Ste. Genevieve
High School Choirs
Choir Handbook
2011-2012
Ste. Genevieve High School
Choral Department
Ste. Genevieve, MO
Welcome to the SGHS Choirs! It is with great excitement and anticipation that I greet you at the beginning of the school year! As I reflect on the many outstanding experiences from last year, let us look forward together to many new and exciting things during this school year.
The purpose of the choir of which you are now a member:
1. To expand and increase your knowledge and use of vocal technique and tone production
2. To increase your knowledge in the realm of choral literature, its background, its preparation, and it performance
3. To advance in you facility in sight singing
4. To build and mold your choir into an outstanding choral group in performance
5. To help you develop maturity, responsibility, and teamwork skills
6. To help you develop lifelong friendships and social skills
If you are willing to put forth your time, talents, abilities, and efforts, the possibilities of performance with your choir are virtually limitless. The limitations depend on your desire, determination, drive, dedication, and self-discipline. I will take you as far as you will go musically. What you derive from your membership in this choir in the way of comradeship, musical knowledge, and musical and social experiences is directly proportionate to the dedication and enthusiasm you pour into it.
As long as you are a member of any SGHS choir, your fellow members and I, your director, will expect you to act as a mature high school young adult as befits a member of a SGHS choir.
As a member of SHGS choir, you will be graded according to the following criteria: ability, achievement, attitude, and attendance.
SGHS choirs have a reputation of excellence both musically and in the attitude of their members. It is up to you to be an example of what SGHS represents. Your choir has no limit to the things that can be accomplished. SGHS has a great reputation that is continually growing on all levels: local, state, and national. How can you help SGHS continue this reputation? Each member of this choir must put forth the extra effort to be prepared musically and to add your personal drive to help your choir to even greater heights!
I look forward to working with all of you!
Michelle Jokerst
Director of Choral Activities
573-883-4500 x 2141
Choral Department Course Offerings
Concert Choir: Grades 9-12. 1 unit of credit. Two semester class.
Concert Choir is a select group of students performing traditional music. Music will focus on, include, but not be limited to, jazz, pop, gospel, classical, multicultural, Broadway Theater, and various types of modern music. Members must be auditioned, and with the consent of vocal music director, will be permitted to enroll in concert choir. Auditions will be held in the spring semester for the following school year. Participation in all performances is mandatory. There will be a minimum of two concert performances per school year, at least one in the fall consisting of holiday music, and one in the spring consisting of general music. Performances are all mandatory events and missing one of these events will result in the dropping of the final grade by two letter grades. Some other performances and out of school rehearsals may be required. This class may be taken more than once.
Women’s Choir: Grades 9-12. 1 unit of credit. Two semester class.
Women’s Choir is a select group of female students performing traditional music. Music will focus on, include, but not be limited to, jazz, pop, gospel, classical, multicultural, Broadway Theater, and various types of modern music. Members must be auditioned, and with the consent of the vocal music director, will be permitted to enroll in Women’s Choir. Auditions will be held in the spring semester for the following school year. Participation in all performances is mandatory. There will be a minimum of two concert performances per school year, at least one in the fall semester consisting of holiday music, and one in the spring consisting of general music. Performances are all mandatory events and missing one of these events will result in the dropping of the final grade by two letter grades. Some other performances and out of school rehearsals may be required. This class may be taken more than once.
Show Choir: Grades 9-12. 1 unit of credit. Two semester class.
Show Choir is a very select group of students performing music of an ad-lib forum while dancing. Music will focus on, include, but not be limited to, country, jazz, pop, rock, gospel, Broadway Theater, and various types of modern music. Members must be auditioned, and with the consent of the vocal music director, will be permitted to enroll in show choir. Auditions will be held in the spring semester for the following school year. Participation in all performances is mandatory. There will be a minimum of two concert performances per school year, at least one in the fall semester consisting of holiday music, and one in the spring consisting of general music. Performances are all mandatory events and missing one of these events will result in the dropping of the final grade by two letter grades. Some other performances and out of school rehearsals may be required. This class may be taken more than once.
Major Requirements of all choirs: MUST ATTEND ALL SPECIAL PRACTICES, CONCERTS, CLINICS, FESTIVALS, ETC. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE.
Other Musical Opportunities
Students may elect to and be eligible to participate in the following activities:
· All District Choir
· Missouri All-State Choir
· Solo and Ensemble Contest
o Sign-up sheets will be posted at the beginning of the 2nd semester
· Men’s and Women’s Festival
· Miscellaneous concerts and music events
Choir Philosophy
The philosophy of the choral department is to provide its students with many opportunities for creativity, self-expression, and intellectual growth through the study of music and performance. These experiences allow development of aesthetic sensitivity, as well as an appreciation of music and the arts at the highest level possible through musical experiences.
Choral Objectives
· To expand and increase student knowledge and use of vocal technique and ton production
· To increase student knowledge in the realm of choral literature, its background, its preparation, and its performance
· To advance student facility in sigh singing and ear training
· To reinforce and increase student knowledge of basic music fundamentals
· To develop excellence in music understanding and performance
· To assist student development in maturity, responsibility, commitment, courtesy, creativity, punctuality, personal discipline, and teamwork skills
· To develop lifelong friendships and social skills
Students will be expected to participate in the following:
· Daily work and rehearsals
· Completing all assignments and exams
· Out of school preparation and practice
· Sectional rehearsals as deemed necessary by the director
· Out of school rehearsals as preparation for performance
· Out of school performances
Classroom Rules
1. Attendance at ALL rehearsals and performances (during and after school) is MANDATORY. Every person is a valuable link in the music process! Failure to show up at a performance will result in a lowered grade.
