Welcome to Dickerson Middle School Chorus! Welcome to the 2018-2019 year for the Dickerson Chorus program! The choral program is dedicated to helping students find their musical voices through a comprehensive, rigorous, student-centered environment. Students will work both individually and with peers as they learn to read music, understand and apply music vocabulary, perform quality choral repertoire, and make connections to the bigger world around them. As the director of this program, I take special pride in the accomplishments and growth of students and the program as a whole. It is my desire to assist students in developing their full potential. Welcome! The purpose of this handbook is to provide an overview of what to expect from being in chorus, as well as the goals and requirements needed to succeed in the program. Please contact me with any questions or concerns. It is extremely important that these papers are read and the required forms are returned to indicate that parents and students have: 1. Read and discussed this information together 2. Thoroughly examined and notated the calendar section 3. Completed and returned the contract, photo permission slip, and applicable uniform papers I wish all the warmest welcome and look forward to everything to come. Have a fantastic singing year! Sonya Guerra Director
FALL SEMESTER 2018 Dickerson Middle School Chorus There will be additional events/details added as scheduling is confirmed. Any updates or additions will be sent home and are available online (check the website!!). 2018-2019 Calendar DATE EVENT TIME LOCATION August 6-10 Shrek Jr. Auditions Before Dickerson Theatre School 21-23 Guy s Week (All Grades Men) Daily 4:30- Chorus Room 5:30 24 Music Fundraiser Kick-Off All Day Chorus Room During Classes 27-28 Girl s Week (All Grade Women) Daily 4:30-6 Chorus Room 30-31 District Honor Chorus AND Sixth Grade Before Chorus Room Statewide Auditions School (sign up for time) 31 T-shirt AND Formal Uniform Money Due By end of the Dickerson day September 7 All-State Chorus Auditions Meeting - 8:15AM Chorus Room October Mandatory 8 Real Men Sing! Workshop & Concert (All Grades Men) 1-7PM Marietta Performing Arts Center 11-12 Music Fundraiser Turn-In All Classes Chorus Room 15 Bella Voce Workshop & Concert (All Grades Ladies) 18 District Honor Chorus, Sixth Statewide, and All-State Chorus Audition FEES DEADLINE Est. 16-18 12-7PM By end of the day 7 TENT. The Avenue Caroling (7/8) 5:30-6:30PM 7 Possible Sixth Grade Caroling During 2:30- Class Period 3:15PM Events in bold: Parents volunteers/chaperones needed for these! Palmer Middle School Dickerson Music Fundraiser Delivery TBD Chorus Room Atlanta Hawks National Anthem TBD Performance (October or November) November 9-11 Shrek Jr. Musical Fri-7, Sat-7, Dickerson Theatre Sun-2 10 All-State Chorus Auditions TBD Woodland HS 12-13 District Honor Chorus All Day McEachern HS 14-16 Tent. Show Choir Auditions (open to Before Dickerson Theatre entire school) School 27 First Show Choir Rehearsal 8AM Chorus Room December 4 Sixth Grade Winter Chorus Concert 6PM Dickerson Theatre 5 Seventh Grade Winter Chorus Concert 6PM Dickerson Theatre 6 Eighth Grade Winter Chorus Concert 6PM Dickerson Theatre The Avenue East Cobb Sterling Estates
SPRING SEMESTER 2019 At a Glance Eighth Grade Trip Meeting January 31 @ Dickerson All-State Chorus February 14-16 in Athens Sixth Grade Statewide Chorus February 22-23 in Athens Mock LGPE (All Grades During School) March 7 @ Dickerson Large Group Performance Evaluation (7/8 Grade) March 14-15 location TBD Eighth Grade Chorus Trip TBD Choral Dept. Spring Concert May 8 location TBD STEAM Showcase (Performing Groups TBD) May 16 @ Dickerson
In a program with many things happening at any given time, it is crucial that parents AND students have a way to stay in the loop. Signing up for both notifications is HIGHLY AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. CHORUS WEBSITE www.dickersonchorus.org Go to the chorus site and on the homepage find a link on the left-hand side that says: FOLLOW. Click it to sign up to receive notifications when new posts are made. Chorus Communication REMIND It is imperative that parents and students alike sign up to receive these periodic messages from Dickerson Chorus regarding important deadlines, due dates, rehearsals, and events. (Signed up last year? You do NOT need to do this again under your new grade.) FOR TEXT MESSAGES, type the number 81010, then text the following message: @dickerson6 (for 6th Grade) @dickerson7 (for 7th Grade) @dickerson8 (for 8th Grade) FOR EMAIL MESSAGES, send a blank email to: dickerson6@mail.remind.com (for 6 th Grade) dickerson7@mail.remind.com (for 7 th Grade) dickerson8@mail.remind.com (for 8 th Grade) VOLUNTEERING PARENTS, if you would like to be contacted when the chorus program needs volunteers for fundraiser, uniforms, concerts, day trips, and other events: TEXT THE MESSAGE: @CHhelp1819 TO THE NUMBER: 81010 IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE VOLUNTEER GROUP TEXTS LAST YEAR, YOU WILL NEED TO SIGN UP AGAIN.
BEHAVIOR All students are expected to follow the policies set forth by Dickerson Middle School and the Cobb County School District, which can be found on the Cobb County Schools website. All students are EXPECTED to follow the same code of conduct, which is as follows: 1. Follow DMS Positive Behavior Plan found in agendas. Choral Classroom Procedures 2. Respect authority, respect others, respect yourself. 3. When entering class, get folder, go directly to seat, and be prepared with pencil, folder, and water. 4. No food or drink except water. NO GUM EVER. Gum is a safety hazard when singing. 5. Make mistakes confidently. CONSEQUENCES In addition to the use of student agendas, if a student has difficulty following rules, the following consequences will result: 1 st Offense Teacher acknowledgement and verbal warning 2 nd Offense Loss of daily participation points, behavior is noted and agenda is signed 3 rd Offense Parent contacted, administration notified if necessary, may affect outside trips/performances eligibility
Chorus is a performance-based music class in which students will primarily be graded on performance in rehearsals and participation in the required concerts. The areas listed below outline how students are assessed, totaling 100%. Rehearsal Etiquette (45%) Students are expected to participate in all class activities, to focus attention on the chorus director, to demonstrate correct singing posture, and to follow individual and group instruction. This includes being prepared daily with the appropriate materials. If a student does not have the materials needed, he/she cannot participate properly, and points will be deducted. Grading Concerts/Singing Assessments (35%)*** Concerts are performance evaluations of classroom materials, they are the final exams of concepts studied. Concerts are the culmination of months of hard work and practice, and give students the opportunity to display musical skills and talents. Students are expected to attend all concerts, and as such are given concert dates very early in the year to assist in scheduling. A student who cannot attend a concert for any reason will need to submit an audio or video file of the student performing the music individually to make up the grade. Small group and individual singing assessments take place periodically throughout the year. Any singing assessment (other than a sight-reading assessment) will be taken from material covered in class, and students will have ample time to prepare the material. Written Assignments (10%) Written work is assigned throughout the year. Most assignments will be completed in class. Written Quizzes (10%) Written quizzes are given intermittently, covering theory, language, and repertoire history topics discussed in class. Students will have ample time to prepare. ***Further important details regarding attendance and excused/unexcused absences can be found on the Attendance Policy page.
REQUIRED MATERIALS The following items are required of all chorus students every day, unless students are otherwise instructed. These items will be checked for a grade on Monday, August 13 for all grades and classes. THEORY BOOK (available to purchase at local music stores or online) Alfred s Essentials of Music Theory Book 1 (red book) Required Materials & Uniforms MUSIC FOLDER - all music to be kept in school-provided music folder - students are responsible for replacing lost sheet music - lined loose-leaf paper (10-15 sheets) or small notebook PENCIL -mechanical preferred -no pens! UNIFORMS When Dickerson Chorus performs, either at Dickerson or elsewhere, chorus students are representatives of our school, our community, and sometimes our state. Uniforms are required for chorus members to present an appealing stage appearance as an ensemble. Students will not be allowed to perform on stage without the appropriate attire. 6 th Grade Chorus - DMS Chorus shirt ($10 ordered through DMS Chorus) - Blue jeans (must be blue, without holes) - Close-toed shoes Ladies - concert dress ($65 ordered through DMS Chorus) - black, close-toed dress shoes *you are responsible for dress altering to ankle-length 7 th /8 th Grade Chorus Gentlemen - tuxedo shirt, tie and pants ($50 ordered through DMS Chorus) - black dress shoes - black dress socks *you are responsible for pants altering to appropriate length Other Small earrings only are allowed. No necklaces, bracelets, or rings. Hair should be styled appropriately and out of the face. Look professional!
Attendance Policy & Cobb County Choral Standards ATTENDANCE POLICY This is a performance-based class. As such, students are expected to be present at all called rehearsals and performances. Each voice is crucial to the ensemble s overall sound, therefore each person is important to the success of a performance. EXCUSED: Only family emergencies or extreme illnesses are accepted as excused absences from a performance or rehearsal. Written notification from a parent/guardian is required to be excused. Students with an excused concert absence are required to make up the grade by recording/singing their vocal part on all performance repertoire, due one week after the performance date. Make-up assignments for excused rehearsal absences are at the director s discretion. Unexcused absences may affect a student s eligibility to participate in other activities, including trips. COBB COUNTY CHORAL STANDARDS 1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines 5. Reading and notating music 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music 7. Evaluating music and music performance 8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture
Handbook Contract Dickerson Chorus 2018-2019 I have read the 2018-2019 Dickerson Chorus Handbook and reviewed the policies and procedures contained therein. I understand that there may be extra rehearsals and performances scheduled outside the school day. I agree to the uniform requirements as stated in the handbook. I understand this is a one-year commitment to the chorus program. The policies set forth in this handbook are subject to change or amendment at the discretion of the principal or the chorus director. I understand that I may contact Ms. Guerra if any questions or concerns arise. Student Name: Student Signature: Parent Name: Parent Signature: Parent Phone: Parent Email: Parents, please see the Chorus Communication page or the Remind101 tab on the website to sign up for volunteer opportunities.