Choir Handbook

Colorado Music Standards

I have included the Colorado music standards below so you can see what we are committed to teaching to the best of our abilities in the vocal music department. Our district vision for the music program in District 6 begins in elementary school and continues to be cultivated, refined, and focused until our music students graduate.

Expression of Music

1. Perform accurately and expressively, demonstrating self-evaluation, and personal interpretation. 
2. Participate appropriately as an ensemble member.
3. Demonstrate the required performance skill sets.

Creation of Music

1. Improvise appropriately over a harmonic progression.
2. Compose music in several distinct styles.

Theory of Music

1. Interpretation of musical elements and ideas.
2. Evaluation of music using critical and informed analysis. 
3. Discernment of musical elements.

Aesthetic Valuation of Music

1. Practice of appropriate behavior.
2. Informed judgements through participation, performance, and the creative process.
3. Evaluation of the quality and effectiveness of musical performances. 
4. Knowledge of available musical opportunities for continued musical growth and professional development. 

All of the policies and regulations are created to maintain a level of fairness to all members of the GWHS choral program. Any deviation negatively affects the entire choir which in turn will affect the success of the program at West. These policies are intended to help you become a valuable member of the choral program.

1. A pencil which should be kept in your black binder so that you have it every day. 
2. Performance attire:
   • Choir T-shirt
   • Concert apparel

Being a member of a choir means being part of a team.  Teamwork takes cooperation, consideration and dedication.  We all must work together for our team to be successful and to accomplish our goals.  High expectations will be set for each of our groups, so we have something to work towards and are constantly improving.  These expectations include (but are not limited to):

1. 100% positive participation will prevent disruptive behavior such as talking, etc.  Students are expected to remain actively engaged at all times.  Criticizing another student’s voice or effort is not allowed.

2. Have MUSIC and a PENCIL at all rehearsals.  

3. It is vital that you’re at ALL REHEARSALS and ON TIME!  Tardies and absences result in a grade deduction (see Grading).  Please leave all books, hats, bags, etc. on the floor when you enter the room and place your cell phone in your backpack.  Head coverings for religious purposes will be permitted.

4. NO GUM, FOOD or DRINK (other than clear water)!  It will be thrown away and you will lose points.

5. DON’T TALK while we are rehearsing.  Follow along with the other parts so you know exactly when to come back in.  Chances are the concepts covered while rehearsing the other part will apply to all students.

6. Be responsible for materials.  Lost or damaged music or folders will be paid for by the student to whom it was issued in student fees.

7. Treat others with courtesy and respect.  Please also respect the building and others’ personal property.  Leave outside issues at the door and be a mature member of the choir when you enter the room.

8. Maintain a sense of professionalism at all times, in and out of the classroom.   We are representing Greeley West, as well as the Greeley Community.

9. Choir is a performance class. All students have mandatory individual requirements, due through Google Classroom and Sight Reading Factory.  Students in ALL choirs are encouraged to audition for solos and honor choirs whenever opportunities arise.

10. And, most importantly, always strive to reach high expectations, make beautiful music, and have fun!  It’s more fun to be a phenomenal choir that works hard, than a mediocre choir that slacks!

POSITIVE= FUN!!!

Enter our classroom with a smile on your face and take on each activity with a positive attitude.  If we all put forth our best attitude and work hard together, we will in turn have a lot of fun and the rewards will be huge!  

This is YOUR choir!  LOVE IT!

Any infractions on the above guidelines may result in disciplinary action and potential referral to the Greeley West Administrative team.

Performer - 35%

Concert attendance, concert etiquette, general behavior during performances, singing quiz. If you miss a concert for an unexcused reason, you will not be allowed to make up those points.

Collaborator/Rehearsal Points - 50%

Daily Points - 40 points per block day and 20 points per Monday/All day (combined into a weekly grade of 100).

Points are earned if you show up on time, exhibit exemplary attitude, and participate fully from start to 

finish.  Deductions or zeros will be given for gum, talking, poor attitude, lack of participation, being unprepared, or not following directions.  ALL ABSENCES RESULT IN A ZERO FOR THE DAY!  Lost points for excused absence may be made up (see “Makeup Points”).  Unexcused absences will not be permitted to make up those points.  Tardies will result in a 5 point deduction.  Tardies from breaks (if given) will also result in a 10 point deduction.

Students who miss more than 25% of the rehearsal period leading up to a performance will be required to perform their music alone at a high competency level for Ms. O’Connor one week before the performance.  Failure to perform the music at an adequate performance level will result in the student not being allowed to perform with the ensemble.  In lieu of their performance, they will need to submit the Make-Up assignment on the day of the concert. The student will still be expected to attend the concert as an audience member.

