Edwardsburg High School

Choir Handbook

Instructor: Mr. Kyle Rehnlund

School Phone: (269) 663-3055 x7203

School Email:

OUR PROGRAM

Our choirs will provide students the opportunity to study and perform music of all genres and periods in musical history. Our ensembles are given many opportunities to provide the school and community with high-quality performances, such as our Meet the Choirs Concert, our Holiday Spectacular, our Festival Concert, our Spring Concert, Choral Festivals, and many other opportunities for choral and solo performances.

VARSITY CHORALE

Varsity Chorale is a select mixed ensemble consisting of men and women that rehearse and perform pieces of different genres, historical periods, and languages on a more advanced level. It is an auditioned group, meaning students audition the school year before to be a part of this ensemble. Varsity Chorale usually ranks as one of the best high school choirs in the Southwest Michigan area, so expectations for this choir are set very high. In addition to concerts and choral festivals, this choir also performs a couple extra performances throughout the community during the holiday time.

BELLA VOCE

Bella Voce is a select mixed ensemble consisting of women’s voices that rehearse and perform pieces of different genres, historical periods, and languages on a more advanced level. It is an auditioned group, meaning students audition the school year before to be a part of this ensemble. Bella Voce usually ranks as one of the best high school choirs in the Southwest Michigan area, so expectations for this choir are set very high. In addition to concerts and choral festivals, this choir also performs a couple extra performances throughout the community during the holiday time.

CONCERT CHOIR

Concert Choir is a large mixed ensemble consisting of men and women that rehearse and perform pieces of different genres, historical periods, and languages. It is a non-auditioned ensemble, meaning anyone can join. Concert Choir participates in several performances throughout the school year, such as various concerts, and choral festival. Due to the large size of Concert Choir, Mrs. Banks will assist in teaching and managing this class period.

OUR MUSIC PHILOSOPHY

The fine arts are vital to the educational process. In a civilization stressing scientific and mathematical achievement, music should go hand in hand in creating a proper cultural balance. As an area of the fine arts, choral music has a primary purpose - the improvement of the quality of life for the individual. This is accomplished by helping students acquire the skills of musical communication, thereby providingyet another means of sharing ideas with others. For many students, music is the most feasible and enjoyable means of communication available to them. As an expressive art, choral music requires growth in physical, intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic art.

In addition, through the state standards of education in Michigan, it is imperative that all music students are exposed to all forms of music throughout history, including music with sacred/religious text. It is my duty as their teacher to focus on the important historical aspects of these pieces, as well as give students the freedom to express whatever beliefs they may have.

REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Every student is expected to enter the classroom with a desire to work hard.
  • Every student is expected to work as an encouraging and supportive team member.
  • During choir, students are expected to focus on the music. Students must refrain from doing outside classwork, unless otherwise specified by the teacher.
  • Students are to refrain from gum chewing in the classroom, as it prevents them from having proper technique and a professional presence.
  • Following our school policy, food and drink must stay outside of the classroom at all times, including before and after school. Closed water bottles will be allowed during choir rehearsals.
  • According to the student handbook, no phones, iPods, etc. should be out at any time. This includes Chromebooks when not instructed. These devices can distract from the learning experience.
  • Students are expected to have 100% participation and a teachable attitude at each rehearsal. Effort and confidence are the most important factors in a successful choir.
  • Students must bring their required materials every day. Required materials include their sheet music, a pencil, notebook paper, and their Chromebook. It is recommended that students keep their materials in a folder or small binder.
  • Be on time! Tardiness will be recorded every day.
  • Pick up any trash and your materials at the end of every class period to keep our risers as clean as possible.
  • Every student is expected to know performance dates, times, and places of choir activities.
  • Bullying and “drama” will not be tolerated in this classroom. Please report any signs of bullying to the teacher as soon as you see it so it can be handled properly.
  • Due to our choirs being presented to the public community, professionalism is of upmost importance. This starts in the classroom during every rehearsal.
  • Uniform and dress code guidelines are required for every performance.
  • Most importantly, respect yourself, the teacher, your classmates, and the classroom environment. Any sign of disrespect towards one another and/or the teacher will result in disciplinary action.

