Director: Mr. Andrew Tolksdorf Email: aatolksdorf@gbaps.org Phone: 391-2425 ext. 30161
September 2016 Dear Choir Parents, Welcome to the 16-17 Choir Season at Red Smith School. I am looking forward to an exciting year of making music and continuing the traditions that we have established here at Red Smith. My name is Mr. Tolksdorf, you may also hear me referred to as Mr. T. I have been involved with Red Smith since the day the doors opened, having both of my children, Jena and Kyle, go through the K-8 program. I am so glad to be back for my seventh year at Red Smith with the middle school choral program and am looking forward to a fun year with our great students. I have an open door policy in my classroom and invite you to attend class whenever you like. My schedule has seventh and eighth graders in Choirs 2 & 3 during second hour of Day 2, and sixth graders in Choir 1 during third hour of Day 2. Thank you for your continued support of our music program at Red Smith School. If you need to reach me please email me at aatolksdorf@gbaps.org or call me at (920) 391-2425. Sincerely, Mr. Andrew Tolksdorf Choral Director IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER FOR RED SMITH CHOIR STUDENTS: CONCERTS: Tuesday, December 13 7:00 p.m. Red Smith Gymnasium Thursday, May 25 7:00 p.m. Red Smith Gymnasium These two concert are mandatory performances. Please post them on your calendar.
Classroom Grading Choir members will be able to earn points over the course of each grading period. Points per class (for pencil, portfolio and participation) Written Work (bi weekly reflections, quizzes, etc.) Check Off s on pieces or Performances when scheduled. Students will be graded on a percentage scale of the possible points awarded each grading period. Special Performance Groups The following expectations have been developed with input from the students for the Red Smith Vocal Music program. These statements reflect the PBIS strategies utilized throughout the school. Be Respectful Sing, don t talk the more you are respectful and listen, the quicker we will be able to get back to work. Be Kind to each other and do not put each other down. It is especially important to choir members that people do not judge the vocal quality of others. Pay Attention Respect property, the teacher, each other s personal space, and your voice. Be Responsible Be on time Come Prepared - pencil, your voice and a positive attitude. Gum is not allowed in the choir room. Work - work hard and follow all District, School and Choir rules and procedures. All homework must be completed in a complete and timely fashion. Listen to Director - whether it be Mr. Tolksdorf or other guest directors, the greatest gift you can give is your time and attention. You are special singers, prove to everyone else how great you really are. Be Safe Have Fun Expectations of Vocal Music Students At Red Smith Middle School No Horseplay Be careful on the risers so that everyone is safe. Red Smith School has optional auditioned performance groups open to all students enrolled in choir, band or orchestra. These groups are Show Choir and Jazz Band. Audition workshops for Show Choir is Wednesday, November 9, and Thursday, November 10. Auditions will be held the following week on November 14 and 15. These groups perform at Solo & Ensemble competition and tour to different feeder schools for Red Smith. More information will be coming home with the students later in the year.
IMPORTANT DATES MARK YOUR CALENDARS Concert Performances All students have TWO MANDATORY concerts in winter and spring. Students are required to attend and remain for the entire concert. An evaluation assignment will accompany each concert. Other performance opportunities will be available throughout the year and advanced notification will be sent home. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE MANDATORY CONCERT DATES December 13 th Tues Middle School Choir/Orchestra Concert 7 pm (students will arrive earlier) May 25 th Thur 2nd ANNUAL PRISM CONCERT 7 pm (students will arrive earlier) Concert Attire for Choirs Boys: White dress shirt, black slacks, black socks and shoes. You may wear a tie of your choice Girls: White top no printing, black skirt (knee length)/or pants if no skirt is available, and black shoes Concerts are not jeans and t-shirt appropriate. If there is a problem, please inform the teacher in time so that we can discuss the situation and find a remedy. Solo & Ensemble Solo & Ensemble competition is a required event at the middle school level for all choir 2/3 members. All students must prepare a piece for the event. It is optional for choir 1 (but highly recommended) and students in choir 1 would receive a critique only. More information on music will be coming home in December/January and will include requirements and timelines for preparation. Green Bay District Solo Ensemble - Saturday, March 4 at Preble High School General Information A folder will be assigned to all students to allow for sheet music that will be used throughout the year. Students are to bring a pencil to stay with their music folder throughout the year. Various assignments, concert reflections and class information will be used throughout the year. Important, Please Note: Please be informed that Red Smith School and the Green Bay Area Public School District is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged instruments/equipment. Please check your home owner s insurance policy to see if they include these circumstances. Please sign and return the attached form after you have reviewed the expectations and calendar. It is extremely important that all students attend concerts. This is what they have been working for and is a great way for you to see and hear the progress that they have been making. If there is anything at all that we can do to alleviate conflicts, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss it. Thank you, and have a wonderful year. Mr. Andrew Tolksdorf Choral Director aatolksdorf@gbaps.org
