Lafayette County C-1High School
Girls’ Glee Club and Blue and Gold Singers
2011-2012
Mrs. Sarah Cook, Director
Choir Calendar
Saturday, September 10All-District Choir Auditions at Warrensburg High School
Sunday, September 11Country Fair Pageant (Boys Only)
Saturday, October 8All-District Honor Choirs at Sedalia Smith Cotton High School
Tuesday, November 1MS/HS Fall Choir & Jazz Band Concert – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 20High School Winter Band & Choir Concert – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 21Snow Date For Cancelled Concert
Saturday, February 25MRVC Conference Choir at Grain Valley HS
Monday, March 5High School Band & Choir Pre-Contest Concert - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 15 State Large Ensemble Music Festival at Boonville
Saturday, March 31District Solo & Small Ensemble Music Festival at Sedalia Smith-Cotton High
Thursday, April 26State Solo & Small Ensemble Music Festival at Mizzou
Monday, April 30High School Spring Band & Choir Concert – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 3Middle School Spring Band & Choir Concert – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 13Baccalaureate 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 20Graduation – 2:00 p.m.
This syllabus is a general outline of the course and is subject to change upon notification of the students in a regular class session.
Course Outline
1. Physical warm-ups and vocalizations
2. Listening and analyzing music
3. Rehearsal of music from different styles and time periods
4. Daily lessons on music theory, rhythm, history, composers or other important
music topics.
Classroom Rules and Procedures
1. Students need to be quietly sitting in his/her assigned seat when the bell rings. They should be prepared for class with a folder, music, and a pencil.
2. Talking during rehearsals should be kept to a minimum. Any necessary talking should be about the music we are studying and should never be a distraction to the class. When the director is in front of the class there is no talking. Even though the director may not be speaking to or working with your section directly, what she says also often applies to you or your section. Consistent problems will result in disciplinary action.
3. Raise your hand if you have something to say.
4. A sectional rehearsal during class time usually leaves other sections without anything to do. Please bring extra study materials or a reading book to class everyday to work on during sectionals. Talking during this time will not be tolerated.
5. At the end of rehearsal, make sure your folder is returned to the cabinet. Do not leave music lying around the classroom. Do not roll, fold, or tear music or music folders.
6. Gum, food, and drink will not be allowed in the vocal room; however, WATER IS ENCOURAGED. If you are caught with gum, you will receive a tardy for that period. If you are caught with gum twice, you will receive a tardy and lose 5 points from your daily grade.
7. If a student receives 5 or more tardies to choir, they will spend a 45 minute detention with Mrs. Cook after school. Detentions will be scheduled for the next day, if possible. Parents will be notified of the detention in some manner. If a student does not show up for the scheduled detention, the student will receive an office referral. Please see the high school hand book for more details.
Consequences
Warning—Keep All 10 Participation Points
2nd Offense – Loss of 5 Participation Points
3rd Offense – Loss of All 10 Participation Points
4th Offense – Office Referral
Serious infractions will result in more immediate consequences.
Grading and Evaluation
Students will receive points from the following categories to make up their final grade.
Daily Points (10 points)
Students will receive up to 10 points per day for rehearsal attendance and skills. Evaluation will be based on effort shown during class, musical preparedness, classroom preparedness, and a positive/working attitude toward the learning environment. Points will be deducted for not being respectful toward the director or other students, not having a pencil, folder, or music, and/or failing to participate in class constructively.
Performances (200 points)
Students will be required to attend all high school choir performances. Students should be on time and dressed appropriately. Points may be deducted for tardiness to concert, poor behavior, or inappropriate dress.
Musical Skills (points determined by assignment)
All of the ensembles will include units of study dealing with the fundamentals of music literacy, music history, and music appreciation. Graded assignments and tests will be given.
Singing tests (30 points)
Periodic singing tests will be given based on currently rehearsed music.
Written Tests (points will vary for different units of study)
Periodic written tests will be given at the end of units of study.
Quarter Final Exam
Students will be tested over material studied over the quarter. This test will be worth 5 percent of the final quarter grade.
The percentage scale and equivalent letter grade chart is the same one used district wide.
Performance Attendance
Performances are mandatory except in the case of an emergency. In the case of an emergency, please notify the director by phone. Students are responsible for arriving at each performance on time and properly prepared. Personal illness and death in family will be excused. Homework, vacation, community events or meetings, or lack of a ride will not be excused. An unexcused absence cannot be made up.
Students are required to be punctual and attend all performances. Points will be deducted for tardiness, inappropriate concert attire, or poor behavior during a concert. Students who miss a performance due to an emergency will be able to make up the points with the following assignment.
Vocal Music Research Paper
(For Replacement of Concert Points)
Musical Topic of Student’s Choice Approved by Mrs. Cook
4 pages
Handwritten
Single Spaced
One side of paper only
Reference Page (This page is not included in the 5 page paper)
Please Use at least one book or magazine as a resource. You may not use all internet sources!!!!
Paper needs to use correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling
If plagiarism is involved, the writer receives an automatic score of zero for the entire paper.
Choir Folders and Music Care
School owned folders and music become the responsibility of the students to whom they are assigned. Any loss or damage to music or a folder will need to be replaced at the student’s expense. Students will be assigned a folder and music. Do not leave your folder or music unattended and always return it to the proper slot following rehearsal.
Never fold, roll, or tear music. Only mark in music with a pencil.
Concert Attire
Singers will be assigned concert attire at the beginning of the year (dresses, vests, bow ties, etc). Occasionally robes are worn for performances. Robes will be kept in the choir room and are not to be taken home. Students will be responsible for any loss or damage to a robe/outfit.
Girl’s Glee
Your dress will be provided by the school. Please wear closed toe black dress shoes with your dress. Your shoes may either be flats or heels. Please also make sure you have hemmed and fitted your dress before the concert. Do not cut your dress to shorten it, please roll and hem. Please wear small, tasteful jewelry with your dress.
Blue and Gold Ladies:
Please were black hose and black closed toe shoes with your dress. You may choose to wear flats or heels, but please make sure that you are able to dance in them. No noticeable jewelry, please.
Men:
Shirts, ties, and vests will be provided. You are responsible for purchasing your own black pants, shoes, and socks. Pants should be plain, black dress pants. Please make sure you have solid black socks and solid black dress shoes that are comfortable to dance in. I have a few extra pairs of dress pants if you need a pair.
Class Supplies
Music
Folder
Pencil
Agenda
Study materials or a reading book
District and State Music Festival
In the spring of every year, area High Schools come together in a State sponsored music festival. The choirs of our school will prepare a short program that demonstrates our best musical and performance abilities. The choirs will perform for a panel of adjudicators who will decide on a rating for the performing groups. Remember we do not base our lives on this rating, but it can be a very rewarding for the choirs that do their best. Parents are welcome to attend the choirs’ performances at the festival.
Included at the District Festival is the opportunity for students to perform solos or small ensembles before an adjudicator and receive a rating and a valuable critique. Solos or ensembles that receive a “I” rating will then perform at State Music Festival in Columbia. Singing in an ensemble or performing a solo requires a lot of extra work, but it is one of the most valuable and enjoyable experiences for a musician. When a student agrees to participate in an ensemble or a solo, it is a commitment that must be followed through. Failure to keep that commitment will result in a financial obligation to the school and may negatively affect a student’s grade. The director will assist in placing interested students in small ensembles and selecting music for the festival.
All-District, All-State Choirs, Women’s Honor Choir, and 9th and 10th Honor Choir
Any junior or senior who is enrolled in the choral program is eligible to audition for the All-District Choir. If selected for the choir, the student will rehearse for one day at an area High School with a renowned conductor. The event will culminate that evening in a concert. Any junior or senior who makes the All-District Choir is eligible to audition for the All-State Choir. If selected to represent the district in the All-State Choir, the student will travel to the state music convention for a weekend of rehearsals with a renowned conductor, culminating in a concert. These auditions are tough and require much preparation on the part of the student, but the audition experience is valuable even if the student does not make the choir.
The 9th and 10th Grade Honor Choir will perform on the same concert as the All-District Choir. Auditions for this choir will be held before or after school by the director. If selected, students must be willing to commit to a few before or after school rehearsals to prepare the music for the concert.
The 11th and 12th Grade Women’s Honor Choir is a selected from students who auditioned for All-District Choir. These women are not eligible to audition for All-State Choir. It is a great honor to be a member of this honorable mention group.
Lettering
A choir letter is an honor and is awarded to outstanding Girls’ Glee and Blue and Gold members. The following rules were adopted by the students and teacher in 1994.
Students must attend every scheduled concert (An exception may be made for one concert if the absence is an emergency). Work is not an exception. Absences from two concerts makes the student ineligible to letter.
Student must have a grade of A- (90%) or above in choir.
If a student drops the class at the end of first semester, he/she may not letter that school year.
A student may letter if he/she enters the class second semester and fulfills all other requirements.
If a student misses class six or more times a semester, he/she is ineligible to letter. Extenuating circumstances, i.e. hospital confinement, etc. may be reviewed by the director and/or a student committee.
Students receiving letters and bar for the first time will receive them at the end of the first semester of their second year in choir. Gold bars will be issued for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year members.
Healthy Habits
Remember that your body is your instrument. Proper care must be taken if you expect it to perform correctly. Vocal students are expected to use healthy habits. Avoid vocal irritants such as smoke, second hand smoke, and alcohol. Also, drinking too much caffeine can dry out the vocal chords. Drink plenty of water (at least 8 glasses daily)
Remember to use your voice wisely. Yelling, screaming, and excessive talking fatigues the voice. It is important to rest the voice when a sore throat is present. Dress appropriately for weather changes, and get plenty of rest.
Please speak with the Mrs. Cook prior to class is you have any vocal concerns. However, if you are having consistent vocal problems and cannot sing you will need to bring a doctor’s note to Mrs. Cook.
* I expect the best from every student in every class! Let’s have a great year!
Mrs. Cook
Plans: Gold 1 and Blue 3