Glee

2A, Semester 2

Room 186

Ms. Ferrante

Office: Room 188D

Office Phone:256-4141

E-Mail:

Available Blocks: Second Half of 1A, 3A,1B, and 2B

*I teach at Lenape every day during 4th block, which also means that I am

not available after school until 3:00pm. If you need to meet with me after

school, please make an appointment.*

Course Description:

Glee is a performance-based class. We will have fun singing many different kinds of vocal music: pop, musical theater, rock and roll, jazz, barber shop, and others. We will also incorporate choreography and props into our performances. Most songs will feature one or more soloists. You will learn how to give an exciting performance!

The last 5 weeks of the second quarter will be spent completing various assignments, such as solo and duet in-class performances.

Materials:

½ inch black 3-ring binder

Pencil

Your instrument (aka Your body )

Concert Dress Clothes: black dress or black blouse and pants or black blouse and skirt. We will choose an accent color for each performance.

**REMEMBER: you will be dancing in these clothes!**

Requirements:

Actively participate in class. This course is about singing and performing. There will also be some dancing involved. These are skills and concepts that cannot be fully grasped without participation.

Bring your folder, music, and a pencil to each class. You are welcome to leave these items in your designated folder slot in the Glee folder cabinet.

Complete your “What I Learned” journal thoughtfully at the end of each class.

Complete all homework and other assignments in a timely manner.

Attend all dress rehearsals and performances.

Be respectful of your classmates!

Don’t be afraid to try new things!

Assignments:

“What I Learned” Journal: You will be expected to complete a “What I Learned” Journal at the end of each class. These will state something interesting you learned in class that day, an experience you had in class that made something “click” or a frustrating experience, and any questions that you may have. I expect that these journals be thoughtful. I will check to make sure you have completed your journal before you leave the classroom. I will collect the journals at random only 5 times throughout each quarter. These journals will be graded out of 10 points. If you are absent on a day journals are collected, yours will be collected the following class.

Homework/Practice: Homework will be given occasionally. Most days I will simply expect you to practice what we have learned in class. If you do not have access to a piano and/or do not know how to play the piano, that is okay! I will create practice tracks for you and put them on my website for you to download. Homework will be graded out of 5 points.

Dress Rehearsal and Extra Rehearsals:You must attend every dress rehearsal and extra rehearsal! The dress rehearsal is important because it may be the only time we rehearse in the Auditorium before the concert. We will be setting the lights and rehearsing with the sound system. Extra rehearsals are generally held in the evening at the high school during the weeks leading up to the concert. These rehearsals are mostly used to solidify choreography. Every rehearsal is essential for success in our performances. See “Policies” for information on missing the dress rehearsals. Dress rehearsals are worth 50 points.

Performances:You must attend every performance! This is why you are in this class—to perform in a show choir/glee club. The performances are your tests! We will perform on the school’s Spring Concert. We will also be doing other performances throughout the year, which will be announced as they come up. See “Policies” for information on missing performances. Performances are worth 100 points. The Spring Concert is on May 15, 2012. Mark your calendars!

Grade Breakdown:

Participation: 35%

Performances: 30%

Dress Rehearsals: 20%

Journal: 10%

Homework: 5%

Policies:

Late to Class: Since I am unable to stay afterschool most days due to teaching at Lenape, I cannot use staying after as a punishment for tardiness. Therefore, if you are late three times in a quarter your participation grade drops one point. If you are late more than three times, it will continue to drop one point for each time you are late.

Late Work: If a homework assignment (or other assignment) is late, your grade will drop one point for each school day it is late.

Absence and Work: If you are absent on the day an assignment or journal is collected, it is due the day you return to class.

Late to Dress Rehearsals/Performances: If you have to be late to a dress rehearsal and/or a performance for some reason, please get a note to me from your parent or guardian at least two days ahead of time. Otherwise, you will lose points. If you are 1-5 minutes late, you will lose 5 points from the rehearsal or performance grade; 6-10 minutes late, you lose 10 points; 11-15 minutes late, you lose 15 points, etc.

Absence and Dress Rehearsals/Performances:If you need to miss a dress rehearsal and/or a performance for some reason, please get a note to me from your parent or guardian at least two days ahead of time. Otherwise, the absence will not be excused and you will get a 0 for that dress rehearsal or performance. If there is a last-minute emergency, I reserve the right to make an exception with a note from home stating the situation.

Unprepared: If you come to class unprepared, ½ point will be deducted from your participation grade. “Unprepared” is defined as not having your music and/or a pencil.

Let’s have fun! Glee is a place to really let loose and enjoy singing! Please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me with any questions.