Syllabus

This course is for all High School (Grades 9-12) Chorus majors who passed their audition for placement into Northwest School of the Arts. This class meets year-long on an A/B Day calendar. 

Vocal Technique

• Posture, breathing, vowel placement

Part-singing (singing in harmony)

• Echo songs, ostinato, descant, partner songs, rounds/canons

Sight-singing

• Rhythmic, melodic

Choral ensemble singing

• Tone quality, intonation, balance, blend, diction, etc. 

• Chromebook (School-Issued)

• Chorus Class Binder (provided)

• Erasable Highlighters

• Pencils

• Loose-leaf paper

• Water Bottle

Units:

• Theory:

  • Staff, Clefs, Notes

  • Rhythm

  • Pitch

  • Musical Symbols & Terms

• Sight-Singing:

  • Rhythmic

  • Melodic

• Rehearsal skills

  • posture, singing when asked, silent when director is speaking, not getting out of seat without permission, following instructions, following classroom procedures, etc.

• Choral ensemble skills 

  • tone, intonation, balance, blend, diction, etc.

• Concert etiquette

  • onstage and offstage behavior expectations

Major Assessments: (teacher-created)

• Mid-term Exam

• Final Exam

Daily Assignments:

• Bellwork questions

  • Review of content material covered in previous class(es)

Stretches & warm-ups

• Warm-up physically and vocally to prepare for rehearsal and learn new musical and vocal concepts

Sight-singing

• Rhythmic and melodic exercises to drill musical literacy

Rehearsal

• Preparation for concert performance

Homework:

• Music Theory (8 Prepare assessments per quarter)

• Sheet Music Coloring (2 Rehearse assessments per quarter)

  • These assignments help students drill their music literacy skills by identifying measure numbers, tempo markings, dynamic markings, repeat signs, articulations, meter, key signature, and accidentals.

• Sheet Music Projects (1 Perform assessments per quarter)

  • These assignments help students identify key elements to a piece of music including time signature and key signature. These assignments also help them learn what symbols mean in music and apply those symbols to the music they are performing.

• Late assignments will be accepted for a grade until one week (5 school days) after the “Perform” date. Late penalties of no more than 10 points per week (unless absent) will be deducted for late work (using a 100 point scale). Assignments submitted after the “Perform” date will receive a 50% and feedback on progress will be provided to the student.

Class Rehearsal Skills

• Rehearsal Skills are vital to the success of the group and the music-making process.

  • Positive Rehearsal Skills:

    • Be in your seat with materials and silent when the director is speaking.

    • Keep healthy posture when singing

    • Follow all instructions

    • Sing when asked

    • Listen and follow along when you are not singing

    • Do not get out of your seat without permission

  • Negative Rehearsal Skills

    • Talking

    • Sitting idle

    • Doing work for another class

    • Distracting others

    • Not singing

    • Being disrespectful

Prepare = 20%

• Rehearsal skills, theory homework, concert evaluations

Rehearse = 30%

• Sheet Music Coloring assignments, music theory unit tests

Perform = 50%

• Concerts, performances, sheet music projects, mid-term exam, final exam

Grading Scale:

• 90-100 = A

• 80-89 = B

• 70-79 = C

• 60-69 = D

• 0-59 = F

Attendance:

• Attendance in any musical ensemble is crucial to not only the individual student, but the entire group. Elements such as balance, blend, and particular phrasing cannot be addressed when there are musicians missing from the section. If at all possible, please do not miss class!

• If you are sick and cannot sing for the day, you must have a note from your doctor or parent excusing you from participating in that day’s rehearsal. No note = required to sing. Refusal to sing without a note could result in a zero for the participation grade and/or ISS for the period.

Promptness:

• Students should arrive to class on time with their music binder and classroom materials needed for the day.

• Students who are late without a note will be marked unexcused tardy in PowerSchool and will receive necessary consequences due to NWSA school policy.

• After entering the classroom, students should drop off their bookbag and report to their assigned seat quietly with their materials and begin working on their Bellwork assignment immediately.

Passes:

• If a student needs to leave the classroom, they must have their Agenda with initials from the teacher.

• Only one student out of the classroom at a time.

• Students are not permitted to leave the classroom during the first 10 minutes or the last 10 minutes of class.

Behavior expectations (same as Rehearsal Skills):

• Be in your seat with materials and silent when the director is speaking.

• Keep healthy posture when singing

• Follow all instructions

• Sing when asked

• Listen and follow along when you are not singing

• Do not get out of your seat without permission

Food/Drink in classroom:

• Food, chewing gum, and drink are not permitted in the classroom

• Only water (not flavored) is acceptable in the classroom

Dress code/electronic device usage

• Students must adhere to the NWSA and CMS dress code policy.

• This includes no hats!

• Students will place their cell phones in their backpacks.

• They may charge their phone.

• If the cell phone is out at their seat, it will be taken and turned into the office and must be picked up by a parent at the end of the school day.

• Students may use Chromebooks during class for instructional or educational purposes when given permission to do so.  

• Students must adhere to the CMS Internet Acceptable Use Policy.

Tutoring:

• Tutoring is available Monday afternoons from 2:30-3:30 PM when there are no rehearsals scheduled.

• Tutoring can also be arranged for other times as long as the student or parent schedules an appointment in advance.

Online Tutorials and Websites:

• On music theory: http://www.musictheory.net/lessons

• On music terminology: dictionary.onmusic.org