September 7th & 8th Wed&Th Musical Auditions 3-5 pm Rm. 161 9th Fri Post Final Musical Cast 12th Mon Rehearsal of Musical Begin 3-5 pm MusicDept/Stage/Cafe 13th Tue Parent Meeting for Musical 4:30 & 6:00 pm Commons October 10th Mon Music Dept. Fall Fundraiser Kick-off! Music Department 22nd Sat Musical Tech Rehearsal 9-3 Gym 31st M-F Musical Production Week Commons/Stage/Gym November 3 & 4 Th & Fr Matinee Performances 1 pm MS Gym 3, 4, 5 Th-Sat Musical Performances 7 pm MS Gym 9 & 10 W/Th Show Choir Dance Camp 3pm Choir Room 14th Show Choir/Jazz Band Auditions Begin Music Dept 21st Jazz Band/Show Choir Rehearsals Begin 3-5 pm Rm. 157/161 21st Mon Band A Rama 6:30 PHS December 6th Tue MS Band Concert 7 pm MS Gym 13th Tue MS Orchestra/Choir Concert 7 pm MS Gym 20th Tue Elementary Vocal Music Concert 1 pm MS Gym February 2nd Thurs 5th grade Orchestra Spring Fling 6:30 pm Preble HS 7th Tue Honors Band 7 pm Weidner Center 10th Thurs Show Choir/Jazz Band Elem. Tour All Day Red Smith Matinee 1:35 MS Gym 17th Fri Sing Out Show Choir Festival 7:00 p.m Weidner Center March April May June 3rd Fri Show Choir/Jazz Band S/E Festival PM/Preble HS 4th Sat Middle Level Solo & Ensemble Festival All day Preble HS 6th Mon Spring Fundraiser Kick-off! 16th Thurs Jazz Concert 7 pm MS Gym 6th Thurs Honors Orchestra Festival SWHS 8th Sat Cabaret PHS 12th Wed WSMA Choral (during school day) Festival Franklin MS 27th Thurs Great America Chaperon Meeting 5:30pm 4th Thur 5th Grade Instrumental Concert 1:45pm MS Gym 6th Sat State Solo & Ensemble Festival All Day UWGB 20th Sat 7/8 grade Music Dept trip All Day 25th Thurs Prism Concert 7 pm MS Gym 1st Thur Elementary Vocal Concert 1:00 pm MS Gym
Music Performance Expectations for Teachers, Parents and Students EXPECTATIONS (Teachers, Parents and Students): What Parents and Students Can Expect Music teachers will provide the students with a calendar of required concerts and performances in September. Music teachers will clearly communicate the academic expectations and grading expectations at the beginning of the school year. Music teachers will provide the students with a performance agreement Music teachers will provide the students with a makeup assignment if the performance is missed. What Music Teachers Can Expect Parents and students will mark the dates of required performances on their individual calendars upon receiving the music calendar from the teacher. Parents and students will sign the performance agreement. Parents and students will communicate with the music teacher in a timely manner regarding transportation needs and difficulties. Parents and students will notify the music teacher of an impending absence and provide a note explaining the absence on the day of return to school. (If the absence was excused by the school s attendance office, a note to the music teacher is not required.) Students will complete the make-up assignment if a concert/performance is missed. ATTENDANCE (absences, make-ups): Excused Absences Excused absences from a concert performance are defined the same as stated in the Student Expectations Booklet. They are: Personal illness; Funerals or religious services as requested by parents; Professional appointments that cannot be scheduled at any other time; Serious personal or family crisis; Student is not in proper physical and/or mental condition to attend school. Family vacations must be prearranged through the school office as noted in the school s procedure.
Students will be excused for the above reasons only when a written parental explanation of the cause of the absences is given to the music teacher during the days of absence or on the day the student returns to school. Unexcused Absences If a student is unexcused from the concert or performance, makeup time is limited to one day for each day absent. The responsibility for obtaining the makeup work rests entirely with the student. Makeup Assignment No written assignment is truly comparable to the performing experience. However, because the concert is a class assignment, students will be required to make up the work to maintain a grade. This makeup assignment must be completed outside of the scheduled music time, per Student Expectations Booklet. School Attendance the Day of the Concert If a student misses school for a portion or the entire day of the concert with an excused absence, they will be allowed to attend the concert in the evening to earn their grade. CONFLICT RESOLUTION WITH CO-CURRICULAR EVENTS Students who have a conflict with a concert or dress rehearsal and a co-curricular activity should consult the Co-Curricular Code in the Student Expectations Booklet. It states that neither the music teacher, the coach, nor the advisor can require attendance or punish the student in any way for not attending either event. Students should keep in mind that music class is an academic class and the concert is part of the grade for which the student is receiving credit for graduation. Because of this, if the student chooses another event and not the concert, they will be required to complete the alternate assignment. Great care is taken to avoid conflicts with music concerts and other school events. Music concert dates are entered on the school calendar in May of the previous school year. All music students and their parents are given a schedule of all events in September; music students and their parents sign the performance agreement form stating they have read the expectations and have noted the dates of the concerts and rehearsals on their family calendars. Below is an explanation of what happens when there is a conflict. DZ:tn Board Approved April 2007 G:\Dave\Music Work Group\Music Performance Expectations.doc