Choir Syllabus

Primary Objectives: 

1. Students will learn to enjoy singing and use the full capacity of their voice. 

2. Students will sing in a variety of styles of music with a strong foundation. 

3. Students will perform in concerts to the best of their ability and learn proper concert etiquette.

4. Students will refine their musicianship and singing skills (sight-reading, vocal technique, listening skills, study of foreign languages, etc.).

5. Students will perform throughout the Mishawaka area and seek to have a positive impact in their school & community through performing music. 

Academic Credit: One Fine Arts Credit (1 honors credit for Chamber Choir) 

Grading:

30% Rehearsal Participation 

20% In-class assignments/Homework

50% Concert Attendance 

Classroom Rules: 

1. Respect the music   2. Respect each other   3. Respect yourself  

Rehearsal Participation:

There will be 10 points awarded every class day. If you are on time, prepared, and participate, you will receive all 10 points. You will lose 5 points if you are late without a pass. You will lose 2 points if you do not have your music. You will lose 2 points if you do not have a pencil. You will lose 7 points if you fall asleep in class. Points will be taken away at the teacher's discretion for disruptive behavior. Cell phone use will also result in a deduction of points.

Cell phones are not allowed during rehearsal time.  If a student is using their cell phone in class, they will be given a chance to set it on the teacher's table or take it to the office.

Food and drinks are not allowed in the choir room.  Water is allowed as long as the cup or bottle has a lid.

Concert Attendance: 

Concerts are required in all choir classes! Failure to perform at a concert without a reasonable excuse will result in a score of zero. A medical note from a doctor or a detailed note from a parent are required to be excused from a concert. In lieu of performing in a required concert, students will be assigned a 3-5 page paper. 

Required Concerts for Grade: 

Fall Semester: 

Fall Choir Concert: All Choirs 

Vespers: Treble & Chamber Choir 

Winter Concert: Show & Concert Choir

Spring Semester: 

ISSMA Solo & Ensemble (optional, except Chamber Choir)

ISSMA Organizational: All Choirs 

Spring Choir Concert: All Choirs 

May Festival of Fine Arts: All Choirs 

*** See the Choir Calendar for a complete list of dates & events ***

Required Dress for Concerts: 

Concert Choir: MHS Choir Robe (provided),  Black Pants/Skirt with Black Dress Shoes 

Treble Choir: Jumpsuit (provided) with Black Dress Shoes 

Show Choir: Costumes (provided), Rehearsal and Performance Shoes

Chamber Choir: Tuxedos and Concert Dresses (provided), with Black Dress Shoes 

***Failure to dress correctly for concerts will result in 50% loss of concert grade*** 

Miscellaneous Information 

Auditioning for Advanced Choirs: 

Treble Choir, Show Choir, and Chamber Choir are auditioned choirs offered primarily to 10-12 grades. Students may audition at the end of the school year to move to an advanced group. Please understand that there is limited space available in the advanced choirs and not all students who audition may be accepted. Please keep in mind that student behavior and talent will both be considered when auditioning for the advanced groups. 

MHS Late Work Policy:

• This late work policy is intended to provide consistent guidance for teachers and to encourage students to submit work on time and to be present in school for assessments. 

• Homework and classwork: Students at Mishawaka High School are expected to hand in assignments on the assigned due dates and to take quizzes and tests with their classes. Late work will be penalized by a deduction in points (off the original points available) and then graded by the teacher.

Rubric of expectations and penalties for late work:

Dual credit Honors and AP (all grade levels) General - 9-12

University rules 25% late penalty (penalty is assessed 20% late penalty (penalty is assessed

one time per assignment).  (Off total one time per assignment). (Off total

points available.) points available.)

Max of 2 weeks or end of unit/module Max of 2 weeks or end of unit/module

to hand in late work. to hand in late work. 

Example: For instance, an assignment is worth 100 points and the student would have scored 80.  The 20% deduction is off the 100 points (-20), so the student receives a 60 (80% grade - 20 points for late).

• Assessments: Students who are absent for quizzes and tests must make up all summative assessments. Teachers will work with students to make appointments to make up assessments. These make-up times may be before or after school, during advisory, or at another time approved by the teacher. If the student does not take the assessment on the agreed-upon date or by the teacher-given deadline, the student will receive a two-hour Thursday school (assigned by the teacher). If the student does not attend the Thursday school, an all-day ISS will be scheduled.  The intention is that students will make up assessments on Thursdays, either with the teacher in the classroom (and then go to Thursday school) or in the Thursday school setting. 

• Points deducted off of late assessments will be at the discretion of the teacher, up to 20% or 25% depending on the level of the class. Students who are truant or have unexcused absences must take assessments.

• Teachers may, and often do, give different make-up assessments.

Continuous Grading

• Mishawaka High School uses a continuous grading system for semester grades. The entire semester grade is a minimum of 80% and the final exam will be a maximum of 20%. Weighting of the final, up to 20%, will be at the discretion of the teacher (excluding dual-credit courses).

• Progress Reports: Six-week progress reports are available to students and parents, but these grades will not be calculated as 30% of the semester grade.

• What this means for students and teachers:

  • This allows for grades to be more reflective of work done throughout the semester rather than forcing the work of one term to be worth 30% when that may not accurately reflect the proportionality of the work relative to the entire semester.

  • This supports mastery grading: grading that focuses on learning and demonstration of skills and content. Mastery does not always happen on a 6-week schedule.

  • This allows summative assessments to fall more naturally into the curricular flow and does not force them to occur within certain terms/weeks.

  • This takes into consideration that teachers do not typically cover the same amount of content in each of the 6-week terms, or in the beginning of the semester as they do in the end of the semester.

***This syllabus is subject to change***