Lovejoy High School Choral Department

Lovejoy High School Choral Department 2014-2015 Information Packet Bethany Stuard, Conductor Bethany_Stuard@lovejoyisd.net Christopher Mason, Associate Conductor Christopher_Mason@lovejoyisd.net Room E111 www.lovejoychoir.com www.charmsmusic.com (log-in lovejoychoir ) (469) 742-8790 Table of Contents 1. Letter from the Directors 2. Program Overview 3. Expectations and Procedures 4. Concert Etiquette and Materials 5. Assessment and Evaluation 6. Opportunities for Musical Growth (Contests and Ensembles) 7. Uniforms and Money A performing group is a microcosm of society. In addition to well-documented skills related to music reading, self-expression, self-discipline and concentration, performers become independent. There is no more important skill required in a democratic society than that of sharing common goals with other and working together to achieve them. -Sally Schott, former President of Southwest American Choral Directors Association

Lovejoy High School Choral Department Bethany Stuard and Christopher Mason Office telephone: (469) 742 8790 Lovejoy High School Room: E111 2350 Estates Parkway bethany_stuard@lovejoyisd.net Lucas, Texas 75002 christopher_mason@lovejoyisd.net www.lovejoychoir.com Dear Lovejoy Choir members and parents, August 25, 2014 This is such exciting time to be a part of the great music-making of the Lovejoy High School Choral Department! As our younger classes move up into new roles of leadership and as we welcome the unbelievably talented new singers from Sloan Creek, we anticipate this year reaching new heights of enthusiasm and success for each singer. The following letter and packet include a preview of what you can expect from choir this year. The students of the Lovejoy choirs are taught how to sing in a healthy way that will develop their voices to their full potential. In class they will acquire musical skills and knowledge in areas of music theory, history, and literacy (sight-singing). The singers at Lovejoy will perform repertoire in a variety of styles from many eras and cultures and in many languages. The goal of the Lovejoy Choral Department is to produce holistically capable musicians who have the skills to continue pursuing, performing, and appreciating music after they leave the program. Lovejoy Choir graduates have the skills to study or participate in music at the university level. In addition to this formal education, Lovejoy Choir members will have a social education as they train to be a cooperative part of the choir team. They will learn to contribute their most prodigious effort for the good of the ensemble and experience the joy of creating a more outstanding musical product as a group than any one member could as an individual. With the goal of group unity and friendship in mind, there will be many social opportunities this year. Choirs who have fun together sing better together! Lovejoy Choirs will compete in UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest in which we plan to participate with award winning excellence. The Lovejoy Choirs received perfect scores of straight Superiors in both Concert and Sight-Reading for the last four years. Individual students will have opportunities to compete in UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest and in All-Region Contest. Each year Lovejoy singers place in the All-State Choir and receive Superior and Outstanding ratings at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest. In April of 2013, Lovejoy won the Gold Award, the first place prize at Festival Disney in Orlando. During the 2013-2014 school year, Lovejoy shared a performance stage with Meadows Chorale of SMU and enjoyed invited performances from Yale, Sam Houston State University, and Abilene Christian University. Our singers are being sought after by college organizations for their great musical skills! As teachers and musicians, the expectations we have for these singers are very high. Each student will benefit from these expectations through discipline, hard work, optimum performance opportunities, and musical growth. Please take time to read the entire information packet and be sure to fill out and return the Forms Packet with fees this Thursday, August 28 th. This and the Charms Assignment are your student s first two assignments in choir. The choir calendar is also included. Please stay informed about all dates, times, and events. Subscribe to www.lovejoychoir.com to stay up to date. The partnership between teacher, student, and parent is indispensable as we continue our tradition of excellence in the Lovejoy Choir Department. One of the first opportunities you will have to support your student and the choirs will be at the first Parent Meeting/Booster Club Meeting on Monday, September 29th at 7:30 pm following the Fall Demonstration Concert. Every parent should plan to attend this important meeting. More information about Lovejoy Choir Boosters can be found in the Forms Packet, and we would like to see all choir parents involved in our Boosters. At the fall meeting we will also present details for Choir Trip 2015: Italy. The lines of communication are always open; please feel free to call or email the directors with any questions or concerns. The Lovejoy Choirs will achieve distinction in every way, and we are anticipating another incredible year! Sincerely, 1

