Everything you want to know about choir but were too afraid to ask.
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How do I help my student at home?
Encourage your child to practice their Sight Reading Factory and Submit SRF Karate Levels. Always be positive and encouraging.
What in the world are my children talking about?
Find definitions to frequently used choir terminology on our Glossary Page
Isn’t Junior High Choir the same as Elementary School Choir?
NOPE. Junior High Choir is very different from elementary school. We meet every single day, during the school day, to go over the TEKS. You get a grade (but don’t worry, everyone starts out with a 100).
Isn’t Junior High Choir BORING?
NOPE. We play learning games and have fun making music together (like in elementary choir) but we take it to the next level. We use our voice just like we would any other instrument. We work on skills (music, math, reading, etc) but our class isn’t structured like math & reading.
What if my child already sings?
With a lot of experience (or none at all), a child should choose choir in 6th grade to start building the muscles of the vocal instrument. These muscles take time to train, and just like in band and orchestra require dedicated practice. It is SO important that they sing through their voice changes; both boys AND girls have voice changes at this age!
Don’t you have to be “able to sing” to be in choir?
NOPE. While some moderate talent (or a lot of it) certainly helps, there is no requirement. Students can learn to train their vocal instrument the same way a pianist trains his or her fingers to play. Anyone can learn how to sing if they want to. That’s why Mrs. Guess & Mr. Jackson went to school: to be a singing teacher.
Choir is STILL just for girls, right?
NOPE. Choir is for everyone who loves singing. WCJH has a tradition of strong choirs comprised of girls AND boys.
My child doesn’t want to be a professional singer. Isn’t this class pointless?
NOPE. Choir has a lot of value. Most professions require that employees know how to collaborate, set goals, plan, and persevere. It is a bonus for those employees to be creative, think on their feet, think outside the box, and be able to communicate effectively. These are all skills we work on in choir. Doctors, lawyers, executives, and other high power professions need down time. What better, emotionally healthier down time than making music with a group of friends? Singing is proven to help maintain both physical and emotional health long term. What a fantastic lifelong tool!
Is there a Choir "Type"?
NOPE. Choir is for anyone who wants to be an important member of a team. We don’t have a bench. Choir is for EVERYONE who loves to perform in public - and even those who might be too shy to perform on their own. Choir members are class leaders, athletes, cheerleaders, dancers, girl scouts, boy scouts. They are tall and small. They love the spotlight and some just want to sing in the group. Everyone is welcome because we believe that every child has a voice. We believe that the WCJH choir program should belong to any child who WANTS to be there!
What is UIL Concert & Sight Reading Evaluation?
We often simply call this event "UIL", and it ist really is an incredible event to watch and participate in. Schools from all across our Region (Region 23) participate (Katy ISD, Alief ISD, & Houston ISD) participate in this 3 day event.
Imagine that your students had to stand on a stage and demonstrate everything they learned in your class this year in front of adjudicators and anyone else who happened to wander in off the street to serve as an audience. No pressure. This is our equivalent STAAR evaluation and academic eligibility does not apply.
Students will perform 3 prepared pieces for 3 judges in their Concert portion. These pieces are selected from the Prescribed Music List and must meet a certain standard of rigor as determined by UIL for the group designation & Conference (3C Varsity vs. 3C Non Varsity, etc.) Once this portion is done, the same group (student rosters for each portion must be identical) will go into the Sight Reading room to sing a new piece of music, written specifically for the contest and kept under lock and key until performance time, for 3 different judges. Judges write comments and assign a rating from 1(superior) to 5 (poor). Students who receive 2 out of 3 Superior ratings in either room will receive a plaque. If they manage to receive at least 2 out of 3 superior ratings in BOTH rooms, they receive a sweepstakes Trophy. I hope you will ask our students what our goal is, and I hope that they will tell you this: we aren’t there for the trophy. We are aiming for the “wow”.
We know that most of you cannot attend this contest, so we would LOVE to see you at our Spring Concert (details to follow). Please wish the students luck and cheer them on in the next two weeks, and if the adults look a little dazed and glazed, you know why. We appreciate all of your support and good juju!
What is Katy Choral Festival Evaluation?
Katy Choral Festival Evaluation (KCF) is a 6th grade event which is similar to our UIL Concert & Sight Reading with the exception that our students have to be academically eligible for this event. It is a first step into the contest world, and it is held locally to help prepare them for UIL Contest in 7th Grade.
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