Saint John s School Chorus Handbook
Welcome to Chorus!!! Chorus is a commitment of teamwork among the chorus member, the director, and the parents. This handbook should provide you with all the important information necessary to have a successful and productive year. If you have any questions or problems refer to this guide. If you cannot find the answer here, be sure to ask! Naturally, not all circumstances can be foreseen. If you find yourself, or your child, in a situation that concerns you, please talk to me as early as possible. Sincerely: Jonathan Hellerman Chorus Director Phone #: 301-312-4030 E-mail address: hellermanj@sjshollywood.org Kerry Souris Phone #: 301-481-1010 E-mail address: sourisk@sjshollywood.org
CHOIR PRAYER O God, I thank you for the gift of music. I love you and I offer you my singing today. I promise to respect the director, my fellow singers, and the music we sing, which is a reflection of your beauty. Grant that I may someday join the choirs of angels and saints who sing the perfect hymn of praise around your throne in heaven. Amen. St. Cecilia Pray for us. St. John Francis Regis Pray for us.
CHORUS REHEARSAL RULES: Chorus Rules/Procedures (In addition to the school policies, please adhere to the following during every rehearsal, or lesson/sectional.) Leave all GUM, FOOD, and DRINKS outside the auditorium, practice room, and church. Please try to use the restroom before rehearsal. Be on time to rehearsal. (If you are late you must have approval.) Be prepared-have a pencil and Chorus Folder. Take care of your folder. Listen, listen, and listen! Remain quiet when not singing so you can hear what the director has to say. Telephones and other electronic devices are not allowed. You will be given one warning, the second time you have your phone or electronic device at practice it will be confiscated. You will be able to pick it up the next day from Mrs. McDonough. Stay in your assigned seat. Use respectful language and conduct toward the director and classmates. The director makes the decision for who sings which parts for mass or concerts. Singing parts and additional responsibilities will be assigned based on merit, behavior and attendance. It is at the director s discretion to hold auditions. This is no hierarchy based on grade level. If you are chosen for additional parts or responsibilities you are expected to come prepared to perform. Clean up after yourself! Please respect the St. Therese Room. This room is shared with the church and school please be respectful of all furniture and any other items you may find in the room. When asked to, SING! You are in the choir because you want to sing if you do not want to sing, you have chosen the wrong afterschool activity. Failure to abide by the above rules may lead to dismissal from practice or, in extreme cases, from the choir entirely.
CHORUS REHEARSAL PROCEDURES: (**All chorus rehearsals will take place in the St. Therese Room unless you are told otherwise) ENTERING REHEARSAL: Throw gum away in garbage can before entering. Bring only your folder and a pencil, leaving all other books, bags, extra items including phones neatly in the hallway. Quietly find your assigned seat. Counters are not appropriate seats. Look at the board for any additional instructions. Be listening for the ready cue! Be quiet and listen to announcements. EXITING THE REHEARSAL: Gather all music/materials and place it neatly in your chorus folder. Sit quietly in your assigned seat in singer s posture, and wait for dismissal. When you are dismissed, quietly exit the room. You must be signed out of rehearsal. Dismissal is at 3:45 for Chorus and 4:15 for Honor s Chorus If you are going to Aftercare or Basketball you must sign out then go directly to Aftercare or Basketball and sign yourself in. Aftercare will be given a list of all signed out students to confirm that they did report immediately to be signed in. Parents must pick up and sign out their children on time at the exit door adjacent to the St. Therese Room. A staff member will wait no longer than 5 minutes, then any remaining students will be walked down to the office. After a parent is more than 10 minutes late (3:55), any remaining students will be signed into aftercare. ADDITIONAL RULES FOR MASS: It is important to be respectful of Mass and everyone s rite to Worship. It is an honor to sing in the choir loft. You are on display to the entire congregation. It is expected that you are to set a good example when singing in the loft.
You are expected to follow proper Mass etiquette and respect all rituals of Mass. STAND when singing the Psalm, the Alleluia, and the hymns. Otherwise you should sit, stand and kneel as you would in the pews. You are a participant in Mass! Communion is to only be received by those who have celebrated the Sacrament of Communion. If you have not celebrated the Sacrament of Communion, you are encouraged to walk up with the Communion line to receive a blessing. o How to receive Blessing: Prior to walking up to the priest, cross your arms over your chest to signify that you aren t going to receive Communion. o If you are unclear on the Communion rules please speak with Mr. Hellerman, Mrs. Souris or another teacher on faculty. Anyone of us would be happy to explain. When exiting the choir loft for communion please try to leave as quietly and orderly as possible. Please stay in your place the Cantor s (right side) should exit first. Then you should exit from right to left. This is not done by grade order, rather by assigned seat. The goal is to leave and return to the choir loft with as little disruption as possible. You are expected not to chat with each other during Mass. Prior to Mass, who is singing which song will be established. This will not be discussed during Mass. Do not place or rest hymnals, missalettes, choir folders or any other items (this include your arms, head etc.) on the choir loft railing The choir loft is a small space. Please stay in your space for the Sign of Peace. You may shake the hands of the students around you but please don t not move around the loft. If you need to leave the choir loft during Mass you will not be able to return. You will need to rejoin your class in the pews. Chorus Performance Rules: All Chorus member are expected to participate in performances. You are expected to show up on time and prepared with folders. Music that is handed out for the choir concerts and other performances is school property and is to be returned on the day of the performance, unless otherwise instructed. It is difficult to maintain a music library if music is not returned promptly. If you have not returned music from a previous event you will be asked to pay compensation for lost music
($2 per octavo piece), or be prohibited from participating in choir until such music is returned. You must follow the dress code or you will not be allowed to perform. DRESS CODE FOR PERFORMANCES Dress Code for the Choir Concert is as follows, unless otherwise directed: Boys: Black dress pants White dress shirt/top Black shoes Dark socks Girls: Black dress pants with dark socks ~OR~ black skirt with black tights (skirt must be knee length or longer. No pantyhose please!) White dressy top (If the top is sleeveless please come prepared with a white sweater or shrug to cover the shoulders.) Black dress shoes All clothing must be appropriately modest - skirts should be appropriate length, shoulders covered, etc. If you are unsure please ask. We will not be able to allow a singer on the stage unless they are appropriately dressed. HINTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CHORAL PROGRAM Try to get along with everyone. You are a team! No gossiping, or unkind words/language about students or teachers. Always make sure you are striving to be the best chorus member possible. If you have a question, concern or problem, see the director(s) in private rather than classroom confrontation.
Music Terminology Dynamics: The varying levels of volume of sound in different parts of a musical performance. Piano ( p ): soft or softly Forte ( f ): loud or loudly Pianissimo ( p p ): very soft or softly. Fortissimo ( f f ): very loud or loudly. Mezzo piano ( m p ): moderately soft. Mezzo forte ( m f ): moderately loud. Crescendo: a gradual increase in loudness. Decrescendo: a gradual decrease in loudness. Unison: when two or more people play or sing the same pitch. Staccato: each sound or note sharply detached or separated from the others. Legato: in a smooth, flowing manner, without breaks between notes. Coda: the concluding passage of a piece of music. Diction: the style of enunciation in speaking or singing. Solfege: the application of the sol-fa syllables to a musical scale or to a melody.
CURWEN HAND SIGNS