Bethany Stuard & Christopher Mason Lovejoy High School Choirs JUNIOR VARSITY MIXED CHOIR (2ND PERIOD) JV is an advanced mixed choir. These singers have demonstrated lovely tone, strong vocal technique, and advanced sight-reading skills. JV members will have the opportunity to participate in all vocal competitions. In its inaugural year JV Mixed made perfect scores at contest, and we approach this new ensemble with excitement and anticipation. As advanced choir members, these singers are expected to show a high level of dedication to the choral art. CONCERT WOMEN S CHOIR (7TH PERIOD) The talented Concert Women's Choir will focus on sight-singing and producing quality vocal tone as they sing challenging and varied repertoire. This choir is made up of beginner-level high school singers. These women will have the opportunity to participate in all vocal competitions. Concert Women always has an incredibly encouraging atmosphere and this ensemble has a wonderful tradition of excellence, including winning Best Overall High School Choir at the Alamo Showcase of Music in San Antonio. The camaraderie built in Concert Women makes this class both musically and emotionally fulfilling. VARSITY CHOIR (4TH PERIOD) The Varsity Choir is the premiere performing ensemble of the high school program. This mixed group will participate in all contests including UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest in March. Varsity Choir is known for their mature, healthy, rich sound, their challenging and interesting repertoire, and their music reading skills. Members of Varsity are expected to show the utmost diligence and commitment to the Lovejoy Choir Program. Varsity will compete together as a mixed choir and also as gender specific groups. All Varsity members are strongly encouraged to compete in All-Region and Solo and Ensemble contests. Supplies provided and kept at school Black choir folder Pencil(s) and pencil pouch Highlighter(s) Music Music is a universal language. It is one of the most effective ways to learn about diverse cultures and historical periods. The directors will make every effort to teach music that represents varied styles and genres. Music is always chosen for its educational value, not for its secular or sacred text. If you have any questions about repertoire, please contact the directors. 2

Lovejoy HS Choral Department Expectations (in conjunction with the LHS Classroom Expectations which require punctuality, respect for others, etc.) 1. Come to each rehearsal with a positive attitude about working. Singing is a wonderful, fun, fulfilling activity, but it requires diligence, strength, and great effort. Be eager to join with the choir team in the musical work out! 2. Show respect for your directors, your peers, parent volunteers, and the music; this includes raising hands for permission to speak, careful attention to instructions, and following directions the first time they are given. 3. Attendance at rehearsals and concerts is mandatory. The team needs you! See evaluation policy for more details. 4. Keep yourself informed about all concerts, trips, money due dates, and events; we will do our best to announce scheduled events far in advance. Resolve conflicts before they arise. Come to the director for help in resolving a conflict, particularly with other school activities. 5. Bottled water is the only consumable product allowed in the choir room, and never on the piano. All other food, drinks, and gum are prohibited in the choir hall and practice rooms. 6. Bring all materials to class. A sharpened pencil is required at all times; take care of this before class begins. Music is necessary for each rehearsal; never leave it at home (but good for you for practicing!) 7. During sectionals, give 100% of your effort, attention, and concentration to your section leader and your music. 8. Maintain your grades in ALL classes. You must be academically eligible to participate in All Region, Solo and Ensemble, UIL Contest, Musical, Pop Show, Spring Tour, and all field trips. Please see your director if you are having trouble or need tutoring. The choir family is here to help! DAILY CLASSROOM PROCEDURE: BEING IN CHOIR IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT. EARN IT! Get your folder (with music and pencil) and sight-reading books and go to your assigned place on the risers Deposit books, backpacks, purses under your chair Read announcements before class begins You are tardy if you are not at your assigned place with all materials, ready to warm up at the sound of the tardy bell. There are too many choir members rushing in and too many great songs to sing to waste any time! The conductor, not the bell, announces the end of rehearsal Always put away folders in your own slot; do not leave folders on the risers Return sight-reading materials neatly to the bookshelf CONSEQUENCES FOR POOR CHOICES IN REHEARSAL: 1. Verbal warning 2. In-class consequences 3. Conference with director 4. Call parents and detention 5. Discipline referral 6. Conductor maintains the right to skip steps in consequences depending on the severity of the infraction. QUALITY PERFORMANCES ARE A PRODUCT OF QUALITY REHEARSALS! 3

