RAHWAY HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL PROGRAM 2016-2017 Robert M. Van Wyk, Director has been a music teacher at Rahway High School for the past 20 years. A graduate of the Ithaca College School of Music and Northwestern University, Mr. Van Wyk has dedicated his professional career to the advancement of the arts and building a quality arts education within the Rahway Public Schools. As past director of the award winning Rahway High School Bands program, Mr. Van Wyk has guided ensembles to numerous awards including two NJ State Championships, students achieving participation in Region and All State level ensembles and selected for numerous performances in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida. As musical director for the award winning, Rahway High School Musical Theater, Mr. Van Wyk and his ensembles have been nominated for Best Overall Music Direction, Best Chorus, Best Pit Orchestra and Best Overall Musical by the Papermill Playhouse Rising Star Awards. Mr. Van Wyk is a devoted husband of 16 years to Amara Van Wyk (Band Director at the Rahway 7 th /8 th Grade Academy) and a proud father to Cameron (8) and Molly Van Wyk (6). Robert M. Van Wyk 732-396-1090 rvanwyk@rahway.net www.rahwaysings.org Follow us a @rahwaysings on Twitter/Instagram OUR OBJECTIVES FOR OUR CHORAL PROGRAM We are going to build this program over a strong foundation and proud history that spans decades of excellent music making on the Rahway High School stage. We are going to come together as a family We are going to learn than that process is even more important than our product. We are going to learn the fine art of music making and come to understand the what, where and why music works and effects so many people. We are going to become an integral and valued contributor to our school and city wide community. We are going to learn that every single performing member of our program in an important valued, critical to our success. We are going to learn and perform music far reaching from Mozart to Lauridsen, Pharell Williams, John Legend and everything in between. HAVE PRIDE, WORK HARD, LOVE WHAT YOU DO, BE PATIENT, BE KIND
OUR PROGRAM The RAHWAY HIGH SCHOOL CHORUS serves as the foundation for our program. All ensemble periods will combine for scheduled combined rehearsals as we join together in one large ensemble. These ensemble periods are offered period 7, 8, and 10. Combined rehearsals will be scheduled during period 10 or select evenings scheduled before a performance. The RAHWAY HIGH SCHOOL MADRIGALS serves as the select choir for our program. Students are selected by audition (please see VW if you would like to audition for this year). The ensemble rehearses period 7. This ensemble will require a number of extra performances within the school and community. (TBD) RAHWAYSINGS is a new ensemble opportunity intended for 7-9 of our most talented and hard working students. Audition information for this new offering will be available soon, auditions will happen during the first week of school. This ensemble will only sing contemporary a capella repertoire one ensemble member per part, rehearsing a three song set with choreography that will compete within local and national competitions for the International Championship of High School A Capella. (www.varsityvocals.com) Rehearsals will be held weekly at a mutually available time/day for all members from September thru May. There will be approximately 2-3 competitions/festivals where RahwaySings will participate within the tristate area. RahwaySings will also represent our school in outside performances within the surrounding community throughout the school year. Each member of this ensemble must participate within the larger choral program. GRADING Everything that you do in class and in performance is worth points. 50% Rehearsal Assessment/Participation 30% Performance Tests (including all scheduled performances) 20% Homework/In Class Assignments ( do now assignments, journals, critiques, etc) PLEASE NOTE: A performance is our FINAL EXAM, our TERM PAPER, our CLASS PRESENTATION; ensemble performance demonstrates all the work and material learned in class. If you are absent from a performance, you will be required to perform that material solo in front of the class AS WELL AS complete a term paper (approximately 5 pages) demonstrating your grasp of the subject matter. Please plan ahead and take control of your schedule. Any and all assessments, including Mid Term & Final examinations will focus on both student s written & performance work ATTENDANCE Concerts are each musicians and ensemble s culminating experience and primary reason for the enjoyable yet rigorous routine. Each performance will be assigned a test grade. Unexcused and excused absences follow the guidelines set forth by the Rahway Board of Education. An absence (excused or unexcused) directly prior to a performance, will result in the student not being able to participate in the performance, at the discretion of the director. PERIOD 10 - Clubs and sports absences are excused only for games or large events and must be discussed with the directors PRIOR to the absence. Practices and meetings are not excused absences, alternate arrangements must be worked out with the coach/club director. Each rehearsal is our class time which you will receive a weekly grade. COMMUNICATE AND PLAN AHEAD!
