25-26 Choral Handbook

6th Grade Chorus

7th & 8th Grade Chorus (7&8 group chorus will now meet on Thursdays during remediation period)

Middle School Select Chorus (This is an auditioned ensemble of approximately 30 6th, 7th, & 8th grade choral students.  It will begin during Q2 and meet on Tuesdays during remediation.  Students interested in being in the MS Select Chorus must maintain good academic standing in their other classes to be eligible for participation.  

High School Chorus

Chorus is an elective course open to all students in grades 6-12. The chorus performs at various events and concerts throughout the school year.  Events which are currently scheduled are listed on the pack of this booklet.  All chorus students are required to attend the winter and spring concerts. Participation and attendance is expected at all rehearsals during school and at both concerts. Failure to do so will negatively affect your grade. This is not a singing study hall.  Come to chorus ready to sing!

Remember, the success of the entire ensemble is the responsibility of each individual! 

During this course, students will obtain and develop a variety of skills. These skills include, but are not limited to:

· Recognize & perform various musical styles

· Develop performance and singing skills as an individual and in an ensemble setting

· Read and interpret music notation

· Analyze, critique, and listen to music

· Develop ear-training and sight-singing skills

BE POSITIVE!!   Come to rehearsal ready to begin on a positive “note.”  Put all other worries, anxieties, and problems aside and take in all that you can during our rehearsal time. 

If you ever have any questions regarding your chorus grade, please contact Mrs. Paouncic – paouncicl@apolloridge.com

Grading breakdown for each marking period.

Quarter 1 & 3 — Daily Points 100%

Quarter 2 & 4 — Daily Points 50% / Performances 50%

• Daily Points / Ensemble Skills - Daily points are given during each class period to encourage and reward proper rehearsal participation. This includes showing energy, focus, and concentration, having good posture, marking your music with a pencil, and working hard to meet the objectives for each rehearsal. You may lose points for behaviors such as tardiness, excessive talking, disrupting class, missing music/folder or pencil, chewing gum, eating food or candy at inappropriate times, cell phone use, and lack of participation during rehearsal or warm-ups.

• Performances— The winter and spring concerts are mandatory events which are a required part of this class.  They will count as 50% of your quarter 2 and quarter 4 grades.  Points will be deducted for inappropriate attire (not adhering to the concert dress uniform), improper concert etiquette, unexcused tardy, unexcused absences, etc... Think of these concerts as your semester final.  The dates are listed on the back of this handbook, are posted on the school website, on our Facebook page, and will also be listed on the monthly newsletter. 

Exhibit Positive and Effective Behavior in Class and on Stage.  Students not meeting classroom expectations may be subject to the loss of their daily points. 

• Take pride in respecting classmates, director, and all property/equipment.

• No gum-chewing, disruptive talking, texting, and other disruptive behaviors.

• No phones.

• No food or drinks in the choral room (water is acceptable).

• Be prompt to class!

• Be positive & supportive of others. We are all learning & improving our skills together for one common goal.

• Do your best & don’t be afraid to try! By applying yourself the best way you can, you will improve your own skills and help the choir achieve our greatest performances.

RESTROOMS/LEAVING THE ROOM

Only FIVE students will be permitted to use the restroom per class period.  All restroom requests must be made PRIOR to warm-ups.  During rehearsals, any time a student leaves the room (restroom, office, nurse, guidance, etc..), they MUST sign out via E-Hall Pass.  

WARMUPS

Vocal warmups are a regular part of our rehearsals and serve to get our total instrument in shape.  Use this time to focus your mind on singing and rehearsal, not catching up on the latest gossip or eating! Use this time to get rid of any gum. 

All A-R Choral students are expected to participate in every rehearsal.  If you are too ill to be singing, you are still asked to follow along and make notes in your music as if you would normally participate.  This way, you are still getting the information we are covering without straining your voices. 

It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to tell Mrs. Paouncic at the beginning of class if there is a situation where you are unable to sing.  

If you are too ill to follow along, you should be in the nurse’s office or at home.  There is to be no other homework done or sleeping in this class at any time.  Students who simply choose not to participate in choral rehearsals will be subject to loss the of their daily points. 

Mandatory Concert Dates

Dec. 15 - Winter Choral Concert @ 7PM

May 13 - Spring Choral Concert @ 7PM

The winter and spring concerts are mandatory events which are a required part of this class, BUT I understand that life happens and there will be instances where you are unable to attend the concerts. 

· Excused Absences: Obviously, there are legitimate reasons for missing a concert, such as a death in the family, prior engagements which are out of your control, family vacations, illness, etc.  These absences must be communicated with Mrs. Paouncic PRIOR to the concert.  Approved excused absences will be given an alternative assignment.  This assignment MUST be completed by the specified date or it will not be accepted. 

· Unexcused Absences: Work is not an excuse to miss a concert. You know the dates for these commitments well in advance and are expected to make the proper arrangements to be in attendance. Attendance at the concert is mandatory. Unexcused absences will be offered an alternative assignment to PARTIALLY make up the concert points.  This must be arranged with Mrs. Paouncic.  The alternative assignment MUST be completed by the specified date or it will not be accepted. 

HIGH SCHOOL DRESS CODE FOR CONCERTS - AR Choral Robes

Beginning with the 2024-2025 school  year, members of the Apollo-Ridge High School Chorus will perform for concerts and festivals in the Apollo-Ridge High School Choral Robes.  These robes were graciously purchased by our Apollo-Ridge Education Foundation during the 23-24 school year.  Each student within the ensemble will be assigned a specific robe.  Each student will be responsible for their specific robe. Other than for choral festivals, robes shall not leave our school.  Upon returning from festivals, all robes are to be returned to Mrs. Paouncic by the following school day.  Students are required to wear their school appropriate clothing UNDER their choral robes.  Think "Sunday's Best".  

ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR DRINKS (other than plain water) ARE TO BE CONSUMED OR HANDLED WHILE IN ROBES. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL DRESS CODE FOR CONCERTS - Concert Black

• Tops - Plain Black shirt/blouse.  No tank tops or strapless tops.  

• Bottoms – Long black pants or long black skirt.  Black socks or black nylons.  No skin should be showing from the hip to the floor. If choosing to wear a dress or skirt, it must also be ankle length.  

• Shoes - Black shoes. Try to avoid high heels.  

All articles of clothing must meet our school dress code.  No tank tops and no midriff showing.  

• Hair is to be styled to be kept off the face.

• Avoid large pieces of jewelry. 

• Minimal designs or embellishments on clothing – this includes stripes, glitter, and sequins.  

The goal is for a uniform look throughout the chorus.  No one should stand out. WE ARE ONE!

If you are unable to obtain the appropriate clothing pieces described above, please contact Mrs. Paouncic at least ONE WEEK before the concerts.  We have a variety of black clothing items in the choral closet for those who are in need.  Students who do not arrive in their concert dress uniform will receive a reduction in points for the activity and may not be permitted to perform with the group. 

Note: As part of your concert dress uniform, please remember to wear appropriate undergarments.  We will be performing in front of spotlights.  Some shirts and clothing pieces may cover differently with very bright lights shown at them.  Be aware of this when choosing a what to wear.

Every student who participates in an A-R MS/HS choral ensembles must participate in a yearly placement audition with Mrs. Paouncic.  This audition is to hear how your voice has developed over the past year and get you placed into a vocal section (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass).  It is NOT an audition to see how ‘good’ you are.  I need to hear how high and low you can sing to place you onto a voice part which matches your range.  There are no “good” or “bad” auditions.  

Please trust that you will be placed where you are NEEDED within our ensembles.  

• Students who are interested in being considered for solos or participating in choral festivals (County Chorus, District 3 Chorus, etc.) will may be required to audition for the specific activity/event.  These additional auditions will be announced throughout the year.  A list of the festival dates is listed on the back of this handbook. 

• Festivals are broken into two groups—Junior festivals-Grades 7, 8, 9 and Senior festivals-10, 11, 12.  Students wishing to be considered for chorus festivals will be selected from these two grade level groups. 

Jr. Festivals-Armstrong Jr. County Chorus and Jr. District Chorus

Sr. Festivals-Armstrong Sr. County Chorus, District 3 Chorus, Region 2 Chorus, PMEA All-State Chorus, NAfME National Chorus.

• Each member will be assigned a choral folder and corresponding folder slot in the chorus room.  This is where your choral music is to be kept.  YOU are responsible for YOUR folder. This folder will be used EVERY DAY and it should not leave the chorus room. 

• Students wishing to sign-out their choral folder from the choral room must see Mrs. Paouncic.  If students choose to take their folder with them, you are still responsible for bringing it to ALL rehearsals.  Not having your choral folder at rehearsals will result in a loss of daily points.

MARK YOUR MUSIC 

Keep a pencil in your choral folder.  A pencil is a must at all rehearsals!  During rehearsals, it is absolutely essential that you mark your music so that when you come back to piece, you will be reminded of what we worked on previously.  Don’t wait for me to tell you to mark something.  The more serious you take your involvement and responsibilities, the better the performance the group will be capable of giving to your audience. 

The AR Chorus Boosters provide financial support, scholarships, fundraising opportunities, and volunteers for various aspects of the choral music program. Volunteers do such things as chaperoning trips, organizing student appreciation events, assisting with fundraising, helping to plan behind the scenes and assist at musical events. Parents/guardians who would like to be a member of our boosters group, please contact Mrs. Paouncic.  Our meetings are typically in the chorus room at 5:30pm on the first Thursday of each month.  All meeting dates and information will be posted to the Apollo-Ridge Viking Chorus Facebook page and listed on the monthly news letters that are sent home with students. 

• Throughout the year, we will be fundraising for various things, including a spring music trip! In order to fund your expenses for any and all trips taken with the A-R Chorus, you will be given the option to participate in fundraisers. Typically, we will participate in at least four fundraisers each school year.

• The profits from your fundraising activities will be kept in your chorus account.  If you fundraise more than the required expense for your trips, don’t worry! Your profit will always be kept in your account as long as you are a member of the choir and you may use that money to fund future trips/expenses with the chorus!

• Your individual account is not available for anything other than choral expenses within your time spent in AR Chorus. Once you graduate or if you leave the choral program for more than one year, any remaining amount in your choral account will be automatically be moved into the general choral fund.

• Funds may only be transferred between siblings.  You are not permitted to transfer funds between friends.  Any transfer of funds between siblings must be requested in writing by a parent or guardian. 

Here in the A-R music department, we encourage students to participate in BOTH band and chorus.  You should not feel like you need to choose one or the other. 

• HS students will attend either band or chorus, every other day of the schedule.  It will be marked on the white boards outside the band and chorus rooms. 

• MS students will attend band on MWF and chorus on TR.

• Officer and section leaders will be chosen at the beginning of the school year.  These positions include President, Vice President, Secretary/Librarian, Treasurer, and Historian. Only students in grades 9-12, are enrolled in chorus class for the FULL YEAR, and have been a chorus member for at least 1 year will be eligible for these positions.

• As an officer and sections leader, students will work closely with Mrs. Paouncic to help lead the ensemble(s), plan events/trips, choose music, take attendance, maintain the choral library, document performances,  keep track of student accounts, and plan/execute fundraisers.