Frequently Asked Questions
Does my student need to audition for Chorus?
No! My sixth grade class is open to both students with a lot of musical experience and those with none at all. This course assumes no prior knowledge and begins with the fundamentals of singing and reading music.
I've heard about Chamber Choir and Accelerated Chorus. How can my student join these groups?
At the end of the sixth and seventh grade year, all chorus students take a placement test that will determine their class for the following year. As seventh and eighth graders, they will be placed in either the “on-level” Concert Chorus or the “accelerated” class, which includes multiple advanced ensembles. Students that are new to the chorus program or SFMS may also take the placement test if they have previous music experience.
Bear in mind that the accelerated class is as the name implies. Enrollment in this course is quite selective, as all members need to showcase a certain level of music literacy, vocal ability, and rehearsal demeanor.
What is the after school time commitment for being a Chorus student?
Typical Chorus students have four (4) concerts that they are required to attend after school hours, roughly one per quarter. These are most often hosted in the evenings around 7PM. They will also put on a Chorus Festival performance during school hours as a “field trip.” All other opportunities are optional, and the vast majority of the work is given and completed during class time.
Students in our Accelerated ensembles usually have a more robust calendar, including additional performances and some outside-of-school rehearsals.
How much does Chorus cost?
Our dues are typically around $100 for the year, depending on the grade and ensemble that your student is in. This figure includes our uniform, t-shirt or other merch, travel expenses, venue rentals, piano accompanist fees, and event registrations. This fee covers the cost of all required Chorus to-dos -- we won’t ask for more money unless your student is pursuing an extracurricular opportunity.
*Beginning the 2022-2023 school year, Sheet Music is no longer included in the Chorus fee, as this is now covered by County funding. This allowed us to lower Chorus fees by 20-33%.
Can my student drop Chorus in the middle of the year?
No. Joining Chorus (and/or Band) at SFMS is a year-long commitment. We want the students to see the commitment through to the end; a lot of the hard work and struggle comes during the first half of the year, whereas the self-improvement and rewarding experiences come at the end. Over 94% of chorus students that make it to the end of the year choose to return the following year. Stick with it!
How do I register my student for Chorus?
We have an online form that families can use to select Year-Long connections classes at SFMS.