Har-Ber High School
Choral Department
August 18, 2014
Greetings to the Students and Parents of the HBHS Choirs!
It feels good to welcome you to our tenth year at Har-Ber High School and our award-winning choir 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 handbook is designed to introduce you to the many facets of the HBHS Choral Department and to answer as many questions as possible. In an active program like this one, your cooperation helps insure a successful experience for all. We know that parent support and involvement in the choir program is the greatest asset we have. We will need that help throughout this challenging year.
The Springdale School District has had years of performances, unique experiences, and trips as well as many awards. We are confident that this year will be a strong continuation of that commitment to excellence and growth as a department.
Thank you for your interest and support of the choir at Har-Ber High School. We are excited to work with you and we look forward to many enriching experiences throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Randy Erwin, Director Mr. Michael Brown, Director
HBHS Performing Choirs
Bel Canto Singers 2nd period (9:40 – 10:30)
Bel Canto Singers is comprised of sophomore through senior men and women with a well-developed vocal production, excellent proficiency in sight reading skills, and an outstanding academic record. Music will include mixed choir literature as well as women’s and men’s choir selections.
Strata Singers 3rd period (10:35 – 11:25)
The Strata Singers are comprised of sophomore women with a well-developed vocal production, a good level of sight reading skills, and an outstanding academic record. In addition to performing treble choir literature, this group will also combine with the women of the Camerata Singers to form a Select Women’s choir.
Camerata Singers 4th period (12:20 – 1:15)
The Camerata Singers is an auditioned choir comprised of sophomore through senior men and women with well-developed vocal production, excellent proficiency in sight reading skills, and an outstanding academic record. Music will include mixed choir literature as well as women’s and men’s choir selections.
Membership requires attendance at extra sectional and/ or full choir rehearsal held outside the regular class time.
Men’s Choir 5th period (1:20 – 2:10)
Men’s choir is comprised of sophomore through senior men with developing voices, beginning level sight reading skills, and proficient class attendance and academic record. In addition to men’s choir literature, this group will combine with the men of the Camerata Singers to form a Select Men’s choir.
Select Singers 7th period (3:05 – 4:00)
Select Singers is comprised of sophomores through senior women with developing voices, beginning level sight reading skills, and proficient class attendance and academic record. In addition to women’s choir literature, this group will combine with the women of the other choirs to form groups at CPA.
Choir Code of Conduct
Attendance Policies
Class Attendance
Unlike individual activities such as an academic class, it is impossible to makeup activities that occur in a choir rehearsal. Unexcused absences will have a negative impact on the student’s ability to contribute to the choir and will harm the overall outcome of the ensemble. Make every effort to be at school. Unexcused absences will have a negative effect on the student’s grade.
Additional Rehearsals / Activities
Students will be given adequate notice of all additional rehearsals and activities outside of the regular class period. These rehearsals and activities are course requirements and are vital to the success of the choral program. Every effort will be made to minimize the amount of out-of–class time required. Therefore, unexcused absences from these activities will be treated in the same manner as an unexcused absence from class, and will affect the student’s grade. Unexcused absences include work.
In the event of a conflict with another scheduled school activity, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the sponsors of the activities within two weeks of the activity. The Sponsors will then determine the student’s obligation.
Concert Attendance
Concerts are the ultimate evaluation of many weeks of preparation and class work. Choir member are expected to be present for the entire time of each required concert. An unexcused absence from a concert will lower the student’s grade dramatically. Absences and tardies will be excused for cases of medical emergency or death in the family. Prior notification of any conflict with a required concert or rehearsal is required for the student to be excused. Students will not be excused from an event unless prior notification has been given. Students will be held responsible for keeping up with the dates and times of scheduled activities.
Rehearsal Etiquette
The single most important factor in the overall success of any choir is the work it accomplishes during its rehearsals.
☺ a positive attitude towards director and fellow choir members is vital.
☺ Good concentration on the present has to take precedence over past
Classes or experiences as well as future classes or experiences.
☺ a pencil in hand is required with your folder everyday. Please mark your
music diligently. Marking your score is the basis of being a good choir member.
CLASSROOM RULES
1. Be in your assigned seat with folder and pencil
when the bell rings.
2. Do your BEST at all times!
3. Be Respectful of others!
4. No gum, food, candy, or drinks are allowed on the risers.
CONSEQUENCES
If a student fails to follow one or more classroom rules, the director
is assuming they have temporarily forgotten what the rules are. The
director is more than willing to remind students of what they have
forgotten. After several reminders, however, it becomes apparent to
the director 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.
FUNDRAISING
Students are expected 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. Continuing an outstanding program will require some effort in fundraising.
Students will be able to apply fundraising directly to their choir fees. Some of our fundraisers will be Food-A-Thon Pledge Drive, All-Region concession stand, Har-Ber’s Got Talent, Candle Light Night Concert and Dinner, Coffee House performances.
