Welcome to WG Choir! Dear Choir Parent, Greetings from your choral director at West Geauga! My name is Mrs. Melanie Kennedy. I will be directing the 6 th, 7 th and 8 th Grade Chorus classes this year. I am very excited about this school year and the opportunities that await your student. The school year will be filled with wonderful music making, engaged learning about music, and excellence in creating the music we will perform. Choral music is an incredible avenue toward building better musicians and better people. Through teamwork, performance, music literacy and creativity, students are able to develop their self-esteem and ability to express themselves. Through exposure to many different musical styles and periods, they are more aware of history and the world cultures. They also begin to understand the impact that music can have in their lives and in the lives of others. I believe that the most successful outcomes for everyone are derived from excellent communication. It is our goal to have good communication with parents. If you have any questions regarding classes, or the program, please don t hesitate to contact me. Email is probably the quickest way to get in touch, rather than calling. My email and phone number are listed below. I ask that you provide your email so that I can contact you throughout the school year. Please read carefully through the choir schedule and mark your calendars accordingly. Also, please return the back page with signatures of both parent and student. This form will serve as the first homework assignment of the year for your student. Mrs. Melanie Kennedy melanie.kennedy@westg.org 440-729-5950 ext. 6157
Your Objectives For This Year Include Vocal Development tone, breath, care of the voice, pitch and intonation Development of Musicality expressing the written music through performance of varied styles and listening. Music Appreciation and History understanding of periods, composers, styles, genres and instruments Sight Reading reading music through the use of the solfege system Music Literacy following a vocal score with all pertinent markings, symbols and directions Music Theory understanding all notes, rest values as well as all musical symbols Movement expressing music through choreography if the music calls for it Performance and Concert Etiquette presenting oneself in a formal and informal concert setting as well as showing the kind of demeanor one should have as an audience member.
CHORAL STUDENT EXPECTATIONS/GRADING POLICY Daily Classroom Points What is expected from you as a participant of the choral classroom? These are the things you are graded on daily. Every week this will be entered into the grade book. Participation is 80% of your overall grade. The following are part of your daily points (10 possible points per day): PROMPTNESS (2 points) Sitting in your seat at the second bell. Attending all chorus rehearsals during your assigned class period. PARTICIPATION (2 points) Taking part in all classroom activities, singing or otherwise Marking music when appropriate EFFORT (2 points) Attempting to sing, move and follow all directions to the best of your ability. RESPECT (2 points) Raising your hand to answer or ask questions. Being attentive in all choral rehearsals. Behaving in such a manner to support the learning environment. Following appropriate concert etiquette. RESPONSIBLE (2 points) Does not chew gum during class. Assisting the teacher when needed. Assisting other students when needed. Comes to class with all materials needed.
Homework/Written Work Students will be given music in which they will be asked to make marks or take notes. Students will turn in the music and will be given a grade based on their marks in the music they turned in. Occasionally, worksheets will be completed in class or will go home. These are the expectations for homework/written work assignments: Turning in their music intact with their name and the proper markings and notes in their music. Completion or the attempt at completing any homework or written work assignment. Bringing back homework completed the next day or finishing it in class. Test Grades Written tests or quizzes as well as singing tests and concert grades are assigned as test grades. Test grades are 15% of your overall grade. Singing tests will be given twice during the school year. o Singing tests will be graded by a rubric Written tests or quizzes are given throughout each quarter. Concert grades are given twice during the school year. Concerts are MANDITORY. See calendar for dates of the concerts. o Concert grade is given through a rubric o Unexcused concert absences will result in a failing grade o Excused absences include: Illness student must either have been absent during the school day or provide a doctor s note Death of an immediate family member School-related event that cannot be reconciled. o Must be made up for by singing through all of the concert music for the director. o Failure to make up an excused absence will result in a failing concert grade.
