled energy. For this reason, the ensemble will do vocal exercises prior to singing. These exercises will not only warm up and stretch out your vocal apparatus, but will also teach valuable vocal techniques and will help train and refine your singing and listening skills. Each student is expected to fully participate in vocal warm-ups. It is not optional and failure to participate fully could result in damage to your vocal chords. Working a piece of music: This varies from song to song but generally, the director will work new songs by voice part (section). When the director is working with a particular section, you should follow along singing your own part silently or humming quietly while paying attention to the things being said to the section. It is very likely similar things will be said to your section soon. As a song is more fully learned, much of the rehearsal becomes sound oriented. At this time, you will be asked to do very specific things with your voice to enhance the interpretive and musical quality of the piece. This fine-tuning can seem very picky at times but rest assured, it is the picky details that separate great choirs from simply good choirs. Each of you is expected to attempt the vocal techniques you are given to the best of your ability. When each person takes on the responsibility of giving his or her 5

6 best effort, it enhances the overall sound, and takes the ensemble to the next level of performance excellence. Lastly, one of the things our ensembles are noted for is the fact that we do not hold music during performances. All music will be performed from memory. We will polish this skill during the rehearsals immediately preceding the concert. Concert Dress: The Hopkinton Music Department is always striving to instill professional attitudes and habits in the performing ensembles. Part of that is taking pride in one s appearance for a concert. We are fully in favor of students expressing their individuality. However, a choral concert is not the forum in which to do this. Concerts are to showcase the ensemble. No individual should ever draw attention to him or herself through behavior or dress during an ensemble performance. This draws attention away from the ensemble as a whole and focuses it upon an individual student. This is unfair to the ensemble, to which the student is one of many members. For this reason, each chorus member must obtain the following articles of clothing to be used during all concert performances: Women:! All ladies will wear an ankle length black skirt or black dress pants. As a change this year, we will allow ankle length THICK black leggings with a calf or knee-length skirt or dress. Slit in skirt may be no higher than the center of the knee joint. If the skirt is above the knee, the student may not be allowed to sing on stage.! A Black blouse that is conservative and professional in design. No spaghetti straps or bare midriffs. Please adhere to a three finger strap width or more.! Shoes and stockings should be appropriate to the outfit and dark in color. No sneakers, combat boots, or other extremes of footwear. Men:! Black dress pants (no jeans)! Black long sleeve dress shirt with collar.! Necktie: The necktie may be colored or holiday appropriate, but not distracting.! Black socks! Dark dress shoes (no sneakers) This dress code applies to ALL concerts. Any variation in this dress code will be made by the director and told to the students well in advance of the concert. Any student who fails to comply with the guidelines above will not be allowed to perform in the concert and will not be given credit for the performance. If a students wishes to wear attire that is questionable, he or she should get the outfit approved from the director in advance of the performance. 6

7 Concert Etiquette: Students: When performing, you are representing your chorus, your school, and yourself. Give it your best at all times! 1. Every time you sing, think of how you can add to our choir s outstanding reputation, not take away from it. 2. Stand with proper alignment and keep your hands at your sides. 3. NEVER talk during any performance! 4. NO GUM! 5. Keep your eyes on the director and always concentrate. Your face should reflect the meaning of the text; decide what the music should communicate to the audience. 6. Sustain the mood of the song until the director drops her hands. 7. Enjoy yourself and think of what joy you can give to the audience. 8. Remember to smile during the applause. Show the audience that you are proud of your accomplishments. Audience as well as performers: Adhering to a few concert etiquette rules will make the performance more enjoyable for all who attend the concerts. 1. Observe performances quietly and attentively. Talking, tapping, whispering, or making other noises is inappropriate and distracting. 2. Applaud at the appropriate times. This includes at the beginning and end of the performances. 3. Recognize excellent performances with dignity. Concert halls are not the place for catcalls, yelling out, or other inappropriate behaviors. 4. Wait until performers have completed the current piece before moving into or out of your seat. 5. Enter or leave the auditorium on applause only. Move quickly and quietly to and from your seat. 6. Please turn off all pagers and cell phones. 7. Take crying children out of the performance hall. 8. Stay until the end of the concert to show your support. Extra credit: There are numerous ways in which to earn extra credit during the course of each marking period. The highest grade in any marking period is 100 points. Some of these options include: Participation in an after school choir; auditioning for Junior District Chorus; Attending a concert other than you own and writing a brief but thorough review of the concert; among others. Central District Junior MMEA Music Festival: 7 th and 8 th Graders will have the opportunity to audition for the Central District Junior MMEA Music Festival while High School students may audition for the Senior Central District MMEA Music Festival. This is a wonderful opportunity to sing or play 7

8 more challenging music with other musicians from different schools who share a passion for music throughout the Central District. All students will receive information regarding the festival as well as the audition piece at a later date. MICCA: Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association: *****There is a very important weekend I will need all chorus students to block off for the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association Choral Festival and Competition. We will know later in the school year which day in this weekend we will go. The weekend is APRIL 4 th through APRIL 6 th, How Parents Can Help Students: Parent Page! 1. Show an interest in the music study of your child. 2. Encourage your child to perform for others when the opportunity arises, whether at home, school, church, or the community. 3. Keep a record of the student's various music activities. 4. Notify the teacher if your child is to be absent or tardy at rehearsals or performances. 5. Teach your child to be punctual at rehearsals and performances. 6. Plan ahead to be able to stay until the end of the concert. As a music department we have decided to have separate concert nights for each grade to ensure that students are not out excessively late. Each student should be staying through the end of the concert in order to learn from and support the rest of the music department. 7. Attend concerts and other events involving your child. Show your support!!! 8

9 Please sign and return the acknowledgment/information sheet to me by Tuesday, September 10, Hopkinton Public Schools Department of Music Middle School Chorus Student and Parent Acknowledgment/Information Form Please go to: > District Departments > Music > Student Parent/Guardian Information Form And fill out the online information form before signing and returning this form. Please also go to for the Choral Handbook, Department Calendar, and private lesson forms. We have read the Middle School Chorus Handbook and understand the information and policies contained in it. Print Student s Name Student s Signature Date 9

10 Parent s/guardian s Signature Date Please return by Tuesday, September 10,