Middle School Vocal/Choir Handbook Excellence is... Caring more than others think is wise Risking more than others think is safe Dreaming more than others think is practical. Expecting more than others think is possible. Ms. Claire Chronopoulos: Director of Choirs cchronop@psdschools.org (970)472-3846 www.tinyurl.com/lesherchoirs
WELCOME TO LESHER MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR! Dear Choir Parent/Guardian, My name is Ms. Claire Chronopoulos and I am very excited about this school year and the opportunities that await your student. The school year will be filled with wonderful music making, engaged learning about music, and excellence in creating the music we will perform. Choral music is an incredible avenue toward building better musicians and better people. Through teamwork, performance, music literacy and creativity, students are able to develop their self-esteem and ability to express themselves. Through exposure to many different musical styles and periods, they are more aware of history and world cultures. They also begin to understand the impact that music can have in their lives and in the lives of others. I believe that the most successful outcomes for everyone are derived from excellent communication. It is my goal to have good communication with parents. If you have any questions regarding classes, or the program, please don t hesitate to contact me. Email is the quickest way to get in touch with me. Please read carefully through the choir schedule and mark your calendars accordingly. Also, please return the back page with signatures of both guardian and student to Ms. Chronopoulos. This form will serve as the first large grade of the year for your student. REQUIRED MATERIALS School Supplied: -Music -Sight-reading and Supplemental Music -Music Folder Student Supplied: -Pencil -Personal Calendar -Notebook Paper stored in organized binder/folder (not your music folder) CLASSROOM POLICIES 1) Students are expected to treat the instructors and each other with utmost respect. Singing is a very personal and often very vulnerable task. Teasing, heckling or insulting another student will not be tolerated. 2) Each student should be on the risers prepared to begin rehearsal when the bell rings. The choir director, not the school bell, dismisses class. 3) Each student must have their music and a pencil in hand during every rehearsal. 4) The student remains personally responsible for the condition of the choir folder and music once distributed. Report damage to or problems with
music as soon as possible. Lost music/folder can result in a fine of up to $2.00/piece 5) Give your best effort daily! Work hard to ensure that you and those around you can get the best music education possible. 6) Students who unable to actively participate in singing during class must notify the Choral Director before class that day. Students unable to sing are expected to remain focused on the music during class while filling out a rehearsal worksheet. 7) Upon receiving music, each student is expected to write his or her name on the music as instructed by the director. Music marking is an ongoing student requirement to individually and collectively improve the music making process. 8) Except for bottled water, absolutely NO FOOD OR DRINK is permitted in the Choir Room and especially no gum. 9) Students may only play the piano or adjust any sound equipment with permission. 10) Students with any problems (musical, social, family, etc.) can feel free to talk to Ms. Chronopoulos at any time. My door is always open to you! GRADING POLICY Your grade in choir will be determined based on a weighted category system as follows: There are two basic categories upon which you will be graded: 1. Assessment (Tests, Quizzes, Performances, etc.) 90% 2. Practice (daily practice, worksheets, etc.) 10% Performances: Attendance at performances is required! Good communication between students, teacher, and parents can prevent any misunderstandings. Unexcused absences severely affect the group (as well as your grade!) There are several required events for choir students throughout the year. Each required performance will be worth 100 points. An unexcused absence from a concert will seriously affect the overall grade of the student. Excused absences include sickness, family emergencies, and religious conflicts. Please note that communication is crucial when it comes to concert attendance. If there is a conflict with an extracurricular activity, the coordinators/coaches will work together and compromise. If a student has a student has a serious problem with a concert date or other vocal event, we will accept a note of explanation from a parent/guardian one week before the day of the concert. At that time, the student will arrange a project and due date in order to make up the 100 points that were lost by not participating in the concert. Failure to communicate in advance about prior commitments will be classified as an unexcused absence. We will not accept any make-up projects for unexcused concert absences. After/before school rehearsals are vital to the success of the final performance. These rehearsals will be worth 50 points each and will follow the same attendance policy as for the performances. Rehearsals: Each day in class allows you to earn rehearsal points. Students will receive 20 participation points each day based on their ability to meet
