Centennial High School 2016-2017

Choir Syllabus

Centennial High School 2016-2017

Instructor Information

General Information

Purpose

To provide a year-long atmosphere for each student to successfully participate in a fulfilling musical experience, on both a personal and ensemble level, while learning and performing representative choral literature.

Expectations and Goals

At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Perform a varied repertoire of music.
2. Read, write, interpret, and execute basic musical notation.
3. Perform ensemble literature within the classical and contemporary idiom.

Course Materials

Class Requirements

The following is expected of every student:

 Regular attendance and positive, active participation in rehearsals, as well as ALL dress rehearsals and performances.

 Individual practicing and mastery of assigned music.

 Work to develop skills in musical interpretation.

 Diligence in keeping good musical habits, including but not limited to maintaining good health by balanced eating, drinking water, and sleeping an adequate amount.

 Respect for other musicians, as well as student leaders.

 Completion of all assignments.

 Participation in music program fundraisers as needed to raise monies for outfits, festivals, music purchases, competitions, and/or trips.

Materials

Each student will be expected to have the following materials daily:

• Music (provided)
• Pencil
• 1” 3-ring black binder
• Water bottle

In addition, all students will be required to be appropriately outfitted for each concert. The following are the mandatory requirements for Performance Outfits:

1. Concert Choir –Women: $85 Black dress. Black tights and black shoes. Please choose appropriate shoes with heels that are comfortable. Some concerts will require 20+ minutes of standing and/or walking on multi-leveled surfaces. Safety and comfortability first!
2. Chamber Choir – Men: Black dress pants, black dress shoes with black socks, a black button down shirt, a white button down shirt, two ties: black and white, a black 3-button vest (can purchase from the choir department).

Women: $85 Black dress

1. Advanced Women- $85 Black dress. Black tights and black shoes. Please choose appropriate shoes with heels that are comfortable. Some concerts will require 20+ minutes of standing and/or walking on multi-leveled surfaces. Safety and comfortability first!
2. Man Choir- Black button down, long sleeve shirt, black dress slacks, black shoes with black socks, and a white tie.

Grading Policy

Since a successful and enjoyable choral experience is the product of a corporate effort, it is assumed that all singers would receive a grade of “A” for the semester; falling short of the class requirements will result in a corresponding grade reduction and/or being removed from the ensemble at the director’s discretion. Grades will be calculated via PowerSchool using the following criteria:

Daily rehearsal engagement and skills progress (50%)

Part preparation assessments (30%)

Sight reading engagement and progress (10%)

End of Course Exam (10%)

Daily Rehearsal Engagement and Skills Progress (50%)

Although what we do, we do together, students singers will be using presented rubrics to measure their rehearsal activity and progress each class period. These scores will be averaged and validated by the director before the actual score is posted in Power School

Part Preparation Assessments (30%)

Singers will be assessed on their individual effort and progress in the areas of part preparation and vocal application. These assessments will take place in a variety of ways, including: recorded demonstrations by the student or singing in small groups in the classroom during our class period. These assessments, also known as “part checks,” are 30% of the student’s grade and will follow the provided rubric. Every effort will be made to minimize any student anxiety about demonstrating their developing applied skill.

Sight Reading Engagement and Progress (10%)

In addition to learning to sing well as an ensemble, learning to sight sing will be one of the most useful skills you will gain in this class. Through strengthening your ability in this area, our choirs will be able to study and perform more music more quickly. Sight reading scores will be awarded based on the individual’s engagement and progress on sight reading benchmarks.

End of Course Exam (10%)

Each choir student will complete a District sanctioned End of Course Exam. This exam will cover a limited amount of the information covered in this course and will complete the end of semester grade. This exam will be given during the finals’ schedule.

Course Schedule

Students are expected to participate in all performances. Most performances are listed below. Please add these dates to your calendars now to avoid future conflicts. Performances are generally in the evenings and may include weekend times/dates; please plan accordingly. There are times when an opportunity will arise where we are asked to sing at an event we have not previously agreed to attend. In those times, communication and commitment is of utmost importance. Do not commit if you are unable to attend. The following are all our committed and known performances for the choirs at this high school:

Freshman Welcome Concert – September 1st, 2016 at 7:00 pm, in the CPAC Auditorium (warm up at 6:15pm in choir room)

Chamber Choir join Critical Mass- September 8th, 2016 at 7:30 pm, at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Center, Boise

Fall Choir Concert – October 20th, 2016 at 7:00 pm, in the CPAC Auditorium

Winter Music Department Concert – December 8th, 2016 at 7:00 pm, in the CPAC Auditorium

Honor Choir Concert – January 12th, 2017 at 8 pm, Rocky Mountain High School Auditorium (by audition only)

Pre-Festival Choir Concert – March 21st, 2017 at 7 pm, Centennial High School Performing Arts Center

District III Festival – March 22nd (Concert and Man Choir) 23rd (Chamber and Adv Wmn Choir)2017, times TBA, CPAC

End of the Year Concerts- May 23rd, 2017 at 7:00 pm, in the CPAC Auditorium

Graduation – May?? TBA

A little about me…

A graduate of Vallivue High School in 2004, Ms. Lowe attended The College of Idaho (Caldwell, Idaho) and earned her Bachelor of Music in K-12 Music Education in 2008.

Following her student teaching in 2009, Ms. Lowe pursued her love of performance and the stage. While living in Seattle, WA, Ms. Lowe added roles such as Joanne, in Rent, Belle, in Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, in Into the Woods, to her resume. Loving the performing life, but fighting three jobs and her home sickness, Ms. Lowe returned to her home in Idaho where she began her teaching career.

Prior to the West Ada School district, she taught in the Vallivue School District with elementary students, teaching them the joys and skills of music in the classroom. She currently resides in Meridian, Idaho and is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities two music programs will bring. Teaching at Renaissance and Centennial High School will afford her all the opportunities to teach high school students her favorite choral music.

As a professional vocalist and conductor, Ms. Lowe has performed with The Serenata Orchestra, Critical Mass, The Boise Philharmonic, The Traditions of Christmas, Boise Music Week, Boise Little Theater, The Boise Women’s Chorus, Meridian Symphonic Orchestra, West Ada Chamber Orchestra, and many others. Ms. Lowe is always looking for more opportunities to perform and better her craft and love of music.

Ms. Lowe loves coffee, dark chocolate, and good food. She is addicted to running with her dog, Zeus, and competes in 5ks when she has a free weekend. She is very excited to continue into her fifth year in the West Ada school district and is looking forward to meeting you in the very near future!

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe,

Wings to the mind, flight to the imagination,

A charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything;

it is the essence of order and lends to all that is good,

just, and beautiful. -Plato

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