Why Do We Teach Music?

Not because we expect you to major in music...
Not only because we expect you to play or sing all your life...
Not only so you can relax...
Not just so you can have fun...
But...
so you will be more human
so you will recognize beauty
so you will be sensitive
so you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world
so you will have something to cling to
so you will have more compassion,
more gentleness, more good, in short, ...more life...
Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live?

-Unknown Author

Commitment and dedication to excellence are what will make the Nease chorus program an outstanding program. Chorus is a commitment of teamwork among the chorus member, the director, and the parents. Chorus is a commitment of teamwork among the chorus member, the director, and the parents. If everyone upholds his or her part of the commitment, we will have a great year.

This handbook should provide you with all the important information necessary to have a successful and productive year. If you have any questions or problems refer to this guide. If you cannot find the answer here, be sure to ask! Naturally, not all circumstances can be foreseen. If you find a situation that concerns you, please talk to me. Again, welcome to the chorus and have a super year!

Sincerely,

Madeline Huffman

Choral Director

Phone #: 904-547-8300

E-mail address:

MAJOR GOALS:

There are four major goals that we will try to meet throughout the school year.

1. QUALITY MUSICIANSHIP: To be the best musician you can as an individual and member of the chorus

2. SELF-DISCIPLINE: The ability to act in a mature fashion in and out of the classroom.

3. STUDENT COMMITMENT

AND RESPONSIBILITY: Being informed and keeping your parents, and those involved, informed of choral activities including any and all changes that may occur. Making sure you attend ALL REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES ON TIME.

4. STUDENT EFFORT: To do your best as an individual, and as a group member, at all times. Attitude is everything!

GRADES:

Grades are designed so every student should do well by simply applying themselves both in the classroom and in performances. Grades will be based on the following:

50% rehearsals/performances

25% written work

25% class participation

REHEARSALS/PERFORMANCES: 50%

Classroom time is designated rehearsal time. For this reason you are expected to be in your seat, prepared to work to avoid disruption of class. You will supply a 1 inch Black 3 Ring Binder, pen and pencil, notebook paper. You will be given staff paper and music. You are required to have these with you every day (all chorus written work will be done in #2 pencil or standard blue or black ink…no exceptions.). You should be ready to sing and participate the entire period with a positive attitude. Failure to be in class on time is missed rehearsal time. The school policy on tardies will be followed.

A performance is only as good as the rehearsal time that goes into it. For this reason, students are graded on their rehearsal behavior and attitude. When students follow the rules rehearsals will go better for everyone. (1) Everyone is expected to be a working, productive member of the group, so follow directions the first time given. (2) Be prepared to work when the bell rings. (3) Be respectful of others. (4) Personal grooming is done outside of the classroom. (5) No food, gum, candy, or drinks except for water, are allowed within the classroom.

When students fail to follow rules the following things can happen, (1) Visual/verbal warning (2) See teacher after class (3) Note/phone home (4) After or Before school detention (5) Referral to the appropriate dean (6) Removal from extra-curricular choral activities (7) Lowering of your chorus grade.

Written quizzes will be given as needed and announced.

At midterm and any time thereafter, interim warning slips will be sent whenever a student's grade drops to 69 or below OR if a student's grade drops two letters in one nine week period. Contact will be made whenever a student's conduct grade drops to an unsatisfactory or whenever a student fails to perform as scheduled. Many times a student’s grade falls drastically at the end of the quarter because concert requirements have not been met. Grades are designed so that every hard working, responsible and self-disciplined student will succeed.

Vocal Ensemble rehearsals, when scheduled, are an extension of your classroom work and are not considered “something extra”. Do not arrive late and don’t ask to leave early. Missing this rehearsal will be handled in journal form and is considered part of your classroom grade. After school activities will not excuse you from this rehearsal. Inform coaches or sponsors of your requirements for Vocal Ensemble before you commit to other activities. If you are in school, you should be at after school rehearsal. You will have our schedule, so plan activities, jobs, etc. accordingly. We need everyone doing their job every time we rehearse or we have wasted everyone’s time. Everyone has a bad day now and then; you will be given one excused absence from after school rehearsals, per semester, no questions asked, no assignments, or forms required, but only one. You will be given after school rehearsal dates with ample notice to make arrangements to attend rehearsal.

Absence from a special rehearsal will be handled on a Choral Activity Conflict Form. A missed rehearsal will require a written assignment and could include performance of the music rehearsed. This involves a written explanation of your absence and a three paragraph paper discussing what was covered in the rehearsal. Your grade for the missed event will come from this work. If you are involved in other NHS activities that might cause conflict, it is your job to make arrangements in advance! Be on time, arriving 10 minutes late for a 15 minute rehearsal accomplishes nothing…. a little late is too late.

WORK SCHEDULES WILL NEVER EXCUSE YOU FROM A REHEARSAL OR PERFORMANCE; it is YOUR responsibility to inform your employer of your school requirements as soon as possible. I will be happy to write a cover letter for you to your employer letting him/her know of your chorus commitments. Being tired, other after school activities, homework, no ride will also not be excused.

