12 1 Poston Junior High School Choir Handbook 2018-2019 Lori Bottomley Choir Director Michael Rapier Principal Marcie Howard Team Leader
WELCOME! Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to the Poston Jr High Choir Program! I am so glad you chose to sing in choir this year! We have exciting things planned for choir. Here is a little bit about me: I am a graduate of Mesa Community College and Ottawa University with a degree in Choral Music Education, Magna Cum Laude. I have taught choral music for many years outside of the public schools mostly at the elementary age levels. I perform professionally with Resonance Vocal Ensemble, and play the violin as well. With my amazing husband I raised 5 very talented kids and have a handful of grandchildren who are the joy of my life. Lori Bottomley 480-472-2133 labottomley@mpsaz.org COURSE OBJECTIVES In this class the students will learn to: Sing music at first sight using solfege (do, re, mi) Improve his/her ability to perform vocal music Develop an understanding of choral ensemble singing and blend Perform and appreciate different styles of music Learn and improve in the areas of healthy vocal technique, music history, and music theory Have meaningful musical experiences 2 Date &Time Thurs. Jan. 31 All Day Poston Thurs. Feb. 7 6:00/8:00 Poston Step-up Day (Select Choirs) Peek at Poston Spring Open House (Bella Voce) Feb. 19, 21, 26, 28 4:30-6:30 pm MPS Honor Choir Rehearsals Historic Irving (Junior High Honor Festival by audition) Sat. Mar. 2 8;00am-4:00pm Mountain View HS Weds. Mar. 6 7:00pm Sat. Mar 30 TBD Mesa Arts Center Mon. Apr. 22 class time Poston Choir Room Fri. May 4 TBD First United Methodist Weds. May 15 7:00pm Tues. May 21 IN CLASS Event MPS Festival Honor Choir ACE Choral Festival (Select Choirs) Mt View Choral Auditions ACDA Choral Festival (Select Choirs) Uniform Check-in ***Bold events are MANDATORY*** 11
Date &Time Mon Wed Aug. 19-21 4:00-6:00pm Thurs. Aug 23 6:00/8:00pm Weds. Aug 29 Class time Choir Room Tues. Sept. 25-1:00/9:00pm Mesa Arts Center Poston Jr. High Choir Calendar 2018-2019 Event Beauty and the Beast Auditions & A. Camp Poston Open House/Music Parent Mtg. Performing Arts Uniform fitting MPS Choral Festival (Bella Voce only) 10 MUSIC CONTRACT The contract is to ensure that the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) have read this handbook and are aware of the policies and responsibilities associated with membership in choir. In addition, it indicates that you have reviewed the performance schedule (included in the handbook) and have made arrangements to be available on all the dates indicated for your ensemble. Please sign and return to contract to Mrs. Bottomley by Wednesday, August 15. 3 Thurs. Oct. 4-7:00pm Sat. Nov. 3 all day Tri-City Baptist Church Tues. Nov. 20 - Class time Fri. Nov. 9 4:00-5:15pm Poston Track Wed. Nov. 10 by audition Tri-City Baptist Church Thur/Fri. Nov. 16-17 6:30pm Thurs. Dec. 13 7:00pm Sat. Jan. 12 by audition Historic Irving Building Thurs. Jan. 24 7:00 pm MVHS Auditorium Boys to Men Festival (The Gents) Choir Class Pictures (Bring Uniform!) Jog-A-Thon Fundraiser Cantaremos Honor Choir Festival Beauty and the Beast Performances MPS Honor Choir Auditions MV Choir Feeder Festival All 8 th Grade Choir Students CHOIR ROOM RULES Choir classroom expectations align with the Poston PBIS Expectation Rubric. A few ways they apply include (but are not limited to): Practice Friendship: Kindness is expected at all times. Our choir room is a ridicule-free zone. Here we are free to make mistakes and look a little silly to accomplish our goal of making great music. Act Accountably: Come prepared to class. Drink plenty of water. No gum. No cell phones. Take care of your music folder, notebook, and have a pencil ready. Treat our room and the things in it appropriately. Follow all proper procedures. Do your best. Work Ethically: Honesty is expected in all situations. Stay in seat unless given permission (drinking fountain, pencil sharpener etc). Show Respect: Demonstrate respect for peers, teachers, and property. Be actively engaged in every activity. Work together to create a unified ensemble.
BEHAVIOR 4 9 Any behavior which distracts from or interferes with the learning of others is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Behavior in the choir room centers on RESPECT for yourself, your fellow students, the teacher, and all equipment. Focus in rehearsal is critical to our success. You are expected to pay quiet attention, remain in your seat during the class period, and follow directions just as you are in your other classes. All Poston rules and policies as outlined in the student PAWS book will be enforced. Consequences for Inappropriate Behavior Choices: Silent, then Verbal Warning - no MIR Change seat/alternative assignment, teacher detention ** Removal and Classroom Management Form Conference, and phone call home Implementation of school discipline procedures including Think Tank, behavior contract, and conference with parents and administrator. Possible removal from the choir program **All behavior issues will result in an MIR. 3 MIR s = office referral POSTON MUSIC USAGE DONATION All Poston Music Students are expected to pay an optional $10 Music Usage Donation to the bookstore at the beginning of each semester. This donation is essential to keep the music program operating with the high level of excellence that it has for so many years. This money is used to purchase method books for student use and much of the concert music. Thank you in advance for your support of this music program. FUNDRAISERS This year we will continue our annual Walk-a-thon/Jog-a-thon fundraiser tradition! Other items to be purchased with the funds raised include: uniforms, music, accompanists, festival registrations and travel costs. and special guest teachers. Some of the funds raised may also be used to provide scholarships for private lessons for deserving music students. All music students are expected to participate in the fundraiser since all benefit in some way to the funds. Any student wishing to be considered for a scholarship must have taken part in the Jog-a-thon. Parent Volunteers This choir could never be so successful without supportive parents and community members like you! The Choir program could use your support in many ways. I am in need of parent volunteers to assist me over the school year with various tasks such as fundraising, uniform checks and measurements/distribution, concert night chaperones, and more. We have an active Choir Parent Booster organization and would love to have more parents involved. Please email me at labottomley@mpsaz.org if you are willing to help. I would be so grateful for any assistance!!! Please attend the music parent meeting on Thursday Aug 23 rd after the Poston open house to get on the choir e-mail list to stay updated about opportunities to get involved in your child s class.
CHOIR COUNSEL The Class Council is a group of students that volunteer their time to help out in the choir room. You could help out with many things like setting up the classroom and stage, handing out assignments, keeping track of the music library, sharing your ideas for how the choir room can be the best experience for all, and much more! The choir counsel will meet the second and fourth Friday of every month from 3:55-4:25. Applications will be made available in class after the start of school. Student roles may include: President: Conducts meetings, appoints committee chairs and members to committees. Vice President: Assumes presidents duties when absent, or no longer able to fulfill office. Chairs all fundraising activities sponsored by the choir club. Secretary: Keeps minutes of all meetings, takes roll, completes all necessary forms and correspondence. Treasurer: Maintains financial records, collects and deposits all dues and funds with signed approval of sponsor. Calendar Specialist: Keeps track of student birthdays and updates class calendar Publicity Specialist: takes photos and updates the class Instagram, publicizes dates and times of meetings and activities. Class Representative: Attend council meetings and reports to the class about council business. They also have special classroom duties. ECA FUNDS Please help our choral program by contributing to state ECA funds. This is a tax credit that lets you choose where your state tax dollars are spent. You can contribute up to $400/tax paying couple. Choir spends money on music, festival fees, field trips, bus transportation, dresses, vests and bowties. This money could also be used to pay the costs of putting on our school musical production which will take place in November this year. Your continued support will allow us to participate in choir festivals, support excellent musical opportunities and keep up with the growth in our vibrant program. 