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Gatesville Junior High

Choir

Handbook

2017-2018

August 21, 2017

Dear Choir Parent,

This handbook contains important information for you and your choir student for the coming year. Please take time to read it, and then sign the enclosed forms and return them. Please KEEP the information for reference throughout the school year and take a moment now to put the choir activity dates on your calendar. Other dates and rehearsals may be added during the year, but these are the dates we know in advance.

Parental support is crucial in any strong choir program, so we encourage you to get involved! Here are some ways that you can help:

  • Come to every concert to support your child. (Concerts are REQUIRED for choir students as a part of the choir curriculum and are 25% of their grade.) It means a lot to the students to share their choir experience with you and to hear your encouraging words about their performance.
  • Be aware of your child’s progress in ALL subjects. We try to stress excellence in academics as well as in choir. Students must be academically eligible in order to participate in most choir activities. A choir functions as a team and one missing or ill-prepared member affects the unity of the entire group. In addition, students miss valuable parts of the choir experience when they are ineligible to participate. We check regularly on students grades in other classes so that we can help them to stay on top of their academic work throughout the year.
  • Get involved. There will be a parent meeting on Monday, September 11th at 7:00 pm in the Choir Hall. We want to encourage all choir parents to come to this meeting and learn about what your child will be doing this year, and find ways that you can get involved. We cannot make extra trips and do extra events without much parent support.
  • Make sure that you and your child sign the Student/Parent Acknowledgement form promptly and return it to us. It is due by Friday, August 25th.
  • Check our website frequently for the latest choir information. Go to: click the link for Extracurricular, then Choir Directors. We would also appreciate if you would click on either Charles Ament or Robbie Sparkman and Subscribe, to add your email and receive automatic updates to the webpage.
  • We look forward to having your child in choir this year. We are committed to doing our best to provide the best possible choir experience for all of our students. We hope, together with you and the students, to make this the best and most successful year ever for the GatesvilleHigh School Choirs.

Sincerely,

Charles Ament and Robbie Sparkman

Choral Directors

Contents

Contents

Junior High Choir Calendar 2017-2018

Choir Procedures

Choir Expectations

Choir Grade Criteria

Junior High Choir Uniforms

Student/Parent Acknowledgement

Junior High Choir Calendar2017-2018

August24 (Thurs.)Fall Fundraiser BEGINS – HS and JH and 6th Grade

September 7 (Thurs.)Fall Fundraiser ENDS – HS and JH and 6th Grade

12 (Mon.)Choir Parent Meeting – 7:00 pm

October 2-4Willy Wonka Rehearsals after school and/or evening

5 (Thurs.)Willy Wonka Performance

6 (Fri.)Willy Wonka Performance

7 (Sat.)Willy Wonka Performance

November 6 (Mon.)Choir Follies rehearsal (required for all participants)

7 (Tues.)Choir Follies (Some JH students will be involved with tech)

10 (Fri.)Veteran’s Day Assembly

December19 (Tues.) Christmas Concert 6th Grade, JH, HS 7:00 pm

20-21Possible local performances during class times for all choirs

January 20 (Sat.)JH All-Region Auditions, Belton HS

27 (Sat.)JH All-Region Clinic/Concert, Killeen HS

8:30 am Clinic 5:00 pm Concert (parents invited)

February

March 5 (Mon.)JH Pre-UIL Concert

6 & 7JH UIL Clinic during class times

29 (Thurs.)JH UIL Concert & Sightreading (Midway Middle School)

April

May11 (Fri.)Sandy Lake trip

For all concerts, students are expected to arrive in proper uniform and in their seats in the choir room, ready to rehearse 35 minutes prior to the concert start time.

Choir Procedures

  1. Upon entering the choir room, deposit gum and candy in trash can.
  2. Read the board for materials needed for the day.
  3. Put all books, bags, purses, etc. under the risers before taking your seat. No brushes, make-up, or any other materials other than those required for choir are to be on the risers during this class. Cell phones are not allowed in class and will be confiscated if seen or heard.
  4. Get FOLDER, PENCIL and any other materials needed. Be in your assigned seat when the tardy bell rings. It is each student’s responsibility to plan ahead in order to visit the restroom, go to locker, etc. BETWEEN CLASSES and still get to class on time.