PERFORMANCES:

Chorus is a performance based class, and so much of what we hope to accomplish is measured through our concerts. For this reason concerts are as important as any other part of your child's choral experience. Concerts are to chorus what a written evaluation is to any other class. Not only will we measure the success of nine weeks worth of work at a concert, but we also hope to have a finished product that will be enjoyable to our audience as well. ALL STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL PERFORMANCES AND REQUIRED REHEARSALS.

On The day of concerts students are required to dress up as part of their participation grade. Boys, collared shirt, and tie, NO JEANS. Ladies, dressy outfits, NO JEANS or T-shirts!

All performances and rehearsals will be announced at least fifteen school days in advance. Students are required to be at the entire concert in full uniform for all performances; failure to show up in proper attire will mean a loss of points and in some cases loss of performance with the group. (This would count as an unexcused absence.) In order to prepare before our audience arrives, only chorus students are permitted within the auditorium before 6:45 PM.

Since performances are the "major project" for all choral students, EVERYONE will be expected to successfully perform their music and show audience skills for the choral director to receive their grade. If you do not attend a performance, a Choral Activity Conflict Form is to be filled out and turned into the Director (a sample of this form is found in the back of the handbook and others are available in the chorus room) I will only accept this conflict form, no notes on scraps of paper! Anytime a concert or extra rehearsal is missed a choral conflict form must be filled out …ten school days prior to the event if you are aware of a conflict or two days after you return to school if it was an emergency, accident or severe illness. Transportation, jobs, other school activities are never an acceptable excuse. In either case you must make an appointment to sing your music for the director (50% of your grade). For the second part of your grade you will be required to review the concert. Everything MUST be completed prior to the end of the quarter.

Using school board criteria, the absence will be "excused" or "unexcused". If the student's absence is "excused", the student's grade will not be affected PROVIDED that the student makes up BOTH PARTS of the event for the chorus teacher in the prescribed amount of time. The student could still be eligible for special awards and activities. However, if the student's absence is "unexcused" and he/she does not attend or make up BOTH PARTS of that performance or rehearsal for the chorus teacher in the prescribed amount of time, two things will happen: (1) the student fails that performance and (2) he/she becomes ineligible for any special awards or activities. Naturally, an emergency, illness, or accident, cannot be planned. These absences (with a Choral Activity Conflict Form signed from the parent, submitted within two school days of the student’s return to school) are usually excused, and the grade will not be affected PROVIDED that the make-up work is completed for the chorus teacher upon the student's return. The student may remain eligible for special awards and activities. Although the time to sing may not occur for several days the student MUST talk to the Director about setting up the appointment RIGHT AWAY!! THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT!!!! If the student is present at school and misses a performance, the student will fill out a Choral Activity Conflict Form signed by the parent upon his/her return to school in order for that absence to follow the procedure outlined above. TIMING IS EVERYTHING!

Students have two different roles at performances:

(1) As a performing group

(2) As a member of the audience.

I will expect the highest standards of all students at all performances in both capacities. The student will extend “professional courtesy" to the audience as well as the performing group. Professional courtesy will be defined as “treat others as you would have them treat you OR perform as the chorus director would expect you to". Any infraction of the professional courtesy rule will be treated with a lowering of the grade for the concert as well as a lowered conduct grade. Student cell phones and personal electronic devices will be OFF during all performances. Any student who has their cell phone ON, is texting or uses their phone for any reason during a performance will receive a lowered grade for that performance. Remember, your performance off the risers can often be more impressive than your performance on the risers.

Concerts usually last about an hour to an hour and a half; students are expected to attend the entire performance...not just their part. The concert serves two functions, to show what you have learned and to learn from what others have learned. Everyone is required to attend the entire concert. If you leave early for any reason, your grade will be adjusted accordingly.

Although performance is not the only goal of the choral program, performance plays a vital role in meeting our goals. Attendance at all performances is important for two main reasons: (1) the morale of the section and the entire group is hurt by people who do not show up, and (2) a lack of attendance destroys the balance of the group thus affecting the quality of the performance. Naturally, when everyone is where they should be, we can do our best. It is unfair to the rest of the group if someone must be asked to "cover" a part for which they may not have been trained. We expect to perform with the students with whom we rehearse.

WRITTEN WORK: 25%

This includes notebooks/notes, quizzes, reviews, sheets requiring parental signatures, and other writing assignments. Written work must be written in standard blue or black pen and or standard pencil.

CLASS PARTICIPATION: (25%

This includes being in your seat with appropriate materials ready to work when the bell rings with 100% effort. If you are absent from class at anytime for any reason (excused, unexcused, field trip, tardy hall, ISS, whatever) you will do a writing assignment to make up the grade.

The assignment will be done on notebook paper and placed in your choral notebook. It will include the date you were absent, a well written paragraph describing what you missed in class (nothing less than 5 sentences, nothing more than 8) and your parents signature and date across the paragraph.

You will do this for every class that you missed and each paragraph must be signed by your parents. You may use the same sheet of paper but each missed assignment must be entered separately. Your notebook with the papers attached must be placed in the box 48 hours after you return. This is your responsibility and it is how you will receive your grade for your absences. Failure to follow directions completely will result in a zero. School policy will decide if the absence is excused or not, but regardless failure to do the make-up work in a timely fashion will result in a zero for the missed work.