Greenville Middle School Choir Syllabus 2017-2018 Mrs. Frato Director of Choirs at Greenville MS 920-757-7140 Ext. 54122 annafrato@hasd.org All Choral Dates & Choral information are on Mrs. Frato s HASD Website www.hasd.org/faculty/annafrato Self-avocation is a vital life skill we start to teach in middle school. We are always preparing our students for the next step in their lives. Middle school is a time to grow in a positive working environment as well as learning self-avocation. If you or your child have a concern or question, please have your child come and talk with me first and follow it up with a parent contact. Course description: Chorus is a performance class that is open to all students. The rehearsals will focus on learning proper vocal technique, music reading skills and how to work with others while performing varied choral literature. All choir students (5 th 8 th grade) will have a 10-minute lesson at least once a quarter. Required Materials: Grade 6-8 Grade 5-2-pocket folder (to keep in class) - Music Binder (purchased from the - Four #2 pencils (bring once at director the beginning of the year) - School Planner (bring to class every day) - School Planner (bring to class every day) Polar Bear Way in Choir: Be Honest Be a leader, model respectful behavior during rehearsals and performances. Be Responsible Arrive to class on time with all materials, NO GUM, turn in completed assignments on time, and take care of music materials. Be Respectful Respect classmates, adults, and yourself. Listen when others are speaking and follow directions. Be Caring Each student will demonstrate a positive attitude, energy and good manners. Each student will be mindful of other students safety and take care of classroom equipment. Classroom Procedures: Each student will enter the choir room with a voice volume between 1-2 (2-table talk or 1-whisper) Students will grab necessary materials and go to their assigned seat. At the end of the class hour, students will put their choir folders/binders away and clean up papers or pencils around their chair. As the end of class approaches students will stay in chairs until the bell rings. After dismissed, students will exit the room respectfully with a voice volume between 1-2. Restroom use one at a time during the first 3 minutes of class or with a music note pass (limited to twice a quarter) 1. Electronic Devices No devices are permitted in the class, unless permission is given. If cell phones become an issue, they will be confiscated and taken to the front office. Students must have Mrs. Frato s permission to be on their phones and have their digital license. 2. Only water, no gum or food. 3. Classroom Equipment - If it is not yours do not touch it! 4. One Voice Rule is used during instructional and discussion time out of respect to all choir members. 5. Do not leave your assigned seat without permission. Consequences: 1st Offense: Student is asked to stop the behavior (redirection) and given a stop ticket. 2 nd Offense: Student is reminded about behavior expectations and earns 5-minute lunch detention o If the student does not serve lunch detention in three school days, student s behavior will be documented with a major (parents contacted) 3rd Offense Student receives a 3rd verbal warning and earns a classroom consequence that will take place during their lunch hour. Parents will be contacted, and the behavior will be documented in the office.
Standards Based Grading: In choir class, our focus is on mastery of essential musical knowledge and vocal performance skills. Each quarter, students will be assessed on weekly skills checks, concert music, vocabulary knowledge, and concert performance skills. Students may retake any assessment that does not earn Mastery by making arrangements with their choir director. For performance skills, we use rubrics to assess each student s work. Performance skills will be tested in class or a choir lesson. This rubric will apply to all standards taught in choir class. The four proficiency levels are: 4 Excellent! (Exceeds Mastery) 3 Got it (Mastery) 2 ALMOST (Near Mastery) 1 - NOT YET (Not Yet) Performed PERFECTLY/ OUTSTANDING knowledge no mistakes or hesitation. Can demonstrate the skill accurately and fluently on your own Inconsistent and/or needs help to demonstrate the skill fluently Lacking essential knowledge and/or Is unable to demonstrate the skill Standards Assessed: A.8.5/6 Singing (posture, diction, vowels, volume/directing sound, singing rhythm, singing pitch) *(expressive singing 8 th grade only) E.8.6 Reading & Notating (Hand signs, writing in solfege, sight singing rhythmic accuracy, sight singing note accuracy) E.8.7 Reading & Notating (Different rhythm values, note names, accidentals, parts of the staff, music vocabulary) D.8.4 Composition (Short piece on the piano, performance accuracy) F.8.7 Analysis (Identify and describe stylistic elements heard in folk, popular, and nonwestern music) Important Concert Dates: December 12 th & May 1 st 6:30 5 th & 6 th Grade, 7:45 7 th & 8 th Grade Concerts are a summative activity, and students are expected to be at all scheduled performances. If some highly unusual circumstance prevents a student from performing with the group, a written note or e-mail needs to be sent at least two weeks before the performance. If a student is ill the day of the performance, please contact the choir director via phone or e-mail as soon as possible. Performing with a group in a concert setting is an essential standard in choir class. Therefore, students who miss the concert for any reason MUST complete a performance-based makeup assignment. Choir Students Concert Makeup Assignment is to perform the concert pieces in front of an audience (at least two people, family members, nursing home, senior center, day care, youth group, your church, etc ) Videotape your performance and submit it to your director. The accompaniment tracks need to be picked up from your director ahead of time. Concert Dress Code: A sense of pride and teamwork is essential for any successful choir, and performance dress plays a major role in helping to achieve this. 5 th, 6 th, and 7 th Grade Choirs: GMS red Music t-shirt, BLACK pants, BLACK socks, and dark shoes. 8 th Grade Choir: Choir members are expected to wear nice attire. No t-shirts, shorts or tennis/sports shoes. No blue jeans. Girls Suggestion: A dress (length must be below the knees, unless wearing leggings), or dress pants and a dressy top, dress shoes. No boots please. I strongly advise not to wear high heels. Boys Suggestion: Dress pants or khakis, a collared shirt (button down preferred), dark socks, dress shoes. You may wear a tie.
