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2017-2018Hernando High School Choral Handbook

Mr. Dale Beech, MM, Director of Choral Activities

Email:

Hernando High School Office: (662) 429-7825

Please readthis handbook carefully return pages 12 &13 by August 11, 2017.

Hernando High School Choral Program Mission Statement:

The Hernando High School Choral Program is dedicated to cultivating independent musicians who have exceptional skills in vocal technique, musicianship, expression precision of ensemble, with a deep love and appreciation for music.

Communication:

Contacting Mr. BeechThere is no direct phone line to Mr. Beech. The best and quickest way of communicating with Mr. Beech is through email at .

Please be sure to include your name and your child’s name in the email.

Remind101 will be used to pass information along from Mr. Beech to Parents and Students regarding rehearsals, concerts, schedule changes, etc. All students are required to sign up for this reminder system and parents are strongly encouraged to join. Sign up for the group(s) that correspond(s) with the choir(s) you/your child is in.

Bel Canto: Text the phone number 81010 with a message saying @HHBelCanto

Harmonics: Text the phone number 81010 with a message saying @ChoirHHS

Madrigals: Text the phone number 81010 with a message saying @HHSEnsemb

After sending this text, you should get confirmation welcoming you to Mr. Beech’s class. If you don’t receive this welcome message, check information and try again.

Rehearsal Expectations

The following guidelines are merely a way to organize and discipline ourselves in a way that we will accomplish our goals during rehearsals in an efficient matter. I think that you will find that working together in this way will bring a sense of satisfaction, unity, and enjoyment to our rehearsals.

  1. Class starts with the bell every day. Students are expected to bein theirdesignated area with their folder, all music, sight reading material, and a pencil, ready to rehearse when the bell rings; otherwise, you are tardy. The school’s tardy policy will be followed for those students arriving to class late. Also, points will be deducted from your participation grade each time you arrive to rehearsal late. The tardy policy also applies to third block when returning from lunch.
  2. Students are expected to treat the teacher, accompanist, guests, and each other with utmost respect. Singing is a very personal and often very vulnerable task. Teasing, giggling, or insulting another student will NOT be tolerated.
  3. The student remains personally responsible for the condition of the choir folder, music, and other materials once distributed.Inspect and report damage or problems as soon as possible. The student will be responsible for replacing lost or damaged materials. Music can be taken home for individual rehearsing, but be sure to have it for every rehearsal at school. Charges will be placed on students’ accounts for damages.
  4. Students who are ill, or otherwise unable to actively participate in singing, must notify the directorprior to the beginning of rehearsal.These students are expected to complete the “sick assignment” in order to receive credit for the day’s rehearsal.
  5. Upon receiving new music, each student is expected to write their name on the front cover and number all measuring using pencil only!Students should make marks in their music as instructed by the director or as personal reminders to him/herself to avoid repeated errors. Music marking is an ongoing student requirement to individually and collectively improve the music making process.(Markings will also be assessed as a part of your grade)
  6. Except for bottled water, absolutely NO FOOD OR DRINK is permitted in the choir room. This is applies to during and after school rehearsals. Students who bring these items into the room will be asked to throw them away immediately—no questions asked.
  7. Choir students are expected to be model citizens in and out of the choir room / on and off school campus. You are a representation of the Hernando High School Choral Program, Hernando High School, and Desoto County School District. We want to have the reputation of being classy and respectful – you are expected to carry yourself accordingly.
  8. Cell phones should be turned off prior to entering the rehearsal space. There will be no texting, photography, videography, or playing with phones during rehearsal. A singer observed using their phone during rehearsal will have their phone collected. Repeated cell phone use during class will be considered for further disciplinary action.

Make Up Work Procedure:

To make up a missed class period, students may solfege a song and turn themin to be graded.

The procedure for doing this is as follows:

  1. Select a song from the designated area from each rehearsal missed.
  2. Find the list of songs on it and write your name next to the title that you chose to solfege. (to avoid completing the same score twice) Be sure to place the note pad back where you got it.
  3. IN PENCIL, write your name on the top of the octavo selected along with the date ofthe rehearsal missed.
  4. IN PENCIL, write the solfege for ALL VOICE PARTS of the song. (You do not solfegeany instrumentation.)
  5. Place completed work in the basket that corresponds with your choir’s class period.
  6. If your work has been correctly & completely done, the points for that day’s class will be fully restoredfor your grade. If your work is not correct or complete, it will be returned to you tobe resubmittedupon correction or completion.
  7. This same procedure applies to students that have been assigned In School Detention or miss class for ANYREASON including field trips or other approved activities.
  8. You will have ONE WEEK from the date of the missed class to complete make up work.For extended illness or absence, please speak to your director to verify your assignment.

