Course Description:
The Middle School Choral program provides an opportunity for students to rehearse and perform high quality, challenging literature and to develop musicianship and understanding of their voice. Students will improve their knowledge of music notation, terminology, theory and history through lessons connected to the music rehearsed. Choral students meet twice each week as a class in which general music concepts are taught in conjunction with the choral repertoire that is to be memorized for our concert performance. **Please note that additional morning rehearsals may be scheduled before concerts, in addition to pull-outs from class or FLEX during the school day in preparation for concert performances.
Grading Policy:
Class Participation: 50% All Quarters
Students are singing at an audible level on the risers, in rehearsals, and concerts during warm-ups and while learning our concert repertoire. Students are engaged in the learning process, singing with handsigns, proper singing technique, and their overall "best selves."
Riser Etiquette: 20% All Quarters
Students are following the MMS school norms and respecting the choral classroom, riser performance space, and adhering to the expectations of the class.
Classwork & Preparation: 10% All Quarters
Students should be keeping up with their class sight-reading packets and completing all assignments posted in Google Classroom such as listening journals or any assignment posted in GC with a due date.
Vocal Technique: 10% All Quarters
Students develop their knowledge of good vocal technique and appropriately demonstrate the techniques during class.
Quizzes : 10% Q1 and Q3
Students should expect to have 1 quiz grade per quarter based on the class curriculum and music lessons taught that quarter.Â
CONCERT PERFORMANCES : 10% Q2 and Q4
All MMS music ensembles are required to put on two public performances each school year in the form of our Winter and Spring concerts. Participation in concerts is a valuable, culminating experience for students in all of our music ensembles in the Darien Public Schools. The dates and times are posted before the school year begins and students are expected to plan accordingly. All absenses MUST be communicated directly to the ensemble teacher AS SOON AS KNOWN. The concert participation grade is based on, but not limited to, the following: arriving on time and participating appropriately during the concert prep, the performance, and demonstrating proper concert etiquette while the other student ensembles perform.