Researcher/Creator/Final - 15%

This includes Sight Reading assignments, singing and memorization tests, written reflections, final, and other various assignments. 

Ms. O'Connor's office hour period 1 & 2 by appointment only. Appointments may be made by email at roconnor@greeleyschools.org

Cell phones should be put away and in backpacks. If this becomes an issue you will have to give me the phone and I will keep it until the end of the day. I will let you know if you need your phone during class. In general, please see the school policy. 

“If a student is found to have used a cellular telephone or other electronic device without authorization, the phone or device may be confiscated by the staff member and given to an administrator.  The parent/guardian will be called by the student and the device will be returned, by an administrator, to the parent/guardian after the end of the school day or at a mutually agreed time.

Failure to relinquish the cellular telephone or electronic device to a requesting staff member will result in a one (1) day School Suspension.  Failure to relinquish the cellular telephone or electronic device to an administrator or administrative designee will result in a three day School Suspension.” - Greeley West Student Handbook

Excused Classroom Absences can be made up.  Students will still receive ZERO points each day they are gone, but may complete different activities to make up those points.  Students should make up daily points within 2 school days.  See “Make-up points” below to see how to make those points up.

Tardies

You are expected to be in on the risers with your music folder and pencil when the bell rings. If you are not on the risers, you will be marked tardy. If you are 10 minutes late or less you will be marked tardy. If you are more than 10 minutes late to class without a pass it will be marked as an unexcused absence. Each tardy will also be a loss of 10 points to your daily Collaboration points.

Unexcused Absences

Unexcused absences will not be tolerated and points cannot be made up. 

• 3 or more unexcused absences = No Performance at the next concert
• 3 or more unexcused absences in a Select Choir = removal from that choir. 
  • These situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis
• An unexcused absence from a performance results in 0/100 points. 

Excused Absences

Makeup points for excused classroom absence. All points must be made up by the end of the quarter. 

1.  Attending an artistic performance (any of GWHS’s band, orchestra, jazz concerts, plays, musicals, or outside FINE arts performances - popular concerts are not included in this) and providing Ms. O’Connor with a program.

2. Writing a reflection of an artistic concert.  Again, check with Ms. O’Connor *before* you write this to make sure the concert counts.  Popular music concerts are not on this list.  Operas, ballets, choir, orchestral, etc. are the genres included.

3. Reflective Writing assignment (for extended absences only - talk with Ms. O’Connor for details)

4. Music History report (for extended absences - talk with Ms. O’Connor for details)

5. Submit (via email)  three videos of you performing sight readings through sightreadingfactory in addition to the weekly sightreadingfactory assignment.

6. Visit Teoria.com and complete three different ear training exercises for 5 minutes each with a pass rate above 75%.  Take a screenshot of the score sheet at the conclusion of each exercise and send it to ROSIE O'CONNOR

7. 30 minutes of practice on our current choir music that is video recorded and submitted to Ms. O’Connor.

Attendance at Performances

An unexcused absence from a choir concert or dress rehearsal cannot be made up.  Since written work is light in music classes, our concerts serve as “unit/semester finals.”  In a performing arts class, it is the performance that we spend weeks/months striving towards.  No other activity can match the educational value of that experience.  If you make conflicting plans AFTER signing this syllabus, those are unexcused absences.  I do realize that RARE instances do occur - but in many years of teaching, I can count on one hand how many situations were truly unavoidable and/or unable to be worked out.   Make-Up assignments will be accepted for those rare emergencies that require students to miss the performance.

Excused Absence from a Scheduled Performance

Make-Up Paper due the day of the concert.

Definition of excused absence from a concert or dress rehearsal:

• Jury duty or court appearance. *
• Observance of a religious holiday. *
• Severe illness with a doctors' note. +
• Serious illness/hospitalization of family member. +
• Breavement. +
• Pre-approved GWHS CHSAA sponsored school function. *

*A written notification from student and /or parent to all involved adults (teacher, coach, advisor, etc), must be submitted at least 2 weeks IN ADVANCE.  It would be best to do this on one email so that the adults are able to contact one another.  The adults will attempt to reschedule in order to eliminate the conflict.  These conflicts can almost always be worked out.  When the conflict cannot be resolved, the school policy is as follows:  The student will be expected to attend any activity that is curricular in nature and part of the students overall performance grade for a class. Exception; If the conflict occurs during playoff or state competition the student will be excused from the performance/activity and an alternative assignment will be afforded to the student.

+ In the event of a last minute emergency, please contact Ms. O’Connor before the concert (if possible) and as soon as possible.  Upon your return to school, please provide a letter of explanation from the parent and see Ms. O’Connor to arrange the make-up assignment.