Class Supplies:

All students are required to have pencils, loose leaf paper, subject dividers, and a 1/2 inch three ring binder.

Optional supplies for class use include: Facial tissue, large bottled hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes.

Academic Standards Policy:

Choir is demanding and it takes a lot of hard work and we all love what we do – otherwise we would not be here. With this in mind, members should not use their involvement in the choral program as an excuse to do less than their best in all of their other courses. The director is required through the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) to check students’ grades. Grades will be checked each 9 weeks AND prior to any activity that will take a choir member off campus. Per MHSAA eligibility rule, students must maintain 2.0 GPA on all coursework taken. Any student that is found academically ineligible may not participate in any event in which other schools are participating, such as festivals or honor choirs. These students will still be required to perform at home concerts. If found ineligible and unable to participate, your choir grade will be reflect the absence.

PLAN AHEAD!!!

Remember, the choir is counting on you to be there. You control your fate and the success of your choral program!

Behavior:

Expectations of good conduct are essential from all choir members. Each student will represent the music department, choir, and school in the best way possible. In addition to the expectations of conduct, choir students are expected to display proper conduct and respect of the highest level during rehearsals, performances, festivals, contests, field trips, or any activity associated with the choir. Your behavior outside of choir can also stop you from traveling with the choir. Permission to travel and participate with the choir is at the discretion of the director and administration.

Again, we are depending on your talent for every performance. You control your fate and the success of this choral program!

Bus trips:

All students will ride the bus together to our destination. Students who do not wish to ride the bus home from an event may do so only if there is written notification prior to the event. Students will only be released to a parent or guardian on their checkout list. All students will be responsible for cleaning the bus.

Conflicts:

PLAN AHEAD!!! If you face the conflict of being in more than one school event at the same time, talk to the directorimmediately. Usually performances and games will receive priority over rehearsals or practices. If a problem persists, the situation will be discussed by the choir teacher and the sponsor/coach of the conflicting activity to avoid placing the student in the middle.
Conflicts MUST be submitted IN WRITING to the director at least 15 days in advance of the event. Failure to do so may result in a lower grade or possibly a schedule change. Be responsible.

Performance Expectations:

After School Rehearsals: Students are expected to attend scheduled after school rehearsals. Ample notice is given so that students can make appropriate arrangements to attend. These rehearsals are required and are part of the student's grade. Students are expected to be present for the entirety of the rehearsal. Missed rehearsals will also effect a student’s performance eligibility and choir placement. Students that are not enrolled in the class will not be able to participate in performances if they have ANY unexcused absences from after school rehearsals. Enrolled students’ grades and eligibility will display their after school rehearsal attendance.

Performance/Dress Rehearsal Attendance: By joining this choral program, each student has made the promise to be present for every performance. Members of the choirs that miss a performance will be moved to a lower level choir or completely out of the choral program. Class fees and money paid will not be refunded and the student. They will also be responsible for repaying the choral department any money spent on the choir member’s behalf. Enrolled students’ grades will reflect the absence.
Exceptions will be made for students who have verifiable documentation of extreme personal illness or a family emergency. Contact should be made with the director as soon as possible to notify them of the situation before the dress rehearsal/performance. If some circumstance prevents you from reaching the director, the student or parent must email the director as soon as possible. Sending the message through another student or a parent will not be accepted.
Be on time: Students are expected to arrive at the performance venue on time and dressed in uniform. Students not dressed in complete uniform may not be allowed to perform, but are required to stay for the performance. (see information regarding performance attire)

Concert Etiquette: Audience members/students are encouraged to follow some well-established standards for formal concert behavior:

  • Refrain from talking during a performance.
  • Remain seated for the entire concert. If it is absolutely necessary to do so,move between choirs and exit the nearest door. Wait to re-enter between choirs.
  • Applause is the only appropriate form of expressing appreciation for a jobwell done. A good rule of thumb is to wait until the conductor lowers his/herarms to indicate the completion of the song.
  • Please eliminate disruptions by turning off cell phones and removing smallchildren who are crying or speaking loudly – in most cases we are recording the performance.

Students are not permitted to leave until the end of the concert and are expectedto observe all performing groups. This is part of the educational process.

