Peter Steinmetz, Director Marcie Baker, Assistant Director Choir Handbook 2017-2018 Welcome Spartan Singers! We are pleased that you have selected choir as an elective this year and hope that you have a rewarding experience as a member of the Stratford Choral Department. This handbook will provide you with important information about choir at Stratford. It is important that you read this handbook in its entirety and then sign the last page to acknowledge your understanding of our expectations. Please share this information with your parents and have them sign the last page as well. Included in this booklet are concert dates, fees, class requirements, uniform information and, hopefully, anything else pertaining to choir that you might have a question about. If you have any questions about this handbook, please feel free to contact us and we will try to clarify your concerns. Contact information: Telephone 713-251-3424 Director e-mail Peter.steinmetz@springbranchisd.com Assistant Director Marcie.baker@springbranchisd.com Choirs: Men s Choir Period 2 Collegium Musicum Period 3 Cantabile Period 4 Bella Voce Period 6 Women s Choir Period 7 Choir Officers: Amy Deaton Marie Lauderdale Abby Haralson Hannah Keller Catherine Richard Sofia Sabal President Vice President Historian Secretary Librarian Treasurer 1
Charms Office Assistant Much of the information you need to know about choir is available on the choir Charms website. Please take a moment and log on to this site from your computer using these directions: Go to: https://www.charmsoffice.com/ Parent/Student Log-in: stratfordhschoir Student Password on next screen: use your student id number Click on Personal Information: Fill in all data Click on different areas including handouts, finances, etc. **Please DO NOT change your password. Keep it as your student number. There is also an event list accessible on Charms so that you can add choir dates to your personal agenda! Fees Fees are collected at the beginning of the year to cover miscellaneous expenses including social activities (choir parties), banquet awards, sheet music as needed, uniform purchases, cleaning, copier toner, and other costs generated by the department. This fee will also include a new Stratford Choir shirt, unique to this year! We will be issuing shirts for use in casual performances. The REQUIRED fee this year is $55.00. Due Sept 8. CHARMS ASSIGNMENT: IN THE LOCKER COMBINATION FIELD, TYPE IN DONE Other Fees to Expect Throughout the Year for Extra Elected Events Event Cost Notes *District Auditions $25 Due Sept 7 th by 3:10 *Region Honor Choir $10 Due Oct 5 th by 3:10 Region Weekend $10 Only for those who qualify for Nov 3 & 4 Wassail Dinner $TBA No cost to singer, but cost to guest Solo and Ensemble $11 Entry Fee $40 Accompanist Fee Trip: Corpus Christi $750 Maximum Choir Banquet $TBA No cost to singer, but cost for guest Scholarships Scholarships are available to students who would like to participate in choir extra activities but cannot afford it. Please see the directors privately if you are in need of financial assistance. Materials to Donate The following materials are needed in the choir room. If you would like to make a donation we are requesting: *Pencils* (extra credit for Dixon Ticonderoga ) Tissues Paper Towels 2
Uniforms For casual performances: Choir T-shirt and jeans for all choir members. For formal performances: Uniforms are issued to all choirs. All choir members must be in complete uniform as specified below in order to perform and receive credit for the performance. Girls: Long black dress is provided. The dresses are machine washable! Student must provide low heeled, closed toe black dress shoe (Black character shoe is ok). Boys: Tuxedo jacket, pants, tie and vest are provided. Student must provide long or short sleeved solid white collared dress shirt (not a polo shirt), and also provide their own black dress shoe (no cowboy boots or athletic shoes!). Choir Concerts: REQUIRED Concerts are a required part of choir class since this course is a performance assessed activity. An alternate assignment that is beneficial to the choir department and provides choral, educational value to the student is expected in the event a student misses a concert for an acceptable excuse. Singers should make every effort to mark calendars with required dates to avoid potential conflicts. Excused absences require prior approval and include illness (requiring absence from school on the same day). If a singer s illness is contagious we do not want them exposing others around them. Please use good judgment and attend the concert if you are physically able. Absences will be considered on a case by case basis. Excused absences