Voice Lessons Voice Lessons provide students with the opportunity to practice and prepare their music for feedback, and to further their understanding of the music to improve the overall sound of the choir. Attendance at every scheduled lesson is expected and is the student s responsibility. For the reasons stated above, the HMS/GMS Choir Department has adopted the following missed lesson policy Absences for the following reasons are considered EXCUSED and will be allowed to be made-up without a grade penalty: Any excused absence from school (illness, doctor appointment, etc.) School-sponsored field trip/early Dismissal for co-curricular activity Early Release/School Vacations/Etc. The director is absent Any other reason which has been Pre-Approved by the instructor. (Class exams/class projects fall under this rule.) Absences for any other reason will be considered UNEXCUSED. No Mastery would be rewarded for Vocal Technique until the lesson is made up. Performance Dates: September 22 nd : Tailgate Party (4:15 6:15) and singing of the National Anthem on the Hortonville HS football field *Optional December 12 th : Winter Concert at Hortonville Fine Arts Auditorium. 6:30pm 5 th & 6 th Grade Choir Students. 7:45 7 th & 8 th Grade Choir students. December. TBD: Holiday Performances. Times and Places TBD. Selected choirs and ensembles March 3: Solo/Ensemble Festival @ Hortonville High School. All day: 8am 4 pm. *Show choir and optional for students *Optional May 1 st : Spring Concert at Hortonville Fine Arts Auditorium. 6:30pm 5 th & 6 th Grade Choir Students. 7:45 7 th & 8 th Grade Choir students. Solo/Ensemble Festival (optional): This event is for 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th -grade students who are interested in participating as a soloist or as part of a small ensemble. Students must choose music from an approved list with their director. A piano performance category is also available if you have a private piano teacher. The following solo/ensemble fees apply for all schools in the Hortonville Area School District: Participation fee $8.00 per student per event Accompanist fee $20.00 per event. (This fee will be divided among all ensemble members.) All registration fees for show choir will be paid by GMS. Also, GMS will pay all WSMA membership fees and provide students with music for all events. The above fees are NON-REFUNDABLE after GMS has officially registered for the festival. Registration typically takes place a month before the event. Show Choir (optional): Show choir is an extracurricular group which meets before school (from 7-7:50AM) on Tuesdays and Fridays. GMS show choir is a group open to 6th through 8th graders. Students must audition to get into the group. In show choir, students get a chance to sing, dance, and perform in front of the community. If you are interested in show choir be sure to pick up a show choir information sheet and sign up for an audition time. Auditions information will be emailed and posted outside of Mrs. Frato s room. Bearely Relevant and GMS BearTones (optional): These ensembles are extracurricular groups that meet during ELT. Anyone who wishes to join may do so. If a student is not able to meet during ELT, they are expected to practice at home. Practice is a vital aspect of any performance group. If Mrs. Frato feels that a student is not ready to perform with the group, they will have to wait until the next concert. Both ensembles will perform at the Winter and Spring concerts.
Dear Parents, Greenville Middle School Parent/Student Signature Form I am very excited to have your son or daughter in choir this year! Please read the syllabus sign it and return it (just the back page) to your child to hand in. Make sure you write down the concert dates on your calendar. Also, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to call me (920-757-7140 Ext. 54122) or email me (annafrato@hasd.org). Choral reminders, this syllabus, and updates are posted on my website and sent out via email. I m excited for an awesome year! Sincerely, Mrs.Frato Student Name Parent(s) Name(s) Parent(s) Email(s) Class (circle one): 5 th Gr. Choir 6 th Gr. Choir 7 th Gr. Choir 8 th Gr. Choir We, the undersigned parent and student, have read the GMS Choral Music Department Syllabus and understand its contents and agree to follow them. We have recorded all performance dates, and agree to the requirements and procedures as stated. Also as parent/guardian I give my child permission to participate in all choir functions as stated in (but not limited to) the music calendars. *Any updates to the syllabus/rubrics will be posted on my website Parent/Guardian (signature) Date Chorus Member (signature) Date Parent Volunteer (Mark as many things as you like!) Concerts Help: Supervising the students during the concert along with GMS teachers. *Please circle one or both below. Winter Choral Concert Spring Choral Concert Supervising the students during Dress Rehearsal (the day of the concert) (Background Check is required) Taking pictures during the concert Baking for the Pre-Concert Sale *Winter Concert Only Other Items: Helping Music Boosters (your name will be forwarded to them) *If you would like to help during the day, please fill out Background Check Application. You can find it at: http://www.hasd.org/parents/