Chorus Handbook
Chorus is for students of all experience levels to experience the joy of participating in a musical ensemble and sharing music with our community. Throughout history, singing has been a way of celebrating, acknowledging important events, and bringing communities together and you are a part of this important tradition.
In Chorus, we will learn singing technique, note reading, sight singing, and how to perform as a part of a vocal ensemble. All students participate in a homecoming performance, fall cabaret, winter concert, spring concert, graduation and several other special performances during the year. Before each concert, we will have a dress rehearsal after school or in the evening. These dates will be supplied to parents and students well in advance and will count toward your grade.
Chorus Rehearsal Expectations
To earn your participation points in chorus, I will expect the following:
Bring all necessary materials to chorus daily:
Music
Pencil with eraser
Charged ipad
headphones
Any handouts received during class
Use proper singing technique:
Sitting or standing with good posture - If seated, both feet on the ground (no legs crossed), back straight, music held in front of you (not on the lap), back should not be resting on the back of the chair. If standing, back should be straight and music held in front of you.
Mouth should be opened properly. If I can’t see your mouth opening and forming the correct vowel sounds, I will assume you are not singing.
Focusing and concentrating on the music we are working on that day.
Take notes in your music
No talking when you're supposed to be singing
No homework during rehearsal time
No cell phone use while singing
No headphones in while singing/during direct instruction
Bring a positive attitude!
Chorus Rehearsal Norms
Be in your seat ready to start when the bell rings.
When the bell rings, everyone finds their seats and talking stops, chorus president begins breathing warm-ups with the class, and chorus secretary takes attendance.
Students entering the room after the bell should have a note from a teacher or the office.
No chewing gum while singing.
Students who have double midday may eat when they are not singing. Students who do not double should not eat during rehearsals.
Put away all distractions while rehearsing.
Hall pass use should be kept to a minimum.
You are responsible for your music and folder. Students will be charged the price of any lost or damaged music or folder. Writing in physical copies of the music with anything other than pencil will also result in paying for the music. Please notify the director of any lost music or folder.
Ipads will be used, but when they are not in use for class, they should be put away.
Section leaders will track class participation based on the rehearsal expectations.
Attendance
Being a member of the chorus brings with it certain responsibilities. Attendance at all performances and rehearsals is both necessary and mandatory. We are a team. Your absence or tardiness affects the overall performance of the entire chorus. A serious illness or certain extenuating circumstances are among the very few permitted excuses.
Work is not an acceptable excuse. Rehearsals and performances will be announced far enough in advance to adjust your work schedule.
Excuses must be presented as far in advance of the event as possible. Director shall determine whether the absence shall be excused or unexcused. Minimal notice is two weeks, except in extreme emergencies.
If a major performance is missed, a student will receive a zero grade for that assignment. Performances are worth 200-400 points each. If a student missed a performance or rehearsal because of illness or extenuating circumstances, a written excuse must be submitted to the director on the day the student returns to school.
An unexcused absence for a concert rehearsal will result in a zero grade for that assignment. Rehearsals are worth 100-200 points each. An unexcused absence from rehearsal may also cause the student to miss the performance. This will be at the discretion of the director.
Practice for any sport is not an excuse to miss rehearsal. The director must be notified two weeks in advance of any sporting event that might interfere with rehearsal. A sporting event is not an excuse to miss a performance. Remember: chorus is a class, not an extracurricular activity.
Leaving a rehearsal early or arriving late will also require an excuse and advance notice of 2 weeks. For an unexcused absence for part of a rehearsal, the grade will be lowered by ½ of a letter grade.
Grading
Your grade in chorus is determined not only by your attendance at rehearsals and concerts but also by your day-to-day participation in class. There will be four major parts to your grade:
Written worksheets, quizzes, tests, or singing tests
Daily participation (2 points per day)
Rehearsals
Concerts
To earn points for your daily participation, you must follow the rules outlined in the chorus rehearsal expectations. Participation points will make up a large portion of your grade.
For a written quiz, test, or singing test, points will be assigned to that particular project and graded accordingly.
Concerts/Dress Rehearsals
Dress Rehearsals and concerts will be heavily weighted
Concerts will be worth 200-400 points
Dress rehearsals will be worth half the point value of the concert corresponding concert.
Concert Attire
Students will be required to wear concert-appropriate dress clothing for each performance. Students may wear dress pants and a dress shirt, a skirt and a dress shirt, or a dress along with dress shoes. If wearing a dress or skirt, it should be no shorter than 3 inches above the knee. If wearing a collared button-up shirt, students should wear a tie. Subtle prints are permitted, but solid colors are preferred. No heels over 3 inches will be permitted for safety reasons. No jeans, athleticwear, or tennis shoes, please. All concert attire should follow the school dress code outlined in the CVHS student handbook. Specifics will be given for each concert.
If anyone needs help in acquiring concert attire, please let Ms. Damp know so that she can help. If anyone has dress clothes that no longer fit, we are always looking for donations to have on hand for students who may need them.
If a student fails to comply with the guidelines for concert attire, they may be required to change into alternate clothing or sit out of the performance. If a student does not perform, they will receive zero credit for their performance grade.
Use of Sacred Music
Religious music from various cultures and time periods will occasionally be used in the choral classroom and in concerts. The National Association for Music Education states on their website, “the study and performance of religious music within an educational context is a vital and appropriate part of a comprehensive music education. The omission of sacred music from the school curriculum would result in an incomplete educational experience.” Although we may dissect the text of these pieces to enrich our performance, discussions will center on uncovering the composer’s original intent. No student will ever be expected to practice or believe any religious material discussed in class. For more information on NAfME’s stance on religious music in the classroom, click here: https://nafme.org/resource/sacred-music-in-schools/