Course Syllabus

High School Choir/Core Music

Spring 2015

John Adams Academy

Mr. Greg Blankenbehler, MMA

  1. Course Description

High School Choir is a year-long course electively taken by high school scholars to provide knowledge and a meaningful experience in the musical arts. It will satisfy both school and state A-G requirements for Visual and Performing Arts (“F”). Scholars will develop rudimentary skills in vocal performance and musicianship (vocal techniques, musical perception, sight-reading, expressive interpretation), study representative works from folk, classical, and popular music genres, and develop skills in analyzing, evaluating and creating music. Participation in all formal performances during the year is required.

  1. Course Curriculum*
  1. Music History and Literature
  2. Program Music: Berlioz-Symphonie Fantastique; Tchaikovsky-1812 Overture
  3. Art Song: Schubert-Der Erlkonig; Faure-Après un Rève; Britten-Encinctured in a Twine of Leaves
  4. Virtuosic Solo Performance: Gypsy/Hungarian Csardas; Brahms-Hungarian Dance #5; Paganini Caprice #24; Liszt-La Campanella; Chopin-Nocturne in Eb major; Rachmonanoff-Prelude in C# minor
  5. American Composers: Copeland-Appalachian Spring, Rodeo; Barber-Adagio for Strings
  6. Modernism: Debussy-La Mer; Schoenburg-Verklarte Nacht; Bartok-Romanian Dances, Allegro Barbarosa; Stravinsky-Rite of Spring
  7. Post-Modernism: Glass-4’33”; Reich-Music for 18 Musicians; Ligeti-Lux Aeterna
  8. Romantic Opera: Puccini-La Boheme, Che Gelida Manina, Mi Chiamono Mimi; Verdi-Nabucco, Va Pensiero; Wagner-Ride of the Valkyries; Leoncavello-Ridi Pagliaccio
  9. Music Elements
  10. Time: Beat, tempo, rhythm, meter (simple & compound)/time signature
  11. Pitch: Unison, harmony, dissonance, major/minor/chromatic scales, major/minor chords, basic intervals
  12. Musical Forms/Styles: Program music, art song, solo piece, tone poem, improvisation, aleatoric music, opera aria & chorus
  13. Music Literacy
  14. Singing major, minor, and chromatic scales; singing major and minor chords; identifying diatonic intervals visually and aurally
  15. Counting rhythms
  16. Sight-reading rhythms in simple and compound meter
  17. Sight-reading melodies in keys of C, F, D, G
  18. Vocal Technique
  19. Singing posture and alignment
  20. Breath support
  21. Use of high and low registers
  22. Refinement of tone quality
  23. Diction for singing
  24. Expression in singing
  25. Professionalism and Performance Skills
  26. Appropriate participation in class, following all class expectations and procedures
  27. Use of behaviors and habits conducive to successful class activities
  28. Use of professional demeanor and skills in class and formal performances

* Actual works and musical elements studied may change slightly in the course of the semester. Email me with any questions/concerns: .

  1. Class Expectations and Procedures

Scholars are expected to conduct themselves according to John Adams Academy’s 10 Core Values at all times. Because a significant portion of this class involves developing professional skills and behaviors, scholars will be instructed and graded in their ability in class and performances to follow these class behavior objectives:

Class Expectations:

  1. Be Professional and Appropriate
  2. Be Respectful
  3. Be Involved
  4. Do Your Best

Scholars will be instructed and graded in their ability to follow appropriate behavior and involvement in the following class procedures:

Class Procedures:

  • Attention Signal
  • Class Instruction
  • Class Discussion
  • Individual Working
  • Group Working
  • Performances
  • Class Visitors
  1. Formal Assessment and Grading

Scholars will be assessed and graded on their mastery of course curriculum in a number of ways including:

40%Level of appropriateparticipation in class activities following class expectations and procedures (9 bi-weekly grades, by rubric—see last page.)

20%Quizzes (6) on music history, literature, elements, literacy, vocal technique, and professionalism

20%Journal Notes, Classwork, Projects usually graded on 1-3 point scale

20% Level of appropriate participation and professional demeanor inperformances (2 concerts, by evaluative rubric—see last page)

Scholars will not be formally assessed (ie. graded) on their level of skill in singing. In these areas, formal assessment will focus on participation and effort.

  1. Concert Participation

Mid-Term Performance –Friday, Mar 20, 7:00-8:00pm at the Rock of Roseville (725 Vernon St, Roseville).

Arts in the Park –Thursday, May 21, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Rock of Roseville (725 Vernon St, Roseville).

Performances in choir are comparable to final exams. In them, scholars demonstrate all of the skills in music, expression, performance and professionalism that they have developed over the unit. In order to receive a high grade in concerts, scholars must not only attend, but also display high levels of professional behavior. These include:

  • Arriving at call time
  • Dressing appropriately
  • Following concert behavioral expectations (no talking during performance, no horse play, etc.)
  • Keeping focused and on task
  • Maintaining a positive and encouraging attitude

Parents are asked to provide their scholars with the following performance attire:

  • Mid-Term Assembly-Performance: JAA uniform
  • Arts in the Park: White shirt/blouse and nice blue jeans. JAA uniform is acceptable as a last resort.

If a scholar experiences hardship in obtaining requested clothing, they should wear their JAA uniform and try to conform to the requested colors as much as possible.

Scholars will not be graded down for lower ability levels in singing, but will be marked down for not using professional behavior.

If a scholar is unable to attend an out-of-class performance for any reason, they must request an alternate assignment from the instructor in order to receive credit for the performance portion of their grade. The alternate assignment must be requested on the scholar’s first day in class after the missed performance and must be handed in by two weeks after that date.
Additional Class Policies

Discipline:

Misbehaving scholars will be dealt with according to the JAA policy of progressive tiers of correction. They will also receive a lowered participation grade and may not be eligible to participate in performances. I will do my best to notify parents of reoccurring misbehavior to allow for constructive correction.

Leaving the Classroom During Class:

Scholars are expected to use restrooms and drinking fountains before and after class. Scholars are generally not permitted to leave class to talk to other teachers or scholars. Scholars disregarding these policies will receive lowered participation grades.

Make-Up Assignments/Late Work/Extra Credit:

Make-up assignments will be provided for scholars who are legitimately excused from attending class. Alternate assignments will be provided for out-of-school performances upon request. Extra credit assignments may be available at the instructor’s discretion. Out-of-class assignments must be turned in by designated due date (usually two weeks from missed assignment) for credit.

Contacting the Instructor:

Because I am frequently involved in lunch-time and after-school instruction, it is best to contact me via my school email for questions and concerns or to request a meeting:

Class Announcements:

Important announcements about upcoming concerts and field-trips will be sent to parents and scholars via the emails written on the attached syllabus slip. I will also post them on class pages on the school site. Parents are encouraged to request hard-copies of announcements if these two methods do not work for them

I look forward to a great semester of artistic scholarship!

“Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful.” -- Plato, Republic

Class Participation Grading Rubric (40%)

10 Points: Displays a very high level of professionalism, going well beyond class expectations. Displays servant-leadership, helping other scholars and/or instructor be more successful. Takes leading roles in class activities, including singing and discussions. Shows exceptional work ethic in improving skills and learning material.

9 Points: Displays a high level of professionalism through behavior consistently appropriate to class expectations and procedures. Consistently interacts with instructor and/or other scholars in a respectful manner. Consistently involved in class activities including singing and discussions. Consistently works and performs at a high level in relation to their abilities.

8 Points: Displays a moderate level of professionalism through behavior occasionally inappropriate to class expectations and procedures. Usually interacts with instructor and other scholars in a respectful manner. Typically involved in class activities including singing and discussions. Usually works and performs at a high level in relation to their abilities.

7 Points: Displays a moderate level of professionalism through behavior occasionally inappropriate to class expectations and procedures. Occasionally interacts with instructor and/or other scholars in a disrespectful manner. Occasionally uninvolved in class activities including singing and discussions. Occasionally works and performs at a low level in relation to their abilities.

6-4 Points: Displays a high level of unprofessionalism through behavior highly inappropriate to class expectations and procedures. Typically interacts with instructor and/or other scholars in a disrespectful manner. Typically uninvolved in class activities including singing and discussions. Typically works and performs at a low level in relation to their abilities.

3-0 Points: Displays a very high level of unprofessionalism through behavior grossly inappropriate to class expectations and procedures. Typically interacts with instructor and/or other scholars in a highly disrespectful manner. Typically does not participate in class activities including singing and discussions. Typically refuses to work and/or perform.

Concert Grading Rubric (20%)

40+ Points: Took a leading role in facilitating concert.

35-40 Points: Was well prepared, participated energetically, acted professionally.

30-35 Points: Pretty well prepared, participated but not with energy, and/or was a little unprofessional.

25-30 Points: Not very well prepared, did not totally participate, and/or acted unprofessionally.

20-25 Points: Unprepared, didn’t participate some of the time, and/or acted unprofessionally multiple times.

15-20 Points: Very unprepared, didn’t participate a lot of the time, and/or acted unprofessionally a lot of the time.