Concert Etiquette 1. Choir students will be expected to help with set-up and take-down of rehearsal/performance sites if necessary. 2. Expected dress/uniform will be announced in advance. The choir s professional appearance is negatively affected by non-compliance with any aspect, including hair, make-up, jewelry, sock/hosiery color, shoe color, or other specific items. It s all about the team! 3. Concert call, warm-up time, and rehearsal order will be posted in advance; tardiness/absence from warm-up will affect the evaluation, just as leaving the introductory paragraph off of an essay would affect an English grade. The whole assignment must be completed. 4. You are expected to follow the Section Leader/Choir Council/Parent Supervisor directions regarding seating assignments and proper decorum while sitting through the performance, line-up, and filing-on procedures. 5. Focus on the directors from the time you arrive on stage until you depart from the stage. No talking/glancing at anyone while on stage. Watch the director attentively. If using music, hold music professionally; the folder is away from the audience while approaching the stage. 6. The only proper recognition at a formal concert is applause; no screaming, yelling, etc. 7. No food, drinks, gum or candy in the performance or dressing areas. 8. You are expected to be seated in assigned seating area at specific time. Do not leave performance area without clearing with Parent Supervisor/Choral Rep/Section Leader. You are expected to attentively stay in your seat for the duration of the performance. You may not leave after you perform or arrive late to a performance. 9. For some shows in the auditorium (such as Pop Show and the musical), you are expected to remain in the dressing room and/or stage areas as assigned. You should not visit with audience members/family during dressing, warm-up time, or intermission. You are expected to maintain order in the backstage, onstage and dressing room areas and leave all in acceptable appearance prior to departing the performance. Choir Folders 1. Students are financially responsible for their folders and the contents provided by the school. 2. All folders are to be returned to the folder cabinets after each rehearsal. Students may take their music home after rehearsal for study and practice but should always have the music in class the following day for rehearsal. 3. If for some reason you do not receive a piece of music and it is not in the open music files, share with your neighbor for the day, write a note to your class librarian with your music number and title you are missing, and hand it to them at the end of class. You should receive a copy by the next class period. Do not interrupt class to ask the director about music; check with your librarian! 4. Students should treat their class librarians with courtesy and respect. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle 4

Choir Assessment/Evaluation Procedures According to school policy, DAILY GRADES count 50% and TEST GRADES count 50% of the final grade. DAILY GRADES (50%) I. Written Work: Music theory worksheets (concerning dictation, composing, musical terms, symbols, scales) and musical evaluations II. III. Performance Evaluation: Individual singing grades (recorded or live for conductor) Vocal assessment on concert music Sight-singing, rhythm, and scale tests Rehearsal Performance: The following aspects of class and outside rehearsal may be assessed for a daily grade: Musical Markings: Music must be marked appropriately (numbered measures, solfege, dynamics, etc.) and this will be graded so you may know what aspects of sight-singing or musical markings are working well for you and which need work. Involvement: These grades will not be vague, but rather very specific evaluations of handsigns, vocal technique, demonstration of proper physical alignment as described by TEKS, etc. Sectional and Rehearsal Involvement: It is not your attendance (a check mark) or behavior that will be graded, but your full performance. If you miss part of a rehearsal, full credit will not be given. Choral singing is a group skills, and therefore missed class cannot be made up individually. Rehearsals inside and outside of school are mandatory. If a student must miss a scheduled event for illness or family emergency, the conductor must be informed by email before the absence occurs if possible. Conflicts will be excused on a case-by-case basis; please contact the director as soon as potential conflicts arise. TEST GRADES (50%) I. Music Theory Tests II. Individual Performance Tests III. Concerts: All concerts are mandatory. Unexcused absence from a concert will result in a failing grade. Concerts and rehearsals are not subject to eligibility laws, so you must attend these regardless of grades. Choir is a co-curricular class. Each singer is an indispensable part of the team, and concert performances are required by TEKS-fulfilling curriculum. Again, please inform the conductor by email as soon as possible if a student cannot attend due to illness or a family emergency. The concert grade will be affected by: Individual performance at the entire concert, including display of having learned correct concert etiquette Concert evaluation paper TAKE NOTE: YOUR GRADES WILL REFLECT YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND PERFORMANCE, NOT YOUR BEHAVIOR. THIS SYSTEM IS MEANT TO BE AN OBJECTIVE AID TO SUPPORT YOUR PROGRESS IN MUSICAL SKILL AND UNDERSTANDING, NOT A PUNISHMENT OR AN ARBITRARY PARTICIPATION CHECK MARK. Each Thursday (mainly in the fall semester), choir members may expect to receive specific assignments pertaining to music theory and other aspects of music history, vocabulary, and literacy. While these assignments will probably be completed in class, some students may take them home Thursday night. Parents, this is the day to check for choir homework! 5

