Here Are Some Ways That You Can Be a Part of the Tomball Choir

TOMBALL

CHOIR

Handbook

2017-2018

Michelle Willey, Director

281-357-3000 x4472

Dear Parents:

Schedules and classes are now in place, and we are focused on a solid curriculum, certain to make a difference in the life of every student in this music program. We are anticipating a fun and successful year. This letter is to let you know how you, as parents, can help the Tomball Junior High School Choir.

Together, we will work as a team, focusing on your child and his or her success throughout the year. I believe that every child is vital to the success of the choral program.

Here are some ways that you can be a part of the Tomball Choir:

Encouraging Parent: Competence is the result of dedicated "time on task." Music learning, music performance, and music appreciation are the outcomes of study, practice, and guided listening. With limited rehearsal time, it is imperative that students invest extra time in nurturing their talents and improving their skills. Please encourage a positive practice schedule at school and at home.

Loyal, Appreciative Audience: The best audience is always a parent. You are faced with a full agenda in your personal and professional lives, and you are challenged to adjust your schedule to accommodate every school function. However, your presence at our performances means more to your child than words can describe. Music is a family affair. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate your child's talent!

Dedicated Collaborator: As you may know by now, it takes many dedicated individuals to make a choir program work. In addition to encouraging your child at home and being an enthusiastic audience member, the choir program needs your time. All talents are appreciated and ANY time donated is valued. We understand that not everyone can get away from work, but there will be many opportunities for your support.

The music program at TomballJunior High School continues to flourish because of a substantive curriculum, a well-informed and supportive administration, and exemplary parental support. Please take the time to read the information provided in the 2016-2017 Choir Handbook. Remember YOU make a difference!

We look forward to visiting with you in the near future. Please do not hesitate to contact the choir director by phone, e-mail, or letter.

Sincerely,

Michelle Willey

Choir Director. TomballJunior High School

30403 Quinn Road

Tomball, Texas77375

281-357-3000, Ext. 4472

281-357-3027 (FAX)

WHY SING? WHY BE IN CHOIR?

Music lessons have shown to improve a child’s performance in school. Plato once said, “Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education.” Scientists have found that music has the ability to train the brain for higher levels of thinking-the kind of thinking involving problem solving, inference, arriving at conclusions, comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between two or more objects, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information. These are some of the very same skills tested on the STAAR test!

Are you going to stay in choir your whole life? Probably not! But music is an avenue to prepare you for whatever profession you might choose. If music enhances brain functioning for higher level math and science skills, and can, as a result, keep us competitive in a global economy, then music is something we all need, no matter what our career!

In 1991, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a report urging schools to teach for the future workplace. The skills they recommend (working in teams, self-esteem, communication, creative thinking, imagination, and invention) are exactly those learned in choir!

Students who are involved in a quality choral program use and develop the following skills:

• Problem solving
• Communication
• Goal setting
• Coordination
• Self-confidence
• Self-discipline
• Critical thinking
• Teamwork
• Self-expression
• Memorization
• Concentration
• Conceptualization
• Appreciation of cultural diversity
• Perseverance
• Determination
• Responsibility
• Appreciation, Sensitivity, and love of the arts

Choir Goals

Choral music is a highly disciplined and technical art form. It requires a student to function as a strong individual within a large group. Our goal is that each student learns the necessary skills to effectively express him/herself through music. There are many activities planned both in and out of the classroom which will allow your child the opportunity to grow musically. Each student’s personal growth, as well as the growth and development of the group as a whole, will depend largely on the mastering of the objectives listed below.

The information listed here is intended to help each student understand the expectations and responsibilities for success in the Tomball Junior High School Choir program.

• Learn and develop good vocal production skills required for successful choral and solo singing.
• Develop and continually improve Sight-Singing skills.
• Develop Aural/Listening skills necessary for singing with good intonation.
• Perform at all Major Concerts: Fall Concert,Winter Concert, Pre-UIL Concert and Pop Show.
• Participate in the two major contests of the year: Solo & Ensemble Contest and UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest.
• Participate in the Region 9 All-Region Choir Auditions
• Maintain good school and after-school rehearsal attendance.
• Maintain eligibility. (No pass – No play rule)
• Develop excellent daily work ethic during rehearsal and at-home practice.
• Participate in choir social activities.
• Display appropriate concert and performance etiquette at all performances and contests and appropriate rehearsal etiquette at each rehearsal.
• Increase knowledge of music history and accepted performance practice for all genres of music in order to enhance not only the student’s ability to interpret/express music in performance, but also, his/her ability to evaluate musical performances.
• Participate in choir social activities such as parties, spring trip to Splashtown Wet and Wild, and other pending events to build relationships with fellow choir members.

Concert Etiquette

One of the skills students are expected to demonstrate throughout the year is proper concert etiquette.Very few students are exposed to symphony performances, operas, professional choir concerts, etc. Some of the standard rules of behavior for these types of performances may seem outdated and are not enforced everywhere. However, in order to ensure that students perform to the best of their ability, and all audience members have an enjoyable experience, these rules should be adhered to:

• Unless you are removing a crying child, please enter and exit the performance only during applause.

• During a performance, please refrain from conversation and remove crying children promptly from the performance area.

• No flash photography in the middle of a song, as it is distracting to the performers.

• Please hold applause until you see the conductor lower his or her arms.

• Please applaud appropriately; yelling or screaming as you would at an athletic event is not appropriate.

• Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and watch alarms during the performance.

• You should not eat or drink anything in the concert space.

CHOIR DISCIPLINE PLAN:

1. Be in your assigned seat with all required supplies when the bell begins to ring.
2. Raise your hand and wait to be recognized before you speak.
3. Follow instructions the first time they are given.
4. Be courteous and positive to your teachers and classmates.
5. Keep the choir room free of food, drinks, and gum.

Some behavior infractions may lead to immediate removal from class, but in general, lesser infractions will be dealt with in class.

CLASS POLICIES:

Listen to instructions

Enter and exit prepared

Always try your best

Respect yourself and others

No excuses

CELL PHONES:

I will follow school policies on cell phones. Please do not test this! I allow students to use the

choir room phones when needed to help with after school arrangements, but cannot have

phones out during instructional time. Please see the school handbook for cell phone policies.

There are clocks in class to tell time. If a student must use their phone for ANY reason during

class, please ask me so that I am aware and have approved any non-instructional use of phones.

GUM, CANDY, and OTHER FOOD ITEMS:

Eating, chewing gum, and drinking in class are prohibited. Additionally I would ask that there be no water or beverage containers at student seats. There is a water fountain for student use in the choir room.Please comply with the choirroom policy so that we may have safe, successful rehearsals. Any infraction of this policy will be documented, and if necessary, disciplinary action will be taken.

UNIFORMS

Casual uniforms for the year:

• CHOIR SHIRT to be purchased through the directors. Uniform shirts must be TUCKED IN at all times during a performance. All students need to remove jewelry that would be visible from the audience. Earrings need to be either studs or hoops no larger than a quarter in diameter for girls. Necklaces may not be worn, and wrist and hand jewelry is prohibited with the exception of watches and simple rings. Girls with long hair should wear it in a pony tail, and short hair should be worn off of the face, with bangs out of the eyes.
• BLUE JEANS. Jeansshould be in keeping with all aspects of the school dress code. Jeans must be full length and have a finished hem at the bottom. They must fit at the waist and must have no embellishments of any kind that would distract from the uniformity of the group. (This would include ribbons, beads, fringe, embroidery, or colorful paint and/or patches.)
• CLOSED TOE, CLOSED HEEL SHOES. This would include flats, tennis shoes, boots, loafers, or any comfortable, durable shoe. Our formal uniform dictates black flats for girls and black shoes for boys, so I would recommend a pair of shoes that could be worn for both purposes.

STUDENTS CAN ALSO PURCHASE A “FUN SHIRT” THAT IS OPTIONAL APPAREL FOR ALL CHOIR SOCIAL EVENTS AND TRIPS. STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO WEAR ONE OR THE OTHER SHIRT AT ALL EVENTS REPRESENTING TJHS. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS EASE IN IDENTIFICATION FOR PARENT CHAPERONES AND STAFF AT OUR PARTY AND TRIP LOCATIONS.

Formal uniforms for the year:

Female students will be provided with a DRESS UNIFORM. Students must pay a non-refundable dry-cleaning and maintenance fee of $21to be paid by October 10, 2017. This will pay for all dresses to be hemmed by the same seamstress at no inconvenience to you. Uniforms will be cleaned after each wearing.

Female members will be expected to provide:

black flats (closed toe and heel) with 2 inch or less heel

In the past few years, we have seen fashion trends that utilize backless, open toe, or excessively high shoes, as well as the absence of hosiery. Although we understand these trends, in the case of a formal uniform it is important that all students keep to the closed toe/heel policy, as well as refraining from wearing heels over 2 inches. Pantyhose should be worn anytime female students are in formal concert attire.

The choral program will provide a faux pearl necklace, earrings, and braceletfor each student, to be returned after each concert. Students who are unable to wear costume jewelry will need to provide small “stud” earrings in gold, silver, or pearl. Students may also elect not to wear earrings. Hoops may not be worn with formal uniform. Girls’ hair will be worn off of the face either in a half or full up for concerts. The TJHS choir will provide an elastic and ribbon for this purpose. These items, along with a pair of black knee high stockings, will be provided for students to wear for uniformity. This enhances the professionalism of the ensemble, as well as the comfort of the students. Just as sports or dance teams must follow uniform requirements, so do the members of the choral program here at Tomball Junior High School.

Young men's attire will be expected to provide:

• black DRESS pants
• black DRESS shoes
• black socks

TJHS will provide Vest, Tie, and Tuxedo Shirt in a travel hanging bag. Male students will need to pay a $16.00 uniform fee for dry cleaning and alterations by October 10, 2017.

GRADING AND ATTENDANCE POLICIES

1. DAILY GRADES(50% of nine weeks grade)

Includes weekly class participation, written work, maintenance of folder, and bringing

of necessary supplies. It also includes oral or written quizzes, as well as student

attendance at required after school rehearsals. Finally, all items receiving parent

signature will be given a grade for return.

Rubrics will be used to determine student level of performance on the following

componentsof choral music:

Singing Posture

Consonants

Vowel Shapes

Pitch Accuracy

Rhythm Accuracy

Hand Signs

Solfege Syllables

Attention to Director

After School Rehearsals

2. MAJOR GRADES (50% of nine weeks grade)

Includes singing or written tests, concert and other performance attendance

Rubrics will be used to determine student level of performance.

Late work:

1 day late-minus 10 points

2 days late –minus 15 points

3 days late-minus 25 points-PAW PERIOD COMPLETION

If not done in PAW PERIOD-Zero/Discipline Referral

Every six weeks, students should have at minimum 9 daily grades and 3 major grades, which will

include written and performance assessments.

CONCERT PARTICIPATION

The purpose of membership and performance in a choral music program is to rehearse and perform music. Every member of the choir is important. The absence of any member from a performance or rehearsal can impact a choir’s sound. Please understand that all concerts and performances are an expectation of student membership, just as games are an expectation of team members. All concerts are required. Makeup work will be assigned to students who have an absence. Students who miss a concert will sing the music for an instructor to receive a grade. Unexcused absence will result in a grade reduction. All absences from concerts or rehearsals will require a parent note.

EXCUSED ABSENCES: An excused absence will be granted at the discretion of the director. Two weeks prior notice is preferred to be considered a known conflict. Death in the family or illness, either with doctor’s note or absence from school, is considered an unknown conflict. Students with an excused absence will be required to do a written make up assignment and can receive full credit for that assessment.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: An unexcused absence is earned when a student does not meet the guidelines outlined above. Lack of transportation and childcare are considered unexcused absences. Rides and childcare can be arranged with advanced notice to the director. Please communicate with us so that your child can be an involved member of the program. Students with an unexcused absence will be required to do a make -up assignment and can receive a 70 for that assessment.

Students who are suspended from school or assigned to an alternative campus cannot attend concerts or social events during the period for which they are removed from the regular classroom setting. Make up assignments will be given to these students so that their grade will not be adversely affected. In any case above, failure to do a make-up assignment can result in a failing grade for that specific assessment or event. Many opportunities are given for students to be successful.

ELIGIBILITY RULES

There are two types of function that every choir student will be asked to participate in during the school year. The first includes graded activities such as concerts, scheduled rehearsals, and other curricular performances. Your child is expected to attend these functions regardless of his/her grades in other subjects because they fill a requirement of the curriculum for this course and will be graded. The second includes activities governed by UIL eligibility, which means students cannot attend them unless they are eligible according to UIL grading standards. The eligibility calendar is on the Tomball ISD website for your perusal. See below for the general idea behind this calendar.

UIL ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

The State of Texas takes great pride in the academic standards for which we hold students accountable. In keeping with those standards, all extra-curricular activities, such as sports, music, and drama, are governed under State of Texas eligibility laws. Students who do not pass all subjects at the end of a grading period are on probationary status for a time period of at least three weeks, beginning one week after the end of said grading period. Students may regain eligibility if all 7 subjects are above a 70 at the end of that stated time. They then serve a one-week waiting period before actively participating in governed activities. Students who do not reach that minimum standard at the three-week mark will not be able to regain eligibility until the next six week grading period ends, again with the minimum average of 70 in all 7 subjects. Again, the one-week waiting period would apply. Although members who do not meet minimum grade requirements may still rehearse with a performing group, they may not perform or compete as a member of that organization in an extra-curricular setting. This would also prohibit them from attending extra-curricular field trips and outings.