Fond du Lac High School Choral Department Syllabus
Mr. Schneider & Mrs. Zeitler
“We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Aristotle
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! We are very excited for the start of this year and the many wonderful choral activities we have planned. Our choral program has a rich tradition in the Fond du Lac community and we are once again ready to embrace the tradition of fine choral singing. As you can see by the attached calendar of choral concerts and events, we have many great choral events to prepare, perform and share with our school and the Fond du Lac community.
The rewards of being a choir member are many. Sacrifice, hard work, and commitment make these rewards a reality. A choir is often compared to a team or a community of learners; a team or a community needs to know what to expect in order to be able to work together. Being a part of a good choir is an experience that you will never forget. Like most things in life, the biggest rewards come to those who give the most. Being excellent is often a lot of plain old hard work! But the prize at the end and the process of the learning journey is indescribable, and in the end, it is worth every ounce of work we will put into it!
General Expectations
Be Respectful Be Responsible Be Safe Be On Time
These four pillars of success are a common theme at Fond du Lac High School. In the choral classroom, we will use these pillars to develop and nurture a positive rehearsal environment everyday. Below is a breakdown of how these relate to our daily expectations.
Be Respectful
* Respect those around you
* Respect the materials and property of the classroom
* Respect the sanctity of the rehearsal environment
Be Responsible
* Bring binder, pencil, and Chromebook to every rehearsal
* Come ready to work (gum-free!) and be an active contributor
* Cell phones may be used to enhance the learning experience (when instructed to do so), otherwise they should be placed on cubbies or in backpack.
Be Safe
* Place all personal belongings in cubbies (not in the music hallway!)
* Make vocal health a daily priority - stay hydrated!
* Keep the room clutter-free, take all materials with you each day
Be On Time
* Be in your assigned seat
* Be present and on time to all rehearsals and performances
* Be on time with all assignments, tests, quizzes, and forms
Technology Expectations
Your cell phone and Chromebook are a part of today’s society and culture. Demonstrating how to use this technology appropriately is critical to becoming a responsible citizen. Cell phones may be used to enhance the learning experience (when instructed to do so), otherwise they should be put on cubbies or in backpack. Chromebooks should be brought to every rehearsal, but should be put away in your backpack unless instructed to have it with you on the risers. School policy will be followed for students choosing not to abide by this policy. Consequences may include but are not limited to: verbal warning, phone call home, meeting with student and/or parents, detention, referral to office, etc.
Grading
Remember that choir is a class for which you will receive a grade that applies toward the honor roll, academic credit, and graduation. Both formative and summative assessments will be used to demonstrate your proficiency towards each area of study.
We will be utilizing standards based instruction and assessment. Your grade will consist of the following standards:
Standard: A.12.3
Sing with expression and technical accuracy a large and varied repertoire of vocal literature. (Musical Artistry)
Standard: A.12.5
Demonstrate well-developed ensemble skills.
Standard: E.12.5
Sight-read, accurately and expressively.
Standard: F.12.6
Demonstrate extensive knowledge of the technical vocabulary of music.
Standard: G.12.4
Apply and refine specific criteria for making informed critical evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of performances, compositions, arrangements, or improvisations and apply the criteria in their participation in music.
Standard: I.12.4
Classify music by culture or historical period based on characteristic styles or genres and justify their classification.
Standard: FHS.12.4
Expression
Standard: FHS
Work Habits (does not affect your grade or GPA)
Cardinal Time will be utilized for intervention, reassessments and enrichment opportunities. More will be announced in how this will operate as the year progresses.
Voice check reassessment expectations: In order to reassess, you must have representation of every other voice part with you. All students attending must sign up for Mr. Schneider or Mrs. Zeitler during a designated Cardinal Time to reassess.
CONCERT & DRESS REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE
Concert (and dress rehearsal) attendance is required of all members of all choruses at FHS. Concerts are the culmination of weeks of preparation, musical development and ensemble building. In chorus you have a unique opportunity to share your hard work with peers, parents, and the entire Fond du Lac community. It is a high honor to perform. Your fellow chorus members count on you for vocal, physical and moral support.
