Concerts are a very important and required part of being in choir. One of the core standards for music in Utah schools is to perform. When a student misses a concert, they are missing the opportunity to demonstrate that they have learned many of the state standards for choir education. It is impossible to fully re-create the performance experience that is such an important part of the curriculum. A concert performance helps students demonstrate the following standards:
Standard L1.MC.P.3: Sing with an appropriate tone over an appropriate range with consideration of the following skills in combination: Vowels and diction, Placement, Correct breathing and singing posture, Vocal physiology and vocal care, Flow phonation.
Standard L1.MC.P.4: Demonstrate technical performance skills by singing correct pitches and rhythms in skill-appropriate literature.
Standard L1.MC.P.7: Perform an artistic work with technical accuracy, responding appropriately to the conductor and using musical elements to express ideas and emotions
Standard L1.MC.R.5: Judge and improve the quality of student's own musical performance using self-assessment.
Standard L1.MC.CO.3: Experience how music connects us to history, culture, heritage, community and other academic subjects.
It is understandable that there are situations where it is simply not possible to avoid a concert absence. See the following steps below.
Step 1: Try to resolve the conflict with the concert:
Many coaches and teachers understand that a concert is an infrequent, required event for students that greatly affects their grade and early communication is important.
Our concerts are less than an hour and students could frequently make at least part of a practice or rehearsal with some advance planning.
Step 2: If the conflict cannot be resolved, print and fill out the Concert Make Up Request Form and submit it to Mr. Kidd at least two weeks before the concert (or as soon as possible after the concert if due to unexpected illness). You will need to include the following information on the form:
Explain why the concert absence was unavoidable.
Find a live musical event that you can attend in place of the concert that you missed. This could be:
Another school's choir concert (middle school, high school, or college)
A musical play or an opera (middle school or higher level, including SOJO)
A community or professional choir concert (Salt Lake Choral Artists, Salt Lake Symphonic Choir, Utah Voices, Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, etc.)
Schedule a time when you can come in and sing at least one of the concert pieces from memory for Mr. Kidd.
Step 3: Submit the form to Mr. Kidd. He will give you a Vocal Performance Evaluation form.
Step 4: Go to the vocal performance event and complete the Vocal Performance Evaluation form.
Step 5: Come in and sing at least one of your songs for Mr. Kidd to demonstrate your level of preparation for the concert or performance.