8 MATERIALS Every day you are required to bring to class: A pencil* A fine line wipe-off marker A black 1 3-ring binder with dividers to hold music, worksheets, notes, and reflections. Music will be provided. If obtaining any of these items would create a financial hardship, please see your director so assistance can be arranged. You may keep all of these things in your assigned music slot in the choir room. If you take them home, it is your responsibility to bring them with you to class the next day. Failure to have your music binder will result in ThinkTank for the day. REHEARSAL ROUTINE Enter the classroom quietly, get your music/pencil/handouts, place backpack under chair, get a drink, get your PAWS book stamped, and take your seat BEFORE the bell rings or join in the stretching warm-up. No running around, no piano playing! Have your music out and follow along at all times. Be ready to take notes with a pencil. You must have these supplies EVERY DAY. Sit or stand with the correct body position for singing that we have learned in class. Everyone participates in the warm-up. Students must stand for warm-up unless otherwise directed. Listen actively No disruptive, disrespectful, or inappropriate behaviors. End of class routine: when directed, return folders to their slot, and place exit slips/assignments in the appropriate spot. Clean your area. At the end of class, wait until the director has completed the class. The director (not the bell) will dismiss you. 5
GRADING POLICY 6 7 CONCERT ATTENDANCE POLICY Grades will be based on Quizzes Concerts - essentially serve as final exams In-class assignments (homework if not completed) In-class demonstration of content learning Demonstration of content learning: 40% of grade Students will receive 10 points each day that they are in class with music and pencil, paying attention and putting effort into their classroom work. This demonstrates an active effort to learn class content. If you are absent, you may request to do make-up work to receive these points. Exit slips will provide confirmation of class attendance for grading purposes. Concert Attendance: 35% of grade Students are expected to attend and participate in all performances in which their class is involved. Points will be assigned to each required performance based on attendance, effort, punctuality, proper concert attire, appropriate concert etiquette. This experience is what we work toward, sometimes for months, and to deny a student of the moment when all of his/her efforts are to be rewarded is both unfair and unacceptable. Non-attendance at a performance will result in a lower quarter grade. See concert attendance policy on next page. Classroom Assessments and Assignments/ Homework: 25% of grade Students will participate in various written assignments, worksheets, quizzes, tests, auditions, written evaluations of performances and small group or individual singing evaluations. Music binders will be graded for assignment completion regularly. Students will have occasional outside homework assignments to be completed by the next school day. Students in advance groups will be required to audition for at least one of two potential honor choir experiences. See teacher for more information. The following are examples of excused absences for concerts: -death in the family -illness, with a physician s note -unresolvable conflicts known at least two weeks in advance of the performance Examples of unexcused absences include (but not limited to): -not having a ride -babysitting -other outside of school functions -birthdays/anniversaries -doctor or dentist appointments -conflicts not approved by instructor at least two weeks prior to concert date Excused absences will only be granted if the instructor was informed in writing of the conflict two weeks prior to the performance date. Parents are asked to check the performance dates and discuss potential conflicts with Mrs. Bottomley, as soon as possible. Students will be allowed to make-up an excused absence for full credit. Unexcused absences will result in a lower grade. Parents: Your presence at concerts is extremely important to your child and our class! Please make it a priority to attend. PERFORMANCE ATTIRE The Gents: Black tuxedo shirt with black buttons (provided by Poston) Vest and Bowtie (provided by Poston) Black pants and black belt (provided by the student) Black socks and black dress shoes (provided by the student ALL Women: Long black dresses with short sleeves (provided by Poston) Black stockings and black CLOSED-TOE dress shoes (provided by student) If there are any questions or concerns about uniforms or if you cannot afford these items, you must see the director immediately so assistance may be arranged. Failure to comply with the dress code will lower your concert grade.