CONCERT ATTIRE Concerts are special events and require special attire. We strive to instill professionalism and artistic values early on for all young musicians. To instill these values, the district has set requirements for concert attire. The following formal concert attire is REQUIRED at performances unless otherwise indicated: Females- black blouse, black slacks or skirt at least knee-length, dress shoes. Males- black collared dress shirt and black dress slacks, dress shoes & black socks. PERFORMANCE CALENDAR FOR 2016-2017 Fri, Nov 25 City of Rahway Tree Lighting/Winter Wonderland 6 pm Fri, Dec 2 & Sat, Dec 3 Rahway High School Drama 7:30 pm Tues, Dec 6 Winter Spectacular Dress Rehearsal TBA Thurs, Dec 8 Rahway High School Winter Spectacular 7 pm Fri, Jan 6 & Sat, Dec 7 Rahway High School Winter Musical 7:30 pm Wed, Jan 18 Piano Recital 7 pm Wed, Feb 1 Rahway High School Student Showcase 7 pm (Evening of solos, small ensembles) Wed, Feb 8 Rahway High School Feb. Concert (Band, Choirs, Strings) 7 pm Mar 24-26 Rahway High School Musical 7:30 pm, 2 pm Wed, April 12 Celebration of the Arts in the 7 pm Rahway Public Schools (District wide choral, bands, strings, theater, dance) Wed, April 26 Faculty Recital (RHS) 7 pm Wed, May 24 Rahway High School Music in Motion 7 pm June 1 3 Virginia Beach Performing Trip (Wind Ensemble, Madrigals, Musical Theater, Dance 2, Strings) Fri, June 23 Graduation TBA *** Please note that period 7 (select choir) students will have additional scheduled performances as they are scheduled, such as: November 11 City of Rahway Veterans Day Ceremony (school time performance) December Winter community performances TBA February Martin Luther King Jr performances TBA June Senior Awards, etc TBA
ASSIGNMENT #1 (YOUR 1 ST GRADE!): MAY BE COMPLETED NOW/DUE TOMORROW 100 pts Sign up for Google Classroom/Remind COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY Technology is a fantastic tool that we can utilize to enhance your education. We will keep you up to date in real time. Please use these tools to make sure you are connected. GOOGLE CLASSROOM We will be using google classroom to assign, collect student assignments and provide feedback througbout the year. Please make sure you are signed up for the following classes in GOOGLE CLASSROOM. Musical Theater (Per 4) Class Code q331r5e Chorus/Madrigals (Per 7, 8, 10) Class Code 6d6ja9 Intro to Piano / Adv Piano (Per 3) Class Code q331r5e REMIND Chorus - Students and parents can join our class by texting @rwaysings to 81010 Musical Theater - Students and parents can join our class by texting @rhsmus1516 to 81010 CELL PHONES A cell phone SPA is available for you to power up as you enter class, you may use the power outlet and storage each day. A cell phone SHOULD NOT be used during class time (WHILE CLASS IS IN SESSION) except where suggested by your teacher. If the device is misused, you will be asked to put your phone in the storage space until the end of class. If it happens more than once, your parent/guardian will need to make an appointment to retrieve it. At times throughout the school year, a performance test will be assigned where students are to record themselves (video) and submit their best work for a grade. If you do not have the ability to record via cellphone, a classroom device will be provided for you to complete your assignment after school in the choral room. A cell phone MAY be used to record (memo) performances while in class for later practice. This is an excellent practice tool. Follow us a @rahwaysings on Twitter/Instagram
ONLINE PRACTICE/REHEARSAL AIDS www.rahwaysings.org At times throughout the school year, pdf s, youtube clips or mp3 s will be provided to assist in your learning of the performance material. Especially as our repertoire gets more difficult, these are critical to helping you achieve success. Please use these tools to improve your performance **Please tear off below this line and return by Friday, September 9 th - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSIGNMENT/PERFORMANCE TEST #2 I have read and understand the information presented to me in the Rahway High School Choral Syllabus, including grading, concert schedule, classroom procedures, etc. Receipt of this document will count as your first performance grade on Friday, September 11 th. Parent Signature Student Signature Date Parent Email Student Email