TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome to Parents and Students
Singer’s Checklist
Choir Expectations
Grading Policies
Consequences
Fundraising & Texting/Facebook
Calendar of Events
ITEMS TO RETURN: (Hard Copies will be passed out in class)
Handbook Signature
Permission to Travel
Choir Shirt Order Form
August 24, 2015
Welcome new and returning members of the TMS Choral Department. You have chosen to be a part of an organization that can offer you many opportunities for growth and provide experiences in music that you will remember for a lifetime.
This year the Tippit Middle School Choirs will be directed by Davina Hendrix and assisted by Ray Votolato. Mr. “V”, as many of you know him from elementary, will be assisting choirs at both Tippit and Benold. We are excited to be teaming up for this school year.
A little background about Mrs. Hendrix: I have been teaching choir for 17 years! 7 years at the middle school level and 10 years at the high school level. I am coming from Pflugerville High School where I was director for the past 9 years. My husband and I have been married for 11 years and we have a 1st grader – Jackson – that keeps me busy. I know choir! I know kids! And I love music! I am so excited to become a part of the traditions and excellence of Tippit Middle School.
Joining choir means you want to be part of an exceptional program and are ready to commit and succeed. This handbook is designed to provide goals and expectations of the THS Choral Department and to answer as many questions as possible. In an active program like this, your cooperation helps insure a successful experience for all. I know that parent support and involvement in the choir program is the greatest asset we have.
We are confident that this year will be a strong continuation of past performances, unique experiences, and trips as well as many awards. Mr.Votolato and I will continue the tradition of commitment of excellence and growth of the choir department.
Thank you for your support of the Tippit Middle School Choir. The lines of communication are always open. Mr. Votolato and I are excited to work with you and look forward to many enriching experiences throughout this year.
Now, let’s make memories, make music, and become amazing musicians.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Hendrix & Mr. Votolato
SINGER’S CHECKLIST
All TMS Choir members
We are very excited about this school year in the TMS choir department! We have outstanding leadership in our upperclassmen singers. All students in TMS Choirs have been placed where they can continue to build on their musical skills and gifts. Incoming 6th grade students will be in 6th grade girls choir and 6th grade boys choir. EVERY singer is an IMPORTANT part of the “team”. Some are stronger singers and leaders than others, but EVERY PERSON is VALUABLE.
The enrollment of the TMS choir is growing each year. The standards are VERY high in all of the choir classes. This choir department prides itself and is known for the following:
1. Students who receive a MUSIC EDUCATION
2. Choirs that sing with a healthy, mature SOUND
3. Choirs that perform music of VARIED interest that is challenging and entertaining.
4. Choirs that can SIGHT-READ at a high level of excellence.
That being said, to remain in choir will require that YOU, the SINGER, do the following:
1. PASS ALL of your classes EVERY NINE WEEKS
2. Have excellent attendance
3. Be at every performance
4. Receive NO DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES from the school.
5. Be at EVERY extra rehearsal. There will be VERY FEW of these, but YOU MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE.
Eligibility Guidelines:
If you fail a class for a 9 weeks grading period, you MUST be re-instated at the next 3 week progress report. We are under UIL/TEA eligibility guidelines. Be diligent in your academic classes and keep those grades up!
REHEARSAL REMINDER’S
1. EYES - At the top of the list is a reminder of where the student is looking at any given time during the rehearsal. The two acceptable places are the director or at the music being rehearsed.
2. POSTURE - Every choir member is responsible for maintaining good singing posture. Just as an athlete would not try to play basketball while lying down, a good singer does not try to sing while slumping in their chair, crossing their arms and legs, or anything else which inhibits them from their best performance. Correct posture allows the singer to develop and exercise a healthy and beautiful tone.
3. HANDS - While sitting or standing, the position of a singer’s hands is important. Acceptable places are holding music, placed on one’s own legs, or by one’s side.
4. FEET - While sitting, a singer will have their feet squarely placed on the floor. Singers do not rehearse with their legs crossed. While standing, weight should be evenly distributed on both feet. Feet are shoulder width apart.
5. BREATHING – This factor precedes singing because air intake is the basis of all healthy singing. Preparing to sing by taking a deep, relaxed breath will greatly improve a singer’s tone and stamina.
6. SINGING – The ultimate goal of any rehearsal is to maximize the amount of time spent singing. It is imperative that singers are demonstrating attention to items 1-5 before the director will proceed to no. 6.
TIPPIT MIDDLE SCHOOL
CHOIR EXPECTATIONS
TARDIES
Come to each rehearsal with a positive attitude about working. You are expected to arrive in class on time wanting to sing and eager to tackle the task at hand…MAKING MUSIC.
ABSENCES
Come to school. You cannot be a good student or choir member if you are not here. Excellent attendance is a requirement in all choirs, as we cannot teach you if you are not here to learn.
CHOIR OFFICES
The choir offices are our home away from home. Please come visit us in the choir offices, but always knock or wait to be acknowledged before you enter. No student should ever be in an office without a director or choir officer.
FYI
Keep yourself informed of all dates, concerts, trips, and events. Resolve conflicts before they arise. Feel free to come to me for help in resolving a conflict. Many times I can approach/help with another teacher/coach.
COMMUNICATE
When you know in advance of an upcoming problem/conflict, COMMUNICATE with the directors AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
GRADES
ALL STUDENT PERFORMANCES ARE A MANDATORY ELEMENT OF THE CURRICULUM!! Everyone in every choir will perform. Every member of a performing ensemble is vital to the ensemble, as a whole. Never think otherwise. Failure to meet performance criteria will result in removal from the choral department.