do not include babysitting, work, transportation issues. If you need a ride to a concert we have plenty of options on getting you to the concert if you will let us know ahead of time! The list of events will denote which dates are required and those that are optional. All concerts will have a call time designated by the directors, be on time. Concerts will start promptly at 7:30pm with the exception of Wassail Dinner and the UIL Concert. Failure to arrive on time will result in a deduction of your grade. Grades Concert Grades 50% Students will be assessed in the following areas at every concert: Musical Performance This grade includes music memory, proper vowels, watching the director, musicality, etc. Are you doing everything that we have practiced and discussed in class to make this your best performance? Concert Etiquette We are required not only to teach you how to act in your own performance, but also the proper way to act during someone else s performance. The Concert Etiquette grade is a reflection of your behavior as an audience member, Performance Etiquette This grade is a reflection of your behavior while you are on stage in performance and a test to see if you have mastered the behavioral skills necessary for proper performance etiquette. Written Concert Evaluation a written concert evaluation will be completed by every choir student following each choir concert on itslearning. This is also a test grade. Students are required to listen to and analyze choral music, and are expected to formulate plans for individual and group growth. 3
Rehearsal Expectations/Daily Grades: 25% BE PROMPT: Students are to be in class or any outside rehearsals, with ALL of their required materials/music, BEFORE the tardy bell rings or the rehearsal call-time if outside of the class period. BE PREPARED: Have all of your required materials with you EVERY DAY. This includes PENCIL, ALL CHOIR MUSIC, and CHOIR FOLDER. BE PRODUCTIVE: Off-task behavior is unacceptable. This is a performance/participation based class. Your choice not to participate or to prevent others from learning will result in an inability to perform at the required standard level, and will affect your grade. Offtask behavior includes but is not limited to: use of unauthorized technology during class cell phones, laptops, ipads, and ipods; excessive talking, or refusal to participate. BE POLITE: Be respectful and courteous to teachers, and all fellow students. Treat other people the way that you would like for them to treat you. In all that we do or say we as choir members should show respect for each other and to our organization whether we are in the choir room or anywhere else. Negative comments, dissension, lack of pride, bullying, gossip, etc. have no place in an excellent choral program. Sight Singing 25% Hand Signs: Students are required to use hand signs during Sight Singing. Hand Signs are a tool for sight reading. Points may be deducted for students who do not show handsigns. Small Groups: Students may be asked to sing in small ensembles to demonstrate mastery and receive more individualized feedback regarding sight-singing skills. Private Lessons Private voice lessons that are SBISD sponsored are offered after school at Stratford but spaces are limited. Please contact the Director if you wish for more information. Solo and Ensemble (Saturday, January 27) Solos are selected by students with help from Director and/or Private Voice Teacher. A Prescribed Music List is available with songs that are acceptable to be prepared and memorized. The songs are divided by difficulty level. In High, as a student earns a first division rating (1) they must go to the next more difficult level in the following year. The director can assign an accompanist for the soloist if necessary. 4
All-State Choir This is an optional audition process that singers are strongly encouraged to try. Singers from each audition are selected to compete at the next level with new music specifically from All- State Choir music. Students learn the music for their vocal part and audition at the designated sight. They sing behind a sheet hidden from the five judges that are evaluating the singer s competence with the music. Portions of the music are performed and the judges rank singers. District Audition (September 23) - Parent Chaperones are needed! Region Audition (October 21) - Parent Chaperones are needed! Region Weekend* (November 3 and 4) Pre-Area Audition (November 30) Sight-reading at this audition Area Audition (January 13) Sight Reading at this audition All-State Choir: Texas Music Educators Association Convention (T.M.E.A.) (February 14-17, San Antonio District Provides housing and transportation) Participation