GRADING POLICIES
The students nine weeks’ grade will be averaged as follows:
I. Daily Grade - 40%
Each week is worth a total of 100 points. Therefore in a nine week
period there is a total of 900 daily points. The point value for any given
day is 20 points.
The daily grade is determined by the student’s level of participation during class (on –task behavior, posture, singing, and materials) and following the classroom rules.
II. Concert & Rehearsal Attendance - 40%
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 sufficient of advanced notice.
An excused absence from a choir rehearsal or concert will require the
same criteria as an excused absence from school—personal illness where
the student has been absent from the entire school day, death in 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 choir office phone number is 479-750-8825 ext. 2029.
*AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE FROM A PERFORMANCE WILL RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF THE NINE WEEK GRADE.
III. Tests & Assignments - 20%
Assignments will be completed and tests administered to monitor progress
in the subject. Special emphasis will be placed on monitoring individual
sight reading skills through recorded testing.
Uniforms
Each student in the HBHS Choral Music Program will be required to wear a specific uniform and purchase a choir t-shirt. This requirement is to keep a professional appearance for our choral ensembles, but in no way is it designed to exclude a student from participation. If you will have trouble meeting any of the following financial obligations we will have a number of options for you including, payment plans, scholarships, and fundraising opportunities to help you and your student.
Women: All women are required to purchase a dress. Donated dresses are available according to need and used dresses will be offered at $35.00. The cost of a new dress is $75. For each concert women are required to wear stud earrings only (unless gauged &/or irremovable). Hair must be up with both eyes visible, and no perfume. A single necklace can be worn and must be modest in nature. (No bling or gaudy jewelry.) All of the above requirements add to a professional performance and will contribute to the student’s concert grade.
Men: All Men will rent a tuxedo from our choral program. The cost is $52. Students will receive a tux jacket, wingtip shirt, adjustable pants, cummerbund and bow-tie. One tuxedo cost upwards of $150 and students will be charged for items lost or damaged. Shirts must be washed and pressed between performances. All men are required to wear black shoes and black socks. All of the above requirements add to a professional performance and will contribute to the student’s concert grade.
T-Shirts: All students are required to purchase a shirt and will be worn for casual performances, auditions, and travel. The cost will be $10
ALL MONEY IS DUE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th
TUX, DRESS, T-Shirt, All-Region Fee
ALL-REGION CHOIR
Students are highly encouraged to audition for the NW Arkansas All-region Choir on Saturday October 4th. All-region choir is used as a qualifier for All-State Choir auditions. Students will work on all the music in class and be given numerous opportunities to attend individualized rehearsals before and after school. Due to the individual nature of all-region auditions there will; be a $20 fee which includes; CD, audition fee, music, and transportation. All-region fee must be paid by September 18th. Any special time requests must be made at that time for legitimate AAA conflicts only. Any student making the all-region choir must attend the all-day clinic on November 1st.
Rehearsals will begin Tuesday, September 2nd and a schedule will be announced. Morning rehearsals will go from 8:05 – 8:45am and afternoon rehearsals will go from 4:05- 4:45pm. These are basically free voice lessons for students.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
There are many avenues for parents to get involved with their child’s vocal music education. The first and most important is just to talk to your student about singing. Please ask them to perform for you. We are teaching them that it is ok to find “their voice” both physically and mentally. Be encouraging. We all start at different levels and because the voice is a muscle, the more we use it the better it gets.
We have one main event in the choral music calendar where we need a large amount of parental help, Candle Light Night. In conjunction with our Food-A-thon, CLN will serve as our main fundraisers for the year. We will need parents to help with Food-A-thon as drivers as well as helping their students get donation. But CLN we need lots of help from parents. For Candle Light Night we will need more donations and volunteers for our dinner prep night and then again on the night of the event we will need kitchen help.
We will be having an informational meeting on September 4th at 6:15pm in the choir room. We will brainstorm about our needs for each event and assign responsibilities. Thank you for your involvement in your students’ vocal music education.
HBHS CHORAL MUSIC PROGRAM
Expectations
We understand fully the expectations set by the directors of the HBHS Choral Music Program and agree to abide by them. To read the HBHS Choral Handbook please go to: http://springdalehb.sharpschool.net/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2943398&pageId=15460948
______
Director Student Parent
PLEASE PRINT NEATLY
Best phone contact: Parent(s) ______
Student(cell)______
E-mail Addresses:
Primary Family______
(This address will be used for updates and newsletters)
Secondary______
(Please add addition emails you would like concert reminders to go)
T-shirt size: YL S M L XL XXL
(Youth sizes cannot be guaranteed and 2xxl and larger will be an additional $2.00)
My Parent(s) will be interested in helping with the following activities. Please contact them for the following:
Candle Light Night - 12/5/2014
___ Securing donations
___ Decorating
___ Kitchen Help
___ give a tax deductible donation ___ other: ______
Food-A-Thon – 9/13/2014
___Driving students to collect donations
Assist with Uniforms - Now
___ helping with sizing
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