RESTROOM/WATER FOUNTAIN
Do not ask to go to the restroom during class; take care of personal matters between classes. If you feel ill during a rehearsal, please do not ask, just go to the bathroom….we will understand.
GROOMING
No personal grooming in the choir room before rehearsal or during rehearsal. That is what the bathroom is for…Absolutely do not spray perfume, body spray, hairspray or open lotion in class. The perfumes can set off an asthmatic attack and I do not want to smell it the rest of the day.
DAILY
Do not take your books to your seats. All you need is your choir folder and a sharpened pencil.
SNACKS
No food, drinks (except water), or gum in the choir room.
LOCKERS
Please do not leave extra books in the choir room. It is not your locker and the choir room doors will be locked when I am away from the choir room. Also, do not leave any personal items in the choir office!
PHONE
If the phone is not in use, and it does not disrupt the office, you are welcome to use the phone before and after school. No phone use during class or lunch.
CELL PHONES
No Cell phones during rehearsal. Even if we are not working directly with your
section, you need to be going over your part and how it fits with what we are
working on.
GRADING POLICIES
The student’s nine-week grade will be averaged as follows:
I. Dailey Grade Assignments and Tests – 40%
II. Concerts & Rehearsals – 60%
I. DAILY GRADE – 40%
1 weeks is worth a total of 100 points. The total of 100 is divided by the number of class days in that week. Most weeks will be 20 points a day.
The daily grade is determined by the student.
1. Level of participation during class (on-task behavior, posture, singing, etc.)
2. Following the classroom expectations (remembering what to do)
The following are common deductions given to students. But this list is really just for the frequent flyers. We all forget to spit out our gum, or get a tardy, etc. But for those of you who “forget” turns into “I don’t care” will have deductions from their daily grade.
tardy 10 pts / gum 10 ptsbathroom 10 pts / no music (how will you rehearse?) 15 pts
no pencil 10 pts / time out from rehearsal 15 pts
food 10 pts / sent to office (all daily pts)
ASSIGNMENTS AND TEST
Assignments will be completed and tests administered to monitor progress in the subject. Special emphasis will be placed on monitoring individual sight-reading skills.
Warm-ups & Sightreading
A weekly warm-up grade will be given. The grade will include warm-up and sightreading time. Points are deducted for not having music, not being in seats when the bell rings, cell phones in use or not put away, and not participating during warm-up and sightreading.
II. CONCERTS AND REHEARSALS – 60%
Participation in rehearsals and performances outside normal school hours is a necessary part of choir courses. Attendance is required for the entirety of all performances and pre-scheduled rehearsals. Performances are listed on the Calendar of Events. Rehearsals either before or after school will be few and scheduled with plenty of advanced notice. Most rehearsals are already scheduled and on the calendar.
An excused absence from a choir rehearsal or concert will require the same criteria as an excused absence from school. Including personal illness where the students has been absent from the entire school day, death in the family, or family emergency. The absence will not be excused if the parent has not communicated with the director prior to the event. It is imperative that the parent contact the director regarding the absence, as these rehearsals and concerts are a part of the student’s grade. The school phone is 512-943-5040, leave a voice mail or e-mail a director or .
An unexcused absence from a performance will result in a significant reduction of the 9-week grade.
Failure to attend a performance is equivalent to receiving a “zero” on a research paper. Just as you spend weeks researching and preparing a paper, you spend weeks rehearsing and preparing for performance. You receive no credit on your paper if you do not turn it in: you receive no credit for performance if you do not perform.
Students are not allowed to attend an evening performance or audition if they have missed the school day. In other words, if you are sick you need to stay home sick.
More than one absence from a performance will result in dismissal from the choral department.
Please make transportation arrangements ahead of time. Lack of transportation is not an excused absence.
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CONSEQUENCES
Most of you have been in choir before. The expectations for the TMS choir are the same as for most middle schools. The expectations are set with many of you already understanding them and assuming everyone else in choir is on the same page. So the consequences are as simple as the expectations.
If a student fails to follow one or more classroom expectations, I am assuming they have temporarily forgotten what the expectations are. I am more than willing to remind students of what they have forgotten. After several reminders, however, it becomes apparent to me that a student’s “I forgot…” is really an “I don’t care…”
Be aware that repeated reminders will be viewed by the director as an “I don’t care” and will result in temporary removal from the choir room, parent conferences, detention, disciplinary referrals, and permanent removal from the choir program at the discretion of the director.
There is an extremely small percent of you that “forget” on a daily basis. This page is truly for the 1% that may temporarily suffer from amnesia! Not to worry, we will get you helpJ.
FUNDRAISING
Students are encouraged to participate in the fundraising efforts we undertake throughout the year. The choir department’s philosophy is that fundraising should be kept to a minimum, but that when we do a fundraiser, we strive for maximum involvement and return on our effort. The school board and the State of Texas no longer allow fundraising money to go to individual accounts. All money raised must go to the campus activity fund to be spent on the choir students as a whole, not individually.
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Texting and Facebook
1. No texting the directors unless it cannot wait until the next school day.
2. No calling directors on their cell phones. If there is an emergency after school hours have your parents call.
3. As always, you cannot be a Facebook friend until you graduate!
4. If you do have to text a director it must be school related.
Handbook signature
2015-2016
Yes, I have read and understand the choir handbook. By signing this page, I am agreeing to the policies and expectations of the Tippit Choral Department.