Choir Expectations

  1. Help keep our choir room clean.
    Absolutely NO gum, food, drinks (except bottled water) allowedin the choir room or practice rooms. Students are encouraged to bring a bottle of water, because hydration is crucial to good vocal health.
  1. Be respectful and cooperative at all times.
  2. Listen attentively and follow directions immediately.
  3. Raise your hand for permission to speak.
  4. Be committed to excellence.

I Am An Amazing Choir Member…

  • I have my music, pencil and am in my seat when the bell rings.
  • My music is marked as requested by the director, and as needed to help me.
  • I always use good choral posture in rehearsal.
  • I sing with good phrases and use proper vowels.
  • I make sure I know how to sing my part.
  • I blend my voice with the choir.
  • I honor the music by not talking during the playing or singing of a song.
  • I study my music and audiate my part when other sections are rehearsing.
  • I will do whatever it takes to make my choir amazing.
  • I will learn to read intervals, audiate and use hand signs.

Choir Grade Criteria

The choir grade is generally made up of the DAILY GRADE (75%) and CONCERT GRADES (25%). In the event that there is no concert during a six-weeks period, the concert grade will be incorporated into the daily grade, making the daily grade 85% of the six-weeks grade. The DAILY GRADE consists of rehearsal skills (overall class participation), sight-reading, and knowledge of music.

Daily Grades are based on the following:

A+ (96-100)Student consistently meets all expectations every day (including demonstrating good posture and proper vowel formation when singing) AND demonstrates exceptional effort beyond what is required.

A (90-95)Student consistently meets all expectations every day (including demonstrating good posture and proper vowel formation when singing).

B (80-89)Student often meets most expectations, but is not consistent.

C (70-79)Student has many days when he makes a minimal effort to meet expectations.

F (below 70)Student fails to meet basic expectations on a regular basis.

Concert Grades are based on attendance and participation during choir concerts. Concert attendance is REQUIRED and is 25% of the six-weeks grade. Remember: Concert etiquette is also taken into consideration as part of this grade. Students are expected to sit in the auditorium and listen quietly and respectfully to all other choirs’ performances. Clapping between songs is appropriate, but yelling (at any time), moving around or talking during performance is unacceptable. Inappropriate behavior by students in the audience may be dealt withfrom the stage or by principals, if necessary. Choir members are expected to be the examples of good concert behavior each time we perform.

Concert Grades will be based on the following criteria:

  1. Be ON TIME for warm-up. (That means IN YOUR CHAIR, IN FULL UNIFORM at the specified time.)
  2. Have on all parts of uniform, cleaned and pressed. Long pants are not allowed underneath formal girl’s uniforms. Only uniform shoes are allowed as a part of formal uniforms. Girls are to wear sheer black hose and boys are to wear black socks. No other footwear is acceptable.
  3. Wear only jewelry that is part of the uniform, i.e. pearls and nothing else. NO necklaces, bracelets or earrings (visible from the audience) are allowed. There are no exceptions to the jewelry requirement, and students will be required to take off extra jewelry if they wear it into pre-concert rehearsal. Please DO NOT even show up with extra jewelry on, it just robs our rehearsal time, and affects your grade.
  4. Follow directions and focus immediately on the warm-up prior to concert.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of music being performed, as well as performance skills on stage.
  6. Demonstrate good concert etiquette when in audience during another choir’s performance.

EXCUSED ABSENCES are allowed only in the case of an unavoidable absence (severe illness or death in the family). The student or parent must contact the director prior to the concert. Please call the school number, 254-865-8281, ext. 5233 and leave a message if no one answers. Most situations should be worked out in advance, so that the student is able to attend the concert. Students who are absent from school more than one half day on the day of a concert are not allowed to sing in the concert, unless pre-approved by the principal (parent must call during the school day). The only way to receive full credit is to participate in the concert.

INELIGIBILITYrules are set at state level and are not negotiable at the local level.

Students must have passed all classes the previous nine weeks (or be passing all subjects at the three weeks point following) in order to perform for UIL events or concerts for which tickets are sold. Students who are ineligible to perform with the choir for UIL competition will not perform on the Pre-UIL concert, if eligibility is known at the time of concert.

Ineligible students must do make up work to receive a grade for the concert. They may choose to attend the concert and turn in a written report about the concert; or they may request to write another report with the topic to be determined by the directors. In either case, it will be due by the day following the concert and 10 points will be deducted each day it is not turned in.

Students who fail to make up a concert in the stated manner within one week of the concert date, will receive a zero for the concert grade.

Conduct Grade: As a performing organization, the highest standards of conduct are demanded in order to achieve excellence.

Conduct grades reflect observed behavior and. adherence to stated choir expectations. Unsatisfactory conduct grades (N or U) affect honor roll status. If a student’s conduct is consistently being a disruption to the class, parents will be called and possibly a conference requested.

Junior High Choir Uniforms

ALL JUNIOR HIGH CHOIR MEMBERS WILL NEED A CHOIR SHIRT, which we will order soon. Cost is $8. Students may wear the shirts to school, but are required to wear them for several informal concerts during the year and for our spring performance trip. Payment is due by Friday, September 1st.

It is the responsibility of every student to check their own uniform (whether formal and informal) several days prior to each performance and make sure that uniforms are clean and pressed and locate shoes. DO NOT wait until the day of the performance.

FORMAL UNIFORM

GIRLS’ CHOIRS: Uniform is a long formal dress and pearl necklace which the school provides. No other jewelry is to be worn with the uniform. Necklaces, bracelets or earrings (except very small studs) are NOT allowed. There are no exceptions to the jewelry requirement, and students will be required to take off extra jewelry if they wear it into pre-concert rehearsal. Please DO NOT even show up with extra jewelry on, it just robs our rehearsal time.

Formal uniform is worn for the Christmas and Pre-UIL concerts, UIL contest and perhaps at least one other performance during the year.

Note: All dresses will be marked at school for hemming while students are wearing the uniform shoes, in order to have a uniform appearance.

BOYS’ CHOIR: Uniform is a white tuxedo shirt, black tuxedo pants, bow-tie and black vest. The entire uniform is provided by the school. No jewelry is allowed to be worn with the uniform, i.e. necklaces, bracelets or earrings.

Note: All tuxedo pants will be marked at school for hemming while students are wearing the uniform shoes, in order to have a uniform appearance. Students need to try on their uniform again a couple of weeks before the concerts in December and March to be sure it still fits, and the hem does not need adjusting. Please do not wait until the day of the concert to make sure there is not a problem.

Shoes: All students will need to purchase uniformshoes, if they do not already have a pair that fits. Please have your child try on their shoes ASAP and determine if a new pair is needed. The actual cost of the shoes is $36 for girls and boys. Last year, the district paid for a portion of the shoe cost; we anticipate that will be the case this year, as well. $18 for shoes is due by September2nd. If the school board does not approve the supplement, the additional amount ($18) will be due by October 3rd. As soon as the budget is approved, in mid-September, we will let you know if an additional payment is needed.

Cleaning of Choir Uniforms: Uniforms have been cleaned before issuing them to the students. Boys’ uniforms are machine-washable (except the vest). Wash them on a delicate cycle and be sure to pre-treat any stains before washing. If ironing is necessary, use a low setting and iron on the back side of the fabric. When cleaning of girls’ dresses or boys’ vests is needed, please send them to school, and we will take them to Valet Cleaners when we have several to take at once. You may take them on your own, but you will be responsible for payment.

INFORMAL UNIFORM: Informal uniform consists of long, dark pants, choir t-shirt and closed-toe shoes. No jewelry, large or colored belts, large hair accessories, or anything that will detract from the uniform look of the choir is to be worn with informal uniforms.

CHOIR STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO EACH OF THE SPECIFICATIONS REGARDING UNIFORMS AND CLEANING. The appearance of the whole choir is dependent on EVERY member being responsible for having on a clean, freshly pressed, sharp-looking uniform with appropriate jewelry.

  • Be prepared,
  • Plan ahead, and
  • Have uniform clean and ready for each performance.
  • Wear only jewelry that is part of the uniform.

NOTE: If these guidelines are not followed, up to 20 points will be deducted from concert grade (which is a major test grade).

Money for t-shirts and choir shoes is due on or beforeSeptember1st.

Student/Parent Acknowledgement

I have carefully read, understood, and will abide by the information concerning:

____Grading Criteria and Expectations/Procedures for Choir Members

____2017-2018Calendar of Choir Events

____Choir Uniforms

Parent/Guardian Email ______

Student Signature______Date______

Parent/ Guardian Signature______Date______

Please return this form by Friday, August 25th. (Pleasereturn Choir Booster Club Form and payment for shoes and shirts at the same time.)

Please keep the handbook for your reference during the year.

Thank you!