classroom expectations. When you are absent you are not eligible for these daily rehearsal participation points. Excused absences can be made up for points by coming to work with me during your free time. Students can lose participation points in the following ways: unexcused absences, missing materials, missing class due to behavior, incomplete written or other assignments, not participating in the daily activities. Student Work Expectations: 1. Each assignment must be legible and include a heading (Name, date, class, and assignment title) 2. Make up work: a. Make up work will be accepted for excused absences only. b. Students must see me for make-up assignments. All make up assignments will be due the Monday you get back. c. Any work due on the day of the absence is due on the day of return. It is the student s responsibility to address these issues immediately upon return. Quizzes: Evaluation of learned material. If a quiz is missed or a student is not prepared to take a test/quiz due to an excused absence, the student has one week to arrange a time to take the test before or after school. For Harmonic Minors Only (all others may disregard): Harmonic Minor students will be required to take private lessons this year. If unable to take lessons outside of school students can sign up for free mini lessons with Miss Chronopoulos. Each student must take at least one lesson a quarter. Please make sure to plan a time with Miss Chronopoulos in advance, if you come to me at the end of the quarter and there are no open slots you will be out of luck! (Remember that I have the same lunch time as you!) Each lesson will be worth 30 assessment points. Extra Credit Options: Participate in private vocal lessons. Please see me for a list of private teachers. Sing a song you have learned outside of class for extra credit. Write a research paper (one page minimum) on a classical composer. Do not expect credit for a print-out of a computer source such as Wikipedia! See Miss Chronopoulos for details. Attend a choir concert and turn in a program. These concerts can include the Larimer Choral, Colorado State University performances, and choral concerts at the High School or Middle School level. Write music. Compose a song and enter it into a music notation program. Any number of other activities you might suggest would be suitable with director approval. Concert Etiquette An excellent concert begins with being properly dressed and well behaved. Good
musicians want the audience to stay focused on the music and not them as individuals. This can be accomplished with these simple rules. Be on time. Make any and every effort to arrive slightly before the proper call-time. Call at 6:30 means we start warm-ups at 6:30 and are not walking in the door. Act professionally on stage. When you are on stage, you should be performing to the best of your ability. It is unacceptable to draw unnecessary attention to yourself in any way. Final Touches Even though we are trying to look and feel our best for our concerts, please refrain from using that favorite cologne or perfume. Some people have high sensitivity to certain scents. Also please plan on pulling your hair out of your face. We want to see your expressions as well as hear your voice. Concert Dress/Uniforms Sixth Grade Choir & Singing Sevies, Viking Voices Students are required to purchase their own outfits to wear at choir concerts that fit the following parameters: Black dress pants or skirt (knee-length or longer), NO JEANS White Shirt: plaint white, long or 3/4 length sleeves Black dress shoes, NO SNEAKERS Black dress socks for the boys Harmonic Minors Girls: Blue dress ($60.00), will provide own black dress shoes, nude nylons Boys: Blue vest and tie ($50.00), will provide own black dress pants, black socks, black dress shoes, white long-sleeved, white, button-up, collared shirt ***Failure to wear the appropriate outfit could mean the inability to perform*** LESHER MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR DATES Items marked in bold are required. Please let me know as soon as possible if you have any conflicts so we can work something out! Some dates/times are subject to change due to facility availability. If this is the case I will send notification as soon as possible. Date Performance Time Location Back to School Night 6:00-8:30pm 8/29 (for Parents) 10/14 Rehearsal 10/15 Choir Concert 11/2/13 11/11*** Harmonic Minors Choir Retreat (HM only) Middle School Invitational (only 5:00- Call at 6:30pm 10:00am- 3:00pm 7pm Call Fort Collins High School Middle School Fort Collins High School
12/17*** 1/15-16/14* 1/16/14*** Elementary Recruiting Performance (Only PSD Honor Choir Auditions (7 th /8 th ) 5 th Grade Orientation Performance (Only 3/3/14 Rehearsal 3/4/13 Choir Concert 3/5/14* 3/6/14* 3/6/14* Honor Choir Rehearsal (7 th /8 th )* Honor Choir Rehearsal (7 th /8 th )* Honor Choir Performance (7 th /8 th )* 4/10-12/14 Musical Performance 5/17/14** Elitch Gardens Music Festival (8 th only)** 5/19/14 Rehearsal 5/20/14 Choir Concert During the school day 3:30-5:30 Evening During school day 7pm Call All day 11/13*** PSD Choral Festival During (only * school day 11/18-22 Musical Auditions 12/9 Rehearsal 5:00-12/10 Choir Concert Poudre High Call 6:30pm School Elementary During 12/16*** Recruiting school day Performance (Only 5:00- Call 6:30pm 6:00-9:00pm 5:00-6:00pm Call 5:30pm Lincoln/Boltz Poudre High School First United Methodist Church First United Methodist Church Elitch Gardens Patio
Statement of Acknowledgement RETURN THIS PAGE TO MS. CHRONOPOULOS This portion of the handbook must be signed and dated by each student and His or her parent/guardian and returned to Ms. Chronopoulos by September 4, 2013. We have read and understand the information contained in this handbook. I have also discussed the implications and responsibilities associated with that information. I have taken note of the performance dates and times and I agree to the performance policy outlined in this handbook. Class Period: Student s printed name: Student s signature Date Parent/Guardian s printed name: Parent/Guardian signature Date (Home/work/cell) Volunteers Interested in volunteering with the Middle School Choir Program? Helping with our annual fundraiser Chaperoning field trips Helping organizing choir room/music library Helping with concerts/rehearsals Other Parent/Guardian s Name: Student s Name: Phone #: E-mail Address: