D C Tiger Chorus Handbook 2008 2009
Mission Statement To provide an encouraging and growing learning environment, continue the tradition of excellence, heighten school spirit and community pride, promote self-discipline, enhance teamwork, build a supportive music family, and make music together. Music is Determination If you want to have an exceptional year, it will begin with your attitude. Bring your best everyday to class. Music is personal and lies inside you. Push yourself even farther than you believe you can go. Timely Learning and making great music does not happen overnight. In a world where we expect everything to be fast, music is not something you can microwave. Be ready to focus everyday in class. Be ready to walk away each day having learned something greater personally and musically that you can apply to other areas of your life. Co-operative The number one skill that major companies list that they would like their employees to have is the ability to work together. In choir, this happens every day. We will spend every day in choir learning how to problem solve creatively and master the art of cooperation. Caring Do music for yourself, the people around you, and the people who support you. A family cares for one another and our choirs are all part of a larger family. Music is human and it is impossible to make amazing music without getting to know one another. Lean on each other and I promise you that the music you create will take you farther than you ever imagined. Rewarding Life isn t a contest. If you give 100% every day, you will walk away with success. Having others reward you on a performance is great. Rewarding other choirs at our school and other schools during festivals is even better. Pass it on!
STATEMENT ON SACRED MUSIC Music With a Sacred Text The Georgia Music Educators Association believes that the use of good music with sacred texts is vital to choral music education and to the choral art. GMEA supports the position statement of the American Choral Directors Association in regard to this issue. Choral music educators recognize that choral music may fulfill diverse objectives. At one end of the arc aesthetic performance that can insure development of musicality and sensitivity. At the opposite end of the spectrum is pure entertainment. Between these two poles may be found opportunities to enhance knowledge and understanding through a growing awareness and perspective of history and art as reflected in great music. To achieve any selected educational objective, the quality of repertoire is of paramount importance. An assessment of the quality of repertoire which can fulfill the highest objectives of aesthetic education necessitates careful examination of the relationship of text and musical setting. The wealth of choral literature which represents and reflects peoples, cultures, and traditions of all lands and compositional styles of all eras includes much music in which the composer has utilized a sacred text. The term sacred refers to all manner of religious belief and not only to the practices of the Judeo-Christian teachings. It is important that almost all of the significant choral music composed before the 17th century was associated with a sacred text. To study and perform music in which the musical setting of a text is artistically accomplished is a highly commendable objective. While public school teaching objectives and criteria for repertoire selection should not include religious broad scope music with a sacred text. To exclude from a public school curriculum all choral music which has religious meaning associated with the text is to severely limit the possibilities of teaching for artistic understanding and responsiveness. Such an exclusion has as its parallel the study of art without any paintings related to the various religions of the world, the study of literature without mention of the Bible, or study of architecture without reference to the great temples and cathedrals of the world. Since choral music with a sacred text comprises such a substantial portion of the artistic repertoire representative of the choral medium and the history of music, it should have an important place in music education. Its study and artistic performance have nothing to do with the First Amendment to the Constitution and the doctrine which advocated separation of Church and State. This statement has been endorsed by the National Board of Directors of the American Choral Directors Association I understand that this is an important issue. If you have further questions or comments please feel free to contact me: Mr. Karl Kuhlken (770) 651-6570 karl_kuhlken@douglas.k12.ga.us
How to access parent information BAND * ORCHESTRA * CHOIR Log on to www.charmsmusic.com Locate the PARENT/STUDENT LOGIN section of the web page. Login to your child s program account using the following login: douglaschoir This will bring up the main parent page. This will allow you to look at your child s program s public calendar, event list, handouts and other files. Clicking on an event on the calendar brings up the details for that event, such as times, attendance requirements and equipment/uniform necessities. Clicking on event list puts all of the calendar information in a list form for easy printing. When you enter your child s ID NUMBER, another more detailed screen appears with even more options to view your student s uniform assignments, music assignments, financial records, forms and inventory. Enter your child s ID FIRST then you may create your own, unique password by clicking on the keys icon One area in which you can help the director maintain his/her records: Student information form if the director has allowed it, you may help make changes to your child s student information page (such as updating phone numbers and email addresses if they change) to help the teacher communicate with you more effectively. Most importantly, the parent page assists both you and the teacher to communicate with each other. You will also see links to enter Practice Logs, view Grades, and use the Recording Studio if the teacher has enabled these options.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS Get to class on time! Warm-ups usually start right at the bell. You are expected to be in your place, with your music and ready to work. Lateness is a distraction all of us can do without. Food or drinks are never allowed in the choir room during class time. NO GUM CHEW- ING is allowed! Only water is acceptable in the classroom during class time. You are expected to bring your music folder to class everyday. If your folder is lost, stolen or misplaced, you are expected to pay for the replacement music and folder at the current market price. Talking is not tolerated in class, except during the announced break times. Choir is a singing and listening class! The director will stop for questions and/or comments at appropriate times. All choir members are expected to give his/her best each day. If for a medical reason or any other reason it is difficult to give 100% to your class focus and participation, you need to let the director know BEFORE class time starts. Finally, it is very important to respect and encourage each other and the director. Some singers will have more musical knowledge than others, but EVERYONE will learn new things during the year. Through working hard and caring about our time together, we can reach a common and satisfying level of achievement that will make great music and will make us great people! No one is allowed to play the piano unless approved by Mr. Kuhlken. There will be no exceptions. VOCAL HEALTH EXPECTATIONS 1. Do not smoke 2. Do not scream. If you are in cheerleading, talk to your coach about ways of projecting your voice other than yelling. 3. Do not whisper when you shouldn t be talking in class or when you have lost your voice. Whispering actually puts more strain on the vocal chords. 4. Do not consume alcohol or use illicit drugs. Like the school sport policy, any student caught doing drugs or drinking under age will not be allowed to travel with the chorus. Furthermore, you will be taken out of chorus class if possible. For representation of our choral program and your health, drinking will not be tolerated. 5. Do not sing when you have an upper respiratory infection. 6. Watch your speech volume when in the car or at a hangout with friends. 7. Take a day of vocal rest when you need it. This would be outside of class. 8. Get plenty of sleep 9. Drink plenty of fluids, not soda or caffeine which will dry your vocal chords out. 10.Always warm-up your voice before singing.
REHEARSAL TECHNIQUES and PROCEDURES An effective rehearsal requires total involvement, both mentally and physically. As a member of any choir, you should accept the fact that a great deal of hard work must take place every day we meet. You are expected to accept any challenge and give your entire spirit to the group each rehearsal. Your participation in rehearsals and at performances must be Positive Excited Cheerful Willing to Please Polite Accepting of New Ideas Not Wasting Time with Talking Supportive of Each Other Supportive of the Director Choir members are expected to use a good singing posture during all rehearsal times. We will either stand or sit tall when we sing. Nothing else is acceptable. Many times we will break into sectional rehearsals and go into different areas of the room to work on music. When this happens, the individual selected by Mr. Kuhlken to run the sectional is to be treated by others with respect. Sectionals are not free time! They are to remain focused rehearsal time. Misuse of sectionals is a sign of immaturity and may indicate to the director that this choir is not the group for you at this time. Choir members will sit in their assigned seats unless the director gives permission to move. If for any reason a choir member is unhappy with his/her placement, talk to the director before of after school. Please ask your personal questions before or after rehearsal time. If for any reason a choir member cannot sing on any given day, he/she must let the director know before rehearsal begins. Very little homework is assigned in any choir class. However, your maximum physical alertness, mental alertness and effort are required and expected daily, from the beginning of the rehearsal to the end of rehearsal. Attendance, punctuality, preparedness and participation will automatically take care of itself, if a student has the attitude of responsibility toward the choir.
REQUIRED CLASSROOM MATERIALS PENCIL Each student is required to have a pencil with them at all times for score marking, test taking, and special projects. 3 RING BINDER You will use this to hold your classroom handouts and notes. You will receive a grade at the end of each 4 1/2 weeks for your notebook. MUSIC FOLDER Each student will be assigned a music folder and music. It is the student s responsibility to return the music and folder in good condition at the conclusion of the semester. Any lost or damaged music will be billed to the student at the current cost. GRADING POLICY Chorus is primarily a performing ensemble and most of our daily efforts will be directed towards this end. As such, performance attendance is required and will constitute a major portion of your grade. The rest of your grade is based on daily participation, tests and quizzes. Class Participation grading: Performances 35% Written Final.. 10% Daily Participation. 30% (Including 10 minutes/day practice logged on charms) Tests... 10% Quizzes.. 10% Class work.. 5% Outstanding = 100% (A) Demonstrates positive leadership and attitude Consistently focused, responsive to direction, good role model Excellent = 95% (A) Demonstrates emerging leadership capabilities Good attitude, works diligently in class and sectional, an asset to the class Good = 85% (B) Participates in class, but follows rather than takes the lead. Average attitude Working in class but needs to work harder. At times is distracted from task at hand Fair = 75% (C) Participates at times, difficulty in focusing attention during class and sectionals Must be reminded about rules (gum chewing, food, beverages, posture, etc) Poor = 65% (F) Doesn t participate to potential. Frequently called upon to improve behavior. Distracting behavior evident. Doesn t follow rules of the class and activity. Unacceptable = 0% (F) Chooses not to participate at all, lays head down, sleeps, talks
CONCERT DRESS The goal of this class and performing ensemble is to present a unified body of sound without calling attention to individual voices. Aiding in this endeavor is a unified appearance. All DC Singer and Bel Canto women will wear: a white blouse with sleeves, no other colors are acceptable, as is off-white; a black skirt which reaches BELOW THE KNEES or black slacks; black nylons or socks, and a generic black, low-rise pump. No open toe, straps or sandals. No jewelry is to be worn except post earrings and medic-alert bracelets. All DC Singer Men will wear a white button-down shirt, dark tie, black slacks and black shoes. No tennis shoes, white socks or jeans. Concert Choir women will wear the uniform black dress. Concert Choir Men will wear a tuxedo. FUNDRAISING Although we receive the support of our administration through a good budget amount each year, fundraising is a necessary part of the program. Throughout the school year, the choral department will sponsor a number of fundraisers to help offset the cost of trips, uniforms, music, etc. All students are expected to participate in the fundraisers to help support the program. Incentives will be offered to encourage students to take part in our efforts. Parents may elect to give a donation in lieu of supporting a fundraiser. 50% of each student s profit will be placed in an account for their use during the time they are at Douglas County High School. The unused amount will be donated to the general chorus fund upon graduation. PERFORMANCES Since chorus is a performance-based class, attendance is required at each performance. However, the opportunity to perform is a privilege. You will be required to pass a preconcert audition with an 80% in order to be on stage with the rest of your chorus. If you do not pass the audition or are unable to attend with an acceptable excused absence, you will be allowed to make up the grade for that performance. The make-up consists of a shoebox project. Mr. Kuhlken has the details.
EXPENSE DISCLOSURE All of these expenses are optional based on the student s choice of activity within chorus. Do not let money be an obstacle to participation, you may fundraise your money to match your obligations. If there is a particular hardship, please let the director know and I will take it under advisement. Chorus T-Shirt $10 Chorus Hoodie $35 Concert Choir Uniform $70 County Honor Chorus $35 ($45 with t-shirt) Spivey Hall $55 plus transportation All-State audition Fee $15 All-State Chorus Hotel, transportation and music Spring Trip $600 (Approximate) There may be more that pop up from time to time. I will let you know as soon as I hear of it. CONTACT INFORMATION If you wish to contact me, you may do so in a variety of ways. I primarily correspond through email, but will use all methods necessary. Karl Kuhlken Douglas County High School 8705 Campbellton Street Douglasville GA 30134 (770) 651-6570 karl_kuhlken@douglas.k12.ga.us www.charmsmusic.com Parent/Student LOGIN: DouglasChoir
SINGING CONTRACT I (student), (print name) and I (parent/ guardian),, have received the Douglas County HS 2006-2007 Student Choral Handbook. I understand the responsibilities therein. I (student name) (print name) will uphold the standards of excellence as I participate in the Douglas County Choral program. Please check one of the following before signing the contract concerning our Douglas County High School Choir webpage: Please feel free to use my/my student s photo on the Douglas County High School Choir webpage. (I understand that no last names will be used to identify any student) Please use my/my student s photo in large group photos only on the choir web page. Please do not use any photo of me/my student on the choir webpage. Parent Information Home Phone Work Phone Email address STUDENT S SIGNATURE DATE PARENT S SIGNATURE DATE