Examples of Unexcused Absences

1. Failing to request time off of work

2. Family or friend social events (even when “Called in” by parents)

3. Any event in which the directors were not notified in the proper manner or timeline

4. A practice on a sports team or other activity (a concert performance takes precedence over a practice or rehearsal).

5. Failure to plan ahead for homework or other school commitments.

6. An event that’s non-CHSAA or non-school related.

7. Birthday celebrations

8. Lack of transportation.

Multiple absences on concert days are unacceptable and will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. 

To earn an "A":

1. Arrive at the concert warm-up rehearsal, check in with the attendance recorder and be in your proper place BEFORE the assigned time.

2. Exhibit proper rehearsal attitude during warm-up rehearsal.

3. Wear appropriate attire as assigned by Ms. O’Connor.

   • All makeup should be minimal

   • No additional jewelry will be allowed for Pegasus and Athenians.

   • Odysseus - Concert Black, (semi-formal) black shoes, black socks. All clothing should follow the school dress code.

   • Athenians - Choir dresses assigned by Ms. O’Connor & black shoes with NO toes showing.

   • Pegasus - Choir dresses or suits as assigned by Ms. O’Connor & black shoes with NO toes showing.

   • GENERAL - Hair out of the way. Deodorant freshly applied. NO perfume or cologne. If you are questioning what to wear, please ask Ms. O’Connor at least 48 hours before the concert.  

4. While performing, focus is 100% on the music at all times. Appropriate behavior on stage is expected for members of all choirs. 

5. As an audience member in our own GWHS choir concerts, the student’s attention should be directed to the ensemble or soloists performing. Talking is not acceptable during any performance. You may talk between numbers but never during the performance. If you choose to talk at an inappropriate time your grade will be lowered one letter grade for each instance. You must remain in your assigned seat until the concert is officially over.

Odysseus

Students are expected to wear concert black. All students must wear black dress shoes and men must wear black pants and black socks. 

Anyone who missed one concert for an excused reason and has followed the proper communication protocol has the opportunity to make it up for the concert grade.

Choose two songs from this concert’s repertoire.  For each song, find 3 examples of the song being performed by a chorus (such as on youtube).  If you can’t find performances on youtube, you may have to select one of the other pieces we performed.  Write a 3 page paper that compares and contrasts the different performances.  You should include the following musical elements in your analysis:

1. Tone quality (rich, round, warm, thin, spread, vowel shapes, vibrato, etc.)
2. Accuracy of pitches and rhythm (including entrances and releases)
3. Tempo: Did different group schoose different tempos? Do you find one tempo preferable to another? 
4. Intonation: Did the group sing in time?
5. Blend & Balance: Is the sound unified or can you pick out individual voices? Are there sections you can't hear or a section that stands out?
6. Diction: Can you understand the words? 
7. Performance skills: Are the singers engaged with energized facial expressions? Do they connect with the audience? Do they use body motion? Do they have distracting behaviors? 

Be sure to include information about the group you are reviewing. What type of chorus is it? Also include your sources. 

Format

The paper should be at least 3 full pages long, typed, double spaced, with side margins at 1.00” and top and bottom margins at 1.00”.  Font should be no bigger than 12 point.  You should include introductory and concluding paragraphs.  Please ensure that there is no plagiarized material and any quotations are cited fully.

Due Date

The paper is due the day of the concert you are missing.  If an emergency occurs and you miss the concert unexpectedly, the paper must be submitted by the end of the quarter, which is usually 2-3 days following the concert.

See me if you need help or alternative resources.  Good luck!

If you are interested in expanding your vocal performance and technique on an individual basis it is highly recommended to take Private Voice Lessons. Voice lessons are typically a weekly after school commitment. If interested you can speak with me but a great place to start is Flourish Music Academy.

All-State Choir is open to all juniors and seniors. It is highly recommended that students in Pegasus & Athenians audition for All-State Choir. Registration is 9/10. Auditions are 10/11 and 10/12. There is a $25 registration fee to audition for All-State Choir. This will be charged to your student account. Make checks payable to GWHS Music. Bring me a check/cash by Wednesday, September 7. For more information, please visit www.aschoir.com. 

Combined League Honor Choir is open to all high school students. All students in the choral program will submit an audition for CLHC. Auditions are recorded and submitted online. No dates have been made available regarding auditions. The Concert date is Feb. 5th.  For more information, please visit www.combinedleague.org. 

All-City Honor Choir is a director-recommended honor choir that we are going to resurrect this year and includes students from all area high schools and middle schools who wish to participate. This is a new endeavor for the choir teachers in District 6, but we think it could be awesome so we’re going for it. More info to come.