WG MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR EXPECTATIONS 1. Be on time and in your seat with required materials at the start of class. Do not be tardy! 2. Be respectful of all materials given to you (pencils, paper, books). Make sure you are very careful with any music that you are given. Music is your textbook. Students will be responsible for damaged textbooks or damaged print music. Never vandalize any equipment in the music rooms. 3. There is a NO GUM or cell phones policy in the choral classroom. 4. Be respectful of your teacher and fellow students by raising your hand to speak and not speaking over your teacher or fellow choir members. Never argue with your teacher. Problems can be handled in a fair and calm way. Your teacher is always in control of the class. You only talk when you have permission to do so. 5. Show a positive attitude and make a positive contribution every day. Vocal music is a participation class. Each member is expected to uphold his/her responsibility of participation in all activities. Disruption of the learning environment will have consequences. 6. Be a team player. Choir is about many voices joining into one voice to create beauty. We are only as good as our weakest member. Cooperating and working together will make us successful. 7. Maintain the appropriate posture and sing with an appropriate voice. 8. Never settle for anything but your very best. Being EXCELLENT is hard work, but very worth the time and effort involved. 9. Dress appropriately when you are to perform in front of any audience.
CONSEQUENCES Classroom behavior and expectations will be monitored daily. If a student is not meeting the class expectations they will see a reduction in their daily classroom grade. The loss of points from their daily grade will serve as a warning. Parents will be contacted if a student is losing daily classroom points more than one day per week. Detentions may be given for: Repeated tardiness Disrespectful behaviors Repeated gum chewing during class Missing materials for class repeatedly
CHOIR PERFORMANCE ATTIRE Boys Black dress pants with dark belt White long sleeve dress shirt Necktie (no inappropriate designs or lights/sounds) Dark dress shoes (NO tennis shoes or sandals) Dark socks Girls Black dress pants or long black skirt White blouse (no tank tops) Dark closed toe dress shoe (NO tennis shoes, sandals or flip flops) 8 th Grade Girls Winter Concert White long skirt White long sleeve shirt Long white socks or white tights Red Sash (provided)
Concert Etiquette Formal Concert Etiquette The 2012 Ohio Music Standards from the Department of Education states that students will Attend live performances and demonstrate appropriate audience etiquette. Concert etiquette should be practiced at all WGMS concerts as well as those outside of our school. Concert etiquette is a part of your grade at WGMS and what you learn about etiquette will be an important part of your life long support of the performing arts. We want to make sure that everyone s performances at WGMS are respected by the audience and that we show proper appreciation based on the particular venue. Concert Etiquette for students and parents: 1. Children attending the concert should be seated with their parents. Should your child begin crying or suddenly become noisy, we would please ask that you exit the auditorium with your child as quickly as possible until they become calmer. Our concerts are recorded and so we like to keep distractions to a minimum. 2. Please do not talk during the performance. 3. Clap appropriately with no vocal noises after a piece is finished. 4. If you need to leave the auditorium for any reason, please leave between selections as quietly as possible. 5. Please leave all electronic devices on the off or silent mode. 6. Please do not text or use your electronic devices during the performance. 7. Please do not bring food or drink of any kind into the auditorium. 8. When a piece has ended, always wait for the conductor s arms to come down to his/her side before applauding, thereby allowing a moment of silence for the audience to savor the moment after the conclusion of the piece.
Concert Dates and Other Important Dates Please mark these dates on your calendar. If you have a conflict with any date listed, please inform the director as soon as possible. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 9,10 and 11, 2016 Tuesday, December 13, 2016 Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Monday, December 19, 2016 Saturday, April 8, 2017 Monday, April 10, 2017 Musical (Optional) 8 th Grade Girls Santa Lucia Rehearsal Girls Only Winter Concert Grades 6,7,8 Santa Lucia Processional 8 th Grade Girls OMEA Solo and Ensemble (Optional) Spring Concert Grades 6,7,8 7:00 Friday and Saturday 2:00 Sunday After School 2:45-3:30 6:15 Warm Ups Grades 7&8 6:30 Warm Ups Grade 6 7:00 Concert Begins Chorus Room And Gym 1:30 pm All Day 6:15 Warm Ups Grades 7&8 6:30 Warm Ups Grade 6 7:00 Concert begins South Euclid Lyndhurst Memorial Jr. High Chorus Room and Gym These dates are current as of 8/4/2017 and subject to change.
Parent & Student Acknowledgement (Please sign and return. A completed form will be worth 10 points!) Students: I have read and understood all the guidelines, grading and attendance policies, and concert etiquette that are set out in the West Geauga Choral Handbook. I promise to adhere to all rules, required performances, events and expectations. Student Name (Print): Student Signature: Date: Parents: I have read and understood the guidelines, grading and attendance policies, and concert etiquette set out in the Choral Handbook and will make a commitment to support my students, the directors and the WGMS Choral Program in all its endeavors. Parent Name (print): Parent Signature: Home phone: Cell Phone: Parent email: