• Class Information - Choirs/MIOL/Intro to Ukulele/History of Broadway Through Film/Acting 1 & 2

• Google Classroom - Codes and Information

• Class Code of Conduct, Class Rules, and Contact Form

• Grading Information

• Materials Needed

• Sight-Reading Factory

• Rehearsal Tracks for Choirs

Class Information - Choirs/MIOL/Intro to Ukulele/History of Broadway Through Film/Acting 1 & 2

Choirs: This is a year-long course that explores choral music from a wide variety of cultures and time periods through study and self- performance. The core curriculum emphasizes the basics of vocal technique, sight-reading, music theory, and music history. Students will use individual practice of repertoire, singing in class (and via submitted recordings [with NYSSMA judiciary level comments from their teacher as feedback where/when needed] using flipgrid videos), exercises in Sight-Reading factory, Music Theory (Three Minute Theory lessons & Musictheory.net), group & individual projects, along with in person class time and zoom office meetings (where needed). Students will grow as lifelong musicians. Students will work to develop their skills to meet our state and national standards in music education. 

MIOL/Music in our Lives - This class is a non-performance course that explores the elements and history of music.  It encourages students to view music as an ingredient of the student’s own life, and of human life in all cultures. Students should be able to answer the question: "what is music and its role in my (our) lives?"  MIOL uses history as a resource for understanding of how music has fulfilled basic human purposes in other ages and present times.  Students will be able to describe the particular synthesis of elements in a given musical work that makes it unique, interesting, and expressive as well as demonstrate knowledge of the technical vocabulary of music. Students develop skills for making informed, critical judgments about the quality and effectiveness of performances, compositions, and arrangements in various styles.  Students will become more critical listeners of music that they select for personal listening, based on increased knowledge, insight, and experience. This course surveys music and its role in our lives.  It is an active study of how music says who we are as human beings, and how we express ourselves through music.  It engages students in listening and in learning interpretive skills. Class units cover a range of human experience and expression in music. A variety of instructional methods will be used, including online instruction/zoom meetings, in-class lectures, group and individual exercises and discussion, listening examples, and online assignments.

Intro to Ukulele - In this course students will learn to play the ukulele both as a soloist and as part of a larger ensemble. Students will learn/use Music Theory, Chords, Notes, Strumming techniques, and will learn/perform a varied amount of repertoire. 

History of Broadway Through Film: Exploring the History of the Broadway Musical Through Film is a class that explores the history and evolution of Broadway musical theater, one of America’s great music/dramatic art forms. In addition to watching the different productions, students will learn/discuss different/diverse major figures involved in the Broadway Musicals including composers, lyricists, producers, directors, choreographers, performers, and conductors. Throughout the course, we will discuss/watch the evolving elements that make up the Broadway musical, starting with its rich and varied beginnings, viewing and listening to its evolution to the present. 

Acting 1 & 2 - These courses will provide students with an opportunity to discover their talent in acting or to develop a talent that they may already have. The courses will explore improvisation, monologue techniques and scene acting with emphasis placed on the students’ ability to communicate publicly. They will also work on vocal projection, body movement, and dialect speech. There is no prerequisite for Acting I and the prerequisite for Acting II is either successful completion of Acting I or the permission of the teacher. 

Class Code of Conduct, Class Rules, Contact Form - 

This year we will not be handing out our class code of conduct, class rules, or contact form on paper. 

This year everything that needs to be signed will be completed online via google forms in your google classroom. 

All shared paperwork MUST be filled out during the first full week of class, and counts for a grade in your average (yes, it is mandatory). 

All digital paperwork will be shared with the students in the first full week of class. 

Google Classroom - Codes and Information

Google Classroom Codes for choirs (sign up for all applicable classes) - 

• Choir Days 1/3  -

• Choir Days 2/4 - 

• Concert Choir - 

• Treble Choir -

• Select Choir - 

Google Classroom Code for MIOL -

Google Classroom Code for Intro to Ukulele - 

Google Classroom Code for History of Broadway Through Film - 

Google Classroom Code for Acting 1 & 2 - 

Grading Information

All classes and all students have assignments due every week. Work is expected to be completed and submitted on time. 

Late work is accepted, however, students MUST text/email their teacher when they are submitting a late assignment.

AN ASSIGNMENT IS LATE WHEN IT IS COMPLETED/SUBMITTED AFTER THE POSTED DUE DATE. IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED/COMPLETED WORK AFTER THE DUE DATE, YOU MUST TEXT/EMAIL YOUR TEACHER THAT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED THE WORK!!!

Choirs Grading Information:

• 60% Classwork/Participation - 

  • This includes but is not limited to: attendance in class, Informal performance checks, worksheets, participation during virtual warm-ups and rehearsals, showing engagement during remote and in person learning, and attendance at Zoom Class meetings (where/if needed).

• 30% Weekly Assignments - 

  • This includes but is not limited to: Sight-Reading Factory weekly assessment (5% of grade), weekly 3 minute music theory assignments/lessons/google form, vocal technique, Song of the Week/SOTW (if used), different choral literature learned and analyzed, and other repertoire based instruction/activities . 

• 10% Formal Assessments (can include required submitted recordings) - 

  •  This includes but is not limited to:  Students submitting a recording of their assigned song/music for the week using a recording flip grid, Kahoot games, Gimkit, Peardeck, Quizlet, Google Form Quizzes, and other different methods to assess music theory/vocal technique/other instructional objectives from the week and marking period. Wherever we can, pen and paper work will be used, in person, in class. 

• Final Exam counts as 20%  of final class grade

MIOL Grading Information:

• Assignments - Daily, Unit, and Special Projects  - 25%

  • This includes but is not limited to: unit assignments, weekly music theory assignments/google forms, content assignments, Song of the Week/SOTW (if used), different genres/literature discussed and analyzed, and other content based instruction/activities . 

• Preparedness, Participation, and Effort  - 25% 

  • This includes but is not limited to: attendance in class, Informal performance checks, worksheets, participation during virtual warm-ups and rehearsals, showing engagement during remote and in person learning, and attendance at Zoom Class meetings (where/if needed).

• Daily Classwork, Daily/Weekly Class Participation   - 20%

  • This includes but is not limited to: attendance in class/attendance at Zoom Class meetings, Informal content checks, worksheets, participation during virtual/in-person activities, showing engagement during remote and in person learning.

• Projects (large/small), handouts, assessments - 25%

  • This includes but is not limited to:  Students submitting a summative assignment/project of their assignment for the week using google classroom, Blooket, Kahoot games, Gimkit, Peardeck, Quizlet, Google Form Quizzes, and other different methods to assess instructional objectives from the week and marking period.

• Music Theory: completing the weekly assignments in our Music Theory Workbook - 5%

• Final Exam counts as 20%  of final class grade

Intro to Ukulele Grading Information:

• Preparedness, Participation, and Effort  - 50% 

  • This includes but is not limited to: attendance in class, playing and participation during class and individual rehearsals, showing engagement during class, and engaging during remote learning (as needed) and in person learning, and attendance at Zoom Class meetings (where/if needed).

• Assignments - Daily, Unit, and Special Projects  - 25%

  • This includes but is not limited to: unit assignments, weekly music theory assignments/google forms, content assignments, Song of the Week/SOTW (if used), different genres/literature discussed and analyzed, and other content based instruction/activities . 

• Weekly/Unit checks of Notes/Chords/Strums    - 15 %

  • This includes but is not limited to: weekly checks of notes, chords, strums, and literature. Checks can include, but are not limited to: Blooket, Kahoot games, Gimkit, Peardeck, Quizlet, Google Form Quizzes, and other different methods to assess instructional objectives from the week and marking period.

• Tuning and Maintaining the Ukulele - 10%

• Final Exam counts as 20%  of final class grade

History of Broadway Through Film Grading Information:

• Preparedness, Participation, and Effort  - 60% 

  • This includes but is not limited to: attendance in class, playing and participation during class movies and pre/post discussions, showing engagement during class, and engaging during remote learning (as needed) and in person learning, and attendance at Zoom Class meetings (where/if needed).

• Assignments - Daily, Unit, and Special Projects  - 30%

  • This includes but is not limited to: pre/post discussion,  musical review forms, discussion forms pre/post watching the musicals, individual work, unit assignments, weekly assignments/google forms, content assignments, Song of the Week/SOTW (if used), different genres/literature discussed and analyzed, and other content based instruction/activities . 

• Weekly/Unit Post Musical   Discussion/Review - 10 %

  • This includes but is not limited to: participating in pre/post discussion and information share. Checks can include, but are not limited to: Blooket, Kahoot games, Gimkit, Peardeck, Quizlet, Google Form Quizzes, and other different methods to assess instructional objectives from the week and marking period.

• Final Exam counts as 20%  of final class grade

Acting 1 & 2 Grading Information:

• Preparedness, Participation, and Effort  - 60% 

  • This includes but is not limited to: attendance in class, playing and participation during class and individual rehearsals, showing engagement during class, and engaging during remote learning (as needed) and in person learning, and attendance at Zoom Class meetings (where/if needed).

• Assignments - Daily, Unit, and Special Projects  - 30%

  • This includes but is not limited to: monologues, scene work, history of theatre/acting, group work, individual work, unit assignments, weekly assignments/google forms, content assignments, Song of the Week/SOTW (if used), different genres/literature discussed and analyzed, and other content based instruction/activities . 

• Weekly/Unit Improv and Theatre Games    - 10 %

  • This includes but is not limited to: participating in Improv activities and Theatre Games. Checks can include, but are not limited to: Blooket, Kahoot games, Gimkit, Peardeck, Quizlet, Google Form Quizzes, and other different methods to assess instructional objectives from the week and marking period.

• Final Exam counts as 20%  of final class grade

Materials Needed

Required Supplies: 

For Choirs:

• Black Folder

• Headphones/earbuds brought to class every day 

• Students must bring their charged Chromebook to class every day. 

• Students will be provided a code for Sight-Reading Factory, and are required to sign up for s SRF account (account is provided by the District)

For MIOL, Intro to Ukulele, History of Broadway Through Film, and Acting 1 & 2:

• Headphones/earbuds brought to class every day 

• Students must bring their charged Chromebook to class every day. 

• Students will be provided the theory textbook for class (Alfred All in One-Book 1 where applicable)

Flipgrid - if needed during the year

• How do submit recordings for my teacher? 

• The only way to submit a recording for your teacher is to use the assigned class in flipgrid.com

  • Every class has a section in flipgrid.com for submitting your videos (when required).

  • You need to join your assigned flipgrid class:

    • Choir Period 1 Days 1 & 3 - 

    • Choir Period 1 Days 2 & 4 - 

    • Concert Choir - 

    • Treble Choir - 

    • Select Choir - 

    • Music in our Lives - MIOL - 

    • Intro to Ukulele - 

    • History of Broadway Through Film - 

    • Acting 1 & 2 - 

You will need to use flipgrid to submit your videos for some assignments. 

Your teacher has set the privacy for all videos that you submit so your teacher is the only person watching your video. 

Go to: https://info.flipgrid.com/ and enter the class join code that your teacher will share with you, you need to find your correct choir class/classes and enroll in them. 

Sight-Reading Factory

Sight-Reading Factory - 

All students in Choir have been purchased an account at Sight-Reading Factory for their use for this school year. 

Students are expected to go to sightreadingfactory.com, and using their watertowncsd.org email, they are to sign up for their account using the code that their teacher provides for them in their google classroom.  

Choir students have weekly assignments due in SRF they they will complete and submit directly in SRF. 

Website:

https://www.sightreadingfactory.com 

***THE SRF PASSWORD WILL BE SHARED THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF SCHOOL...STUDENTS WHO ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT WILL JUST SUBMIT THE NEW USER CODE FOR THE 2023 - 2024 SCHOOL YEAR***

You will have weekly assignments in SRF that you are expected to complete for a grade. 

Rehearsal Tracks for Choirs

There are professionally recorded tracks of ALL your songs for Choir for the year in the materials section of your google classroom. You need to use these tracks to learn/rehearse/perform your assigned songs. These tracks are meant to help you learn/practice your music on your own so we can utilize our time together. These tracks can be downloaded to your phone or streamed via google classroom. 

Song of the Week/SOTW - If Used

Every student in every music class (Choirs/MIOL/Music Theory) will have a WEEKLY assignment called Song of the Week. Your teacher will post a video every week, and you are expected to watch the video. Then, using the google form provided for you, you need to critique and respond to the SOTW.