in Region Weekend is required for consideration for All-State Choir! Three choirs participate in the weekend. Clinics are held on Friday at Cy-Ridge High ; morning rehearsals and afternoon concert at Tallowood Baptist Church. Mixed Choir: singers advancing to Pre-Area with next three chairs Treble Choir: Women s Choir of next twenty chairs per section Honor Choir: Auditioned Choir for 9 th and 10 th graders Letter Jackets The following will be used in awarding music jackets: Letter jacket awards are awarded to students who earn 12 points in a single music organization (band, choir, or orchestra). All points are cumulative from year to year and are not transferable between organizations. a. 5 points for earning a place in a High Region TMEA organization b. 3 points for earning a place in a High Area TMEA organization c. 1 point for earning a place in a High State TMEA organization d. 2 points for earning a place in a High Honor TMEA organization e. 2 points for earning a 1 st division rating on a Class One or Two at UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest f. 5 points for being in the varsity HS performing concert group (Bella Voce and Collegium) g. 4 points for being in the second HS performing concert group (Cantabile) h. 3 points for being in the third HS performing concert group (Women s and Men s Choir) Student will automatically qualify for a jacket at the end of 3 years participation. 5
Required Activity Fee ($55) Optional Donation ($5) Corpus Christi Trip Deposit ($150) Please make two separate checks made out to SHS Choir Form of Payment (Please Circle): Cash or Check Check number: Please be certain that a student s name is on the check. Do not turn in loose money. Present payments in an envelope with a name on the front. You will be given a receipt for all cash payments. I have read this Handbook and agree to the requirements for Choir at Stratford High. I understand my child is expected to be at all choir concerts as it is a representation of their growth and learning in choir. By signing this, I also agree to grant permission for my child to attend off campus activities and ride on school arranged transportation. Student s Printed Name: Class (Circle One): Women s Choir Men s Choir Cantablie Bella Voce Collegium Musicum Student Signature: Parent Signature: Date: This page is due September 8 th as a Test Grade 6
Events 2017-2018 Event Date Event Title Location Start Time 8/30/2017 Choir Parent Booster Meeting Stratford Choir 7:00 room 9/15/2017 Choir Kick-Off Party TBA 6:00 9/16/2017 Home Football Game Choir Tully Stadium 5:00 Officers 9/23/2017 District Choir Auditions Cy-Lakes High 7:00 10/6/2017 Homecoming Football Game Collegium Tully Stadium 6:00 Musicum 10/13/2017 Home Football Game Cantabile Tully Stadium 6:00 4 and 7 10/21/2017 Region Choir Auditions Cy Fair High 7:00 10/24/2017 Fall Choir Concert at 7:30 pm Stratford Theater 6:30 10/27/2017 Home Football Game Bella Voce Tully Stadium 6:00 11/3/2017 Region Choir Weekend Cy Ridge High 4:00 11/4/2017 Region Weekend Tallowood Baptist 8:30 Church 11/9/2017 Home Football Game Spring Tully Stadium 6:00 Branch Girls Choir 11/30/2017 Pre-Area Auditions for All-State Cy Woods High 4:00 Choir 12/3/2017 Wassail Dinner All Choirs Norris Conference 6:00 Center at City Centre 12/6/2017 Choir Winter Concert at 7:30 All Choirs Stratford Theater 6:30 pm 1/13/2018 Area Auditions for All-State Woodlands High 8:00 Choir school 1/27/2018 UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest Cy-Park High 8:30 2/14/2018 Texas Music Educators' San Antonio 8:00 Convention featuring The Texas Convention All-State Choir Center 2/15/2018 Texas Music Educators' Convention featuring The Texas All-State Choir San Antonio Convention Center 8:00 End Time 8:30 10:00 6:30 5:00 7:30 7:30 5:00 7:30 6:30 7:30 4:00 3:00 7
2/16/2018 Texas Music Educators' Convention featuring The Texas All-State Choir 2/17/2018 Texas Music Educators' Convention featuring The Texas All-State Choir 3/22/2018 Pre-UIL for Non-Varsity Groups Periods: 2, 4, 7 San Antonio Convention Center San Antonio Convention Center Memorial High 8:00 8:00 4:00 3/27/2018 Pre UIL Concert at 7:30 Stratford High 6:30 4/2/2018 Varsity Choir UIL Periods: 3 Foundry UMC & 6 4/3/2018 Varsity Choir UIL Time: TBA Periods: 3 Foundry UMC & 6 4/6/2018 Non Varsity Choir UIL Time: Periods: 2, Foundry UMC Late Afternoon 4, 7 4/13/2018 Choir Trip to Corpus Christi 4:00 4/14/2018 Choir Trip to Corpus Christi 4:00 4/15/2018 Choir Trip to Corpus Christi 4:00 4/16/2018 Choir Trip to Corpus Christi 4:00 5/8/2018 Choir Pop Show with Senior All Choirs Stratford High 6:30 Solos at 7:30 5/15/2018 Choir Banquet Stratford 6:00 Cafeteria 7:00 8:00 8