If you have an unavoidable conflict, please inform your director as soon as you know or a minimum three weeks prior. All concert absences must be followed up with parental contact via the Concert Absence Form to Mr. Schneider or Mrs. Zeitler to determine if the absence can be excused. This form can also be found on the choir website. Work does not constitute an excused absence from a dress rehearsal or concert. Clear your work schedule now, while there is still plenty of time. Tell your employer when your concerts/rehearsals occur so there will be no misunderstandings about your concert commitments.
There are no make-up opportunities for unexcused absences from performances or dress rehearsals. An unexcused absence may also result in the loss of permission to continue in the East HS choral music program. If you do not plan to attend the concerts, you should not be in this course!
If you lack transportation for a concert or rehearsal, please ask a director for help. We want you to be there and we will work to make that happen – but we need to know so that we can help!
REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE
Each individual is a component of the choir’s success, attendance at all rehearsals is expected. Unlike many other disciplines, the work missed in a choir rehearsal cannot be made-up in the traditional sense. The experience cannot be replicated.
The directors reserve the right to deny permission to any member of the group to perform in any concert based on the number of rehearsal absences, rehearsal participation and conduct, or any other insufficient rehearsal preparation. Unexcused absences from rehearsal may also result in the loss of permission to continue in the FHS choral music program. If you do not plan to be in daily rehearsals, you should not be in this course!
Classroom Materials
Black binder (3 ring)
Pencil
1 box of Kleenex (or more)
Concert dress (see below)
Concert Dress
All choir students will be required to wear a specific uniform for all performances.
Women’s Chorale, Varsity Treble, Varsity Men
Plain black dress pants (no jeans!)
Black dress shoes, black socks, or nylons
Plain black dress shirt/blouse (no polo shirts please)
Concert Choir Men Concert Choir & Concert Treble Women
Fondy Choir Robes Fondy Choir Robes
Black short sleeved T-shirt under robe Black short sleeved T-shirt under robe
Black Dress Pants Shorts
Black Dress Socks Nude Nylons
Black Dress shoes Black dress shoes (flats only)
Choir Calendar
Please put the attached concert dates on your calendar and in your student planner and make them a priority when scheduling work hours or other events. Please check the FHS Music Department website www.fondymusic.com for the most up to date calendar!
Fundraising Accounts
Our FHS choral program takes a major trip during the spring of even number years. It is our goal to have every student in our program travel with us on the trip that the student is eligible to travel. Each student can fundraise money to use for their trip, and possibly pay their entire trip balance! There are two different accounts that students can access:
Music Parents’ Scrip: For the Music Parents’ Scrip, families can purchase scrip through the FDL Music Parents Association. When you use the scrip at local businesses, a portion of the money will be reimbursed back to the your account. This year, we are allowing FHS students to drop off and pick up Music Parents Scrip with Mr. Schneider. The first drop off date is Thursday, September 8th. Scrip will then be available the following Thursday at Scrip To Go in the PAC Lobby from 3:00-5:30 pm. If it isn’t picked up then, it will be delivered to the student the next day at FHS.
FHS Choral Account: This account accumulates money through a variety of fundraisers throughout the year. Families can inquire about the balance of their FHS Choral Account at any time by contacting Mr. Schneider.
Voice Lesson Program
Once again this year, we will be offering students the opportunity to study voice individually with a private voice teacher. This is an optional service that we are providing to all of our chorus students. A student’s grade in chorus will not be affected if they do or don’t take voice lessons. The main goal of these lessons is to help the individual student become more comfortable with their vocal skills and vocal independence, thus improving their self-confidence and self-esteem.
Students in voice lessons will be scheduled during a study hall, lunch, Cardinal time or merit. Each lesson will be 35 minutes in length and will cost $12 per lesson ($108 per segment). Lessons will begin during the week of September 26 and will continue weekly until the beginning of May. The student will be responsible for paying the voice teacher directly during the first week of lessons. The choir teachers are not be responsible for any money paid directly to the voice instructors. Mr. Schneider and Mrs. Zeitler will assign students to specific voice teachers based on the student’s vocal needs.
More information will be handed out in rehearsals during the first few weeks of school.
Success is all about building relationships!
When talent stops, effort kicks in!
This is our ensemble, not my ensemble, and we will be successful together!