2. All choir members will have a folder. It is your responsibility to have all music and a pencil at each rehearsal. Mark your music! Failure to return the music folder at the end of the semester/year will result in a fee of $10 to replace the folder as well as the fee for any music lost.
3. To be allowed to participate in the concerts, all garments must be paid and the required dress code must be met. See director immediately if you have any questions.
4. The choirs often travel off school grounds. If a choir student is found disobeying any school policy while on a field trip or at a concert, school policy shall be enforced.
5. No gum, candy, soda, juice, or other food will be allowed in the choir room. You may not bring food from the cafeteria. Water is allowed.
6. Swearing and other use of inappropriate language will not be tolerated. We need to uphold the choir as one of the finest groups in the school. Uphold the professional reputation that you have helped establish.
7. As per school policy, no cell phones, iPods, mp3 players, and other electronic devices are allowed. Keep all electronic devices out of sight and use or the items will be dealt with as the school policy states.
8. School equipment such as amps, mixer, stereos, computers, microphones, etc. are not to be used by students without the permission of the director.
9. Be respectful, helpful, and polite to everyone in the choir. We act as a group and even as a family. When you enter the classroom, other problems and disputes need to be left outside the classroom. We all need to work together. If there is a problem, inform the director!
10. Being in choir is a privilege-treat it as such!
11. Remember that the choirs represent our school and our music program. We are ambassadors with a mission of music. Always conduct yourself in an appropriate manner and take pride in being part of the SGHS Choral Program!
Concert Attire
All students are required to wear the following items as described below. Failure to meet the appropriate dress code will result in the student not being able to perform in the choir concert.
· Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, and Women’s Choir
o Men
§ Must wear black socks and black dress shoes. No tennis shoes allowed.
§ We will order tuxedo pants, tuxedo jacket, tuxedo shirt, button covers, cummerbund, bow tie, and black dress shoes. Students are responsible for purchasing all items which will cost approximately $186. Any damages or loss of items will result in additional charges to replace the missing piece.
o Women
§ Must wear black-heeled pumps/dress shoes. At this time I am not requiring girls to wear hose under their dresses. HOWEVER if women continue to wear jeans and other clothing such as long pants under their dresses (even if rolled up) I will require all girls to wear hose and order black character shoes out of a magazine. You are to look professional which means DO NOT wear other clothing under your dress unless it is a black camisole to cover any bra parts that may show! You are a lady so act like one!
§ We will order a concert dress for $92. You may wear small earrings and a small necklace for our concerts. No other jewelry is allowed including facial jewelry. NO JEWELRY MAY BE WORN AT CONTEST EXCEPT SMALL EARRINGS!
Fees
All students enrolled in Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Women’s Choir are required to pay for their concert attire. The fee is due by the second vocal booster meeting which will be in October. Students who do not pay the fee without notifying the director of extenuating circumstances will not receive their outfit and will not be allowed to participate in the concert. An alternative assignment will be given in lieu of the concert performance grade for the first missed concert, but all fees are expected to be paid by the second concert. NOTE: Our first concert will be the first Sunday in December for the Christmas Walk. The second concert will be our Christmas Concert in December.
Fund Raisers
Each year, Ste. Genevieve Vocal Boosters undertakes fundraising events to supplement the department budget. This money goes directly to the students for festival fees, travel expenses, equipment, and some fund raisers even go directly into your child’s individual student account to help pay for concert attire and other events your student may participate in! It is imperative that every student participates in all fundraisers so our program and students can receive the best!
Grading System
Grades will be based upon the following criteria:
§ Daily Preparation (Personal Responsibility) – 20 % of grade
o Full points will be awarded to each student at the beginning of each day
o Students must meet director expectations each day to maintain all awarded points (bring and use your pencil, stay on task in your spot not in the back of the classroom, to cell phone texting, etc.)
o Excused absences will be exempt from the daily preparation points
o Unexcused absences will receive 0 points per rehearsal
§ Signed handbook form – 10% of grade
o Signed form is due Friday, August 20, 2010
o Once form is turned in, student will receive points for each semester
o If the form is not turned in, student will receive 0 points for each semester
§ Authentic Evaluation (Did I learn something this term?) – 30 %
o Vocal evaluation
§ Director will record students singing individually and in small groups several times per term
· Vocal progress (not talent) will be evaluated using a rubric and sound files from the beginning of each term to the end, sound files are confidential 26%
· Sight singing will be evaluated each term using an improvement rubric (Can you sing more correct notes or rhythms than the last time?) 4%
§ Concert Grade – 40% of grade
o Experiential Assessment – (“The Concert Part” 20%)
o All performances and rehearsals are required (see dates below)
o Full points will be awarded to each student at the beginning of the concert
o Tardiness to rehearsals or performances will result in a deduction of points
o Improper concert attire will result in a deduction
o Improper concert behavior or audience participation will result in a deduction (this includes using cell phones)
o Leaving early from a concert will result in a deduction
§ Student must remain for the entire concert, not just his/her portion of the concert, listen to and experience the music prepared by your peers.
o Absences
§ Director must be notified of any absence by you or your parents before the performance