Opportunities for Musical Growth PRIVATE VOICE LESSONS Students have the opportunity to take private voice lessons during school hours as an enrichment of classroom instruction. These lessons are designed to utilize the characteristic literature of the voice rather than to rehearse the music a student will be performing in choir. Please consider this incredible, important, and fun opportunity to develop your individual talent! This should be a year-long commitment by both parent (finances) and student (practice time). In private lessons students receive individualized coaching on vocal techniques taught during choral rehearsal. Most students will miss approximately half a choir period once a week to meet with their private instructor in one of the practice rooms. Some students may arrange to have lessons before/after school or during lunch. Cost will be $20 per 23-minute lesson. Return a completed Private Voice Form to be contacted by a teacher. Students are highly encouraged to take lessons! Check the choir website for scholarship applications ALL-REGION AND ALL-STATE CHOIR COMPETITION Students prepare choral pieces and compete for a chance to perform with the best of the best high school singers in the area. The music is challenging and will develop musicality in our singers. There is nothing like the amazing experience of singing with the All-Region Choir! All-Region auditions are October 7 th and October 11 th. Each phase of the competition is a step toward the final contest in January to participate in the Texas All-State Choir in San Antonio, the experience of a lifetime! SOLO & ENSEMBLE CONTEST On February 7 th, students from all choirs have the opportunity to perform a prepared solo and/or ensemble before a judge. This is a wonderful opportunity for experienced and inexperienced singers; it is designed to encourage students as performers while helping them to improve in their individual musicianship. Varsity members are strongly encouraged participate. SPOTLIGHT (AUDITIONS: SEPTEMBER 3-4 @ LHS) This women s ensemble (of 10-16 sopranos and altos) will have an incredible time performing pop repertoire. Spotlight sings and dances at concerts; these ladies represent Lovejoy Choirs at athletic events, benefits, and many other venues. Spotlight will meet before school for rehearsal once a week and will have fun retreats, sectionals, and social activities! A CAPPELLA (AUDITIONS: COMPLETED) The top pop ensemble of the choral program includes 10-16 students. Members of A Cappella can expect to be musically challenged and to have a blast performing in many settings in our community. A Cappella rehearses in class daily. Website information Our website - lhs.lovejoychoir.com - contains all of the information in this packet and copies of the required forms. Newsletters, achievements, pictures, announcements, and calendar updates will be available on this website. www.charmsmusic.com is our Music Office site where you can find financial receipts and other information don t forget your Charms Assignment! Our log-in is lovejoychoir and your password is your school ID. (Charms may be accessed through www.lovejoychoir.com) 6

Uniform Requirements FORMAL UNIFORM WOMEN Each female choir member will be issued a black concert dress provided by the school before concerts. The women s uniform fee for hemming, cleaning and repairs is $20. These must be returned in good condition and the choir department will have them cleaned when returned. Uniforms which are lost or ruined must be paid for by the student. Replacement cost for a dress is $68. Ladies will also purchase a $5 jewelry set which they will own and use for their entire high school choir career. Women will provide their own BLACK, CLOSE-TOED SHOES and BLACK HOSE. Please do not wear extremely high or small heels. (Be prepared to wear these shoes for the day dresses are tried on in order to get an accurate hem measurement.) Please speak to the director if you have a problem with the uniform requirements. MEN Each male choir member will be issued black pants, coat, cummerbund and bow tie by the school before each concert. Men s uniform fee for cleaning, hemming and repairs is $20, and the choir department will have them cleaned when they are returned in May. These must be returned in good condition. Uniforms which are lost or ruined must be paid for by the student. Replacement costs are $22 for pants, $50 for a coat, $2 for a bow tie, and $5 for a cummerbund. Men will provide their own BLACK DRESS SHOES with BLACK socks and also their OWN TUXEDO SHIRT. Please speak to the director if you have a problem with the uniform requirements. CASUAL UNIFORM The casual uniform consists of the 2014-2015 Lovejoy Choir T-shirt, long blue jeans, and tennis shoes or close-toed shoes. No flip-flops or torn jeans. Money Policy All choir expenses may be paid for with CHECK, and we will take these up on MONEY THURSDAY so your money will not remain at school overnight. Any student who wishes to pay in cash must turn this money in before or after school to the director to receive an immediate receipt. (Cash is discouraged because it is less secure for both the family and the program.) Please note that check receipts will be issued through charmsmusic.com. Your account should have an accurate reflection of all money you have paid to the Choir Boosters or the Choir Activity account. If your account is incorrect, please contact the director immediately. All checks should include the student s name in the memo line and the reason for the payment (Ex: Region fees, t-shirt, etc.) so the payment may be recorded correctly. Remember to bring money on Money Thursday! Checks will generally be made out to Lovejoy High School Choir Alas for those that never sing, But die with all their music in them! ~Oliver Wendell Holmes 7