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE POLICY

Choir is not simply a class period students attend every school day – all after-school performances are also a required portion of this course. The dates and times of these performances will be given out the first day of school to give students and parents plenty of notice for their scheduling needs.

Excused Absences – If a student must be absent from a performance and it is deemed excused, they will receive a make-up assignment to receive a grade for the performance. Students are expected to see the teacher for their make-up assignment. Excused absences must be in writing or sent by email to the teacher, signed by a parent/guardian, and provided two weeks prior to the missed event. Any excused absence is up to the discretion of the teacher. Excused absences without prior notice may include serious personal illness, serious illness in the immediate family, and death or emergency in the family. Students who are excused from school the day of a performance will also be excused from the performance.

Unexcused Absences – If a student misses a performance for an inexcusable reason, they will receive a zero for the performance. Unexcused absences include but are not limited to skipping, forgetting, employment conflicts, club meetings not cleared in advance, medical appointments not cleared in advance, family vacations planned after the performance dates have been received, not having a ride to the event, and any other conflict not cleared two weeks prior to the event.

Vacations and Appointments - Please schedule family vacations and medical appointments around these dates, as these performances are graded events. If there is a family conflict that is unavoidable, the teacher must be contacted two weeks prior to the event in order for the absence to be excused. Otherwise, the student’s grade will be affected.

Student Employment - Students who are employed must work with their employers to schedule around choir performances and events. Employers must understand that school work comes first. Job-related absences will be considered unexcused and will result in grade penalization.

Extra-Curricular Event Policy - Many students in choir are also involved in athletics and other extra-curricular activities. The following is in accordance with the school policy:

  • A student will be excused from a choir performance if it conflicts with an EHS sponsored game, meet, competition, etc. According to the school policy, students may choose which event to attend without penalization from either side.
  • A choir performance overrides all athletic and extra-curricular practices/rehearsals. Coaches must understand choir performances are graded events.
  • Failure to attend a choir performance due to an event that is not sponsored by EHS will be unexcused, unless cleared by the teacher two weeks prior to the event.

GRADING

All grading is based on a point system, producing an overall letter grade.

  • Weekly Participation (5 points per day/25 points per week)
  • Points are deducted for tardiness, failure to bring all materials to class, excessive talking in class, gum chewing, eating/drinking anything but water, working on outside classwork, disrespect, and any behavior that interferes the learning of others.
  • If a student is absent more than 3 days in a week, they will be given an assignment to make up their participation points. Students are responsible to see the teacher for this assignment. If students do not complete this assignment, their participation grade will go down for that week.
  • If a student is marked unexcused during the school day, they will not receive participation points for that day.
  • Performances (50 points per performance)
  • Performances include any concerts, events, and choral festivals. Performances are required as a part of this class. If students cannot attend concerts, festival, etc., they will not be able to participate in choir.
  • In order for a student to attend choir festival, they must have an 80% or higher in the second and third quarters.
  • Written Assignments/Classwork (5-20 points per assignment)
  • Quarterly reflective essays – after each concert, students will write a reflective essay on their performance experience.
  • Other assignments may include persuasive essays, music theory work, music history assignments, etc.
  • Assessments (50 points per assessment)
  • Students will have mid-term exams in January and final exams in June.
  • Others pre/post tests will be assigned if the teacher deems it necessary throughout the school year.
  • End-of-the-Year Project (40-50 points)
  • During the last few weeks of the school year, students complete a group project and presentation based on the topic of the teacher’s choice. This project is all in-class work.

CLASSROOM CONSEQUENCES

These consequences will be distributed in the following order if a student does not follow the rules, procedures, and expectations of the choir classroom:

  1. Verbal or non-verbal warning
  2. Loss of daily participation points and/or changing of seats
  3. Write-up, office referral, classroom detention, and/or contact home

HS PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES

Please schedule the following dates that pertain to you immediately so you do not have unforeseen conflicts that cause unnecessary stress and grade penalization. If there is a change in date or time, students and parents will be notified immediately.

  • National Anthem at Homecoming Game (Varsity only, Friday, 9/29 at 6:45 pm)
  • HS Meet the Choirs Concert
  • Thursday, October 19th, 2017 at 7:00 pm – Edwardsburg PAC
  • Smith’s Chapeland Jazz Tour (Varsity and Bella Voce only, date/time TBA)
  • HS Holiday Spectacular
  • Thursday, December 14th, 2017 at 7:00 pm – Edwardsburg PAC
  • HS Festival Concert
  • Thursday, February 15th, 2018 at 7:00 pm – Edwardsburg PAC
  • HS District Choral Festival
  • February 27th or 28th, 2018 – times TBA – St. Joseph, MI
  • HS Spring Musical
  • March 23rd, 24th, and 25th – Edwardsburg PAC
  • HS Spring Pop Concert
  • Sunday, May 20th at 2:00 pm – Edwardsburg PAC
  • There will be a required extra rehearsal on Friday, May 18th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the Edwardsburg PAC. This rehearsal will be graded and is required in order to perform at the spring concert. The absence policy for this rehearsal is the same policy for performances.
  • Graduation Ceremony (Varsity only, Sunday, June 10th, 2018 – time TBA)

CHOIR UNIFORM AND DRESS CODE

Students must be in uniform in order to perform at each concert/event.School dress code must also be followed for all performances. Any student not wearing the correct and appropriate attire will not perform in the event and will receive a make-up assignment or no credit. It is the student’s responsibility to take care of their uniform and supply items not provided by the school.

  • Varsity Chorale
  • Men: Provided - tux coat, vest, pants, and tie. Not provided - Black dress shoes, black dress socks, and a white button-up collared dress shirt.
  • Women: Provided – Choir dress. Not provided - Black, close-toed shoes. No jewelry should be worn, except stud earrings (optional).
  • Students will be financially responsible to replace any lost or damaged items.
  • Bella Voce
  • Provided – choir dress and pearl necklace. Not provided - Black, close-toed shoes. No additional jewelry should be worn, aside from stud earrings (optional).
  • Students will be financially responsible to replace any lost or damaged items.
  • Concert Choir – Students are responsible to supply all uniform items. If there is any trouble obtaining these items, please contact the teacher in advance!
  • Men: Black dress pants (no jeans), solid black button-up collared dress shirt, solid colored tie, black dress shoes (no tennis shoes), black dress socks.
  • Women: Black dress shirt/blouse (short-sleeve or longer), black dress pants or knee-lengthskirt (no jeans, leggings, or yoga pants), black close-toed shoes. No jewelry should be worn, except stud earrings (optional).

September 5th, 2017

EHS Choir Students and Parents/Guardians,

It is always my privilege to work with your students and I am looking forward to another great year for the Edwardsburg Choir Program!

It is my hope that everyone involved in the Edwardsburg Choir Program – students, parents, staff, and community members – will have a positive experience. By coming together to work for the overall good of the choir program, our goals and expectations will be attained. It is my intent to let every student grow in confidence and professionalism through music, whether it is physically, emotionally, academically, or artistically.

In order for this school year to run as smoothly as possible, the routines and procedures listed in this handbook are very important and must be followed every day. Please review these expectations with your student, including all responsibilities, uniform requirements, and the dates of choir events. It is crucial you write these dates down ahead of time so, if there is a conflict, I can be made aware of it as soon as possible.

In order to prove that the student and parents have read and agreed to these procedures, please sign, detach and return this form by Friday, September 15th, 2017.

I am very excited to begin a fantastic year with your student and I look forward to working with you as we continue to strive for musical excellence and an engaging and productive school year!

Thank you for being a part of the outstanding choir program at Edwardsburg High School!

Sincerely,

Mr. Kyle Rehnlund

Director of Choirs – – (269) 663-3055 x7203

I have read the information, policies, and procedures regarding the choir program contained within the choir handbook and agree to them as stated. I understand that as a member of the Edwardsburg Choir Program, I assume the responsibilities described within the choir handbook. I understand that there may be exceptions under the discretion of the choir director and considered on an individual basis. I also understand that all school rules apply to all choir related activities. I understand there are required performances which are graded. I understand it takes a positive spirit and good work ethic to produce a successful ensemble.I agree to follow all the contents of this handbook.

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