Grading Policy

  • Tests (50%) – Performances, Written theory tests, Singing tests, Afterschool Rehearsal Attendance

Performances: Participation in performances during and outside normal school hours is a necessary part of a choir course. Each required performance is worth 100 points. Students are expected to arrive at the performance site on time, in full uniform, and to exhibit proper concert etiquette. Students who violate the rehearsal and concert attendance policies will have points deducted from their performance grade. Common deductions from the performance attendance grade/after school rehearsal grade include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • tardy for performance or dress rehearsal—15 points
  • not allowed to perform due to uniform violation—30 points
  • unexcused* absence from a dress rehearsal—30 points
  • unexcused* absence from a required performance—100 points
  • Daily/Homework (30%) Attendance/Participation, Written work, Journals

Classroom and Rehearsal Attendance/Participation (30%): This grade is based on the student’s attendance and preparedness for class and after school rehearsals. The weekly grade is worth 100 points with each day/rehearsal being worth 20 points. Rehearsal point values are as follows:

  • present and on-time—20 points
  • present, but tardy—15 points
  • early check-outs/unexcused absence—O points
  • Exams (20%)

Exams: The student’s term grade will include a cumulative nine-weeks exam at the end of each nine-weeks. This test will cover topics covered during the nine-week term and may include music theory, music memorization and pitch accuracy, solfege fluency, and sight-reading.

Uniform Policy:

A well-defined performance attire policy is maintained with participants of the Hernando High School Choral Program. Each student is responsible for knowing the uniform requirements of his/her choir, as outlined below, and is expected to adhere to these policies. If a singer does not fully comply with the following guidelines, he/she will not be allowed to perform.

All uniforms are your’s to keep and you will have to opportunity to sell it to a new HHS choir student once you graduate – if in good condition. If you are a returning choir member and already have the official HHS choir uniform, be sure to try on ALL pieces – you may need to order a new dress,tux pieces, or a full tux. Students MUST wear the official HHS choir uniform and CAN NOT other clothes even if they’re similar in style. If a student wears something other than what is described, he or she will not be able to perform. Nothing should be done to bring attention to yourself.

Women’s Uniform

  • Dress: Bel Canto /Advanced Women’s Choirs will wear the official HHS Choir dress. The dress costs $65 –See calendar for due date.

Tux Pricing / Price:
Full - 5 piece tux #ENSM / $105.00
Tux. Coat #8500 / $63.13
Tux Pants #8510 / $28.35
Wing Tip Tux Shirt #8000 / $14.93
Satin Cummerbund #6000 / $7.23
Satin bow tie #6002 / $3.21
  • Shoes: Women can wear sold black flats OR solid black heels 2 inches high or smaller. No other shoes can be worn outside of this description.
  • Jewelry: The only permitted jewelry is small pearl or stud earrings. No necklaces, bracelets, or facial piercings.
  • Hair: Hair must be out of your face. Natural colors only.
  • Makeup:Natural looking, neutral colored makeup only. No bright colored lipstick or eye shadow.

Men’s Choir Uniform Guidelines

  • Tuxedo: All Men will wear the official HHS Choir tux.The tux cost is $105 –See calendar for due date.
  • Shoes: Solid black dress shoes only, may lace-up or loafers as long as they are true “dress shoes” – no athletic shoes or variation thereof.
  • Jewelry:The only permitted jewelry is small stud earrings. No necklaces, bracelets, or facial piercings can be worn for performances.
  • Socks: LONG solid black socks only.
  • Undershirt: Men must wear a SOLID white undershirt under their tuxedo shirt.
  • Facial Hair: Make sure facial hair is groomed.
  • Hair: Hair must be out of your face. Natural colors only.

Choir Booster Club:

The Choir Boosters Organization is comprised of parents, grandparents, and adult family members who support the choir program. There is a place and a need for everybody to lend their talents and ideas. Whether you can make phone calls, input data into a computer, chaperone trips, write grant proposals, build a shelf, take charge of a fundraiser, . . . WE NEED YOU! All are welcome! We know that most parents work and have very limited free time, but if everyone can take on just a small amount. I am only one person and I need your help providing any and all opportunities to your children to thrive.

Choir Course Costs:

Since the school district gives the choir such a small budget, I have to require the students to pay a course fee of $25.00 each semester to cover necessary costs and materials. Parents can choose to pay both semesters upfront (one payment of $50). These payments cover, but is not limited to, choirs’ registration fees for festivals, transportation to and from festivals, our accompanist’s rehearsal and performance fees, music, class supplies, etc. If you child decides to participate in one of the optional events, parents/guardians will be responsible for providing the means to help participation. We will also order t-shirts; this is not figured into these costs. The cost for these t-shirts will be announced at a later time.