ATTENDANCE POLICY
West Central Music Department Concert Attendance Policy
Public performances are a vital part of participation in the fine arts, and the West Central Music Department is no exception. The importance of full participation from everyone cannot be emphasized enough: in short, attendance is required. For this reason, the dates and times for every performance have been provided for the entire academic year so that you can arrange your schedules accordingly.
Excused vs. Unexcused Absences
Once upon a time, a clear distinction was made between excused absences (i.e. illness, family emergency/event, unavoidable conflict) and unexcused absences (work, sports game/practice, didn’t feel like coming, no ride, etc). In all circumstances, timely communication about the absence is greatly appreciated. We prefer that a parent/guardian contact us by phone or email, with notification of emergencies or illnesses the day immediately following a performance, if not before the concert.
Ultimately, the reason for the absence is less important than the fact that points still must be earned for the concert, so a make-up assignment will be required (see below). The final quarter grade will not be lowered as a result of the concert absence, as long as the make-up work is completed by the end of the grading period.
Make-Up Work
Concerts are measurements for music standard MU:Pr5.1 Performing—Present (Demonstrate attention to technical accuracy & expressive qualities in prepared performances of a varied repertoire of music.) Because this standard is a performance-based standard, the make-up assignment is also performance-based. Students who miss the concert performance will need to select one of the options below to substitute for the concert performance. Make-up assignments must be submitted within two weeks of the concert to be eligible for credit.
Option 1 — make an appointment to perform your part of each piece performed at the concert live for the director. (For choir, Mrs. Fink will play the piano accompaniment.)
Option 2 — Record yourself performing your part on each of the pieces performed at the concert and provide the recording to your director. There are a variety of options on how to record (use your Chromebook, use your phone, use a computer at your home, use a video camera.)
Record during class while the group is also performing. Hold your device up to your mouth or the bell of your instrument so that your voice/part is heard loudly on the recording.
Record in a private location with the recorded concert video of the ensemble’s performance accompanying you in the background as you perform your part along with the recording. Listen to make certain that your part can be heard above the choir or band.
Record before/after school in one of the practice rooms. You can play the group’s performance on your Chromebook and record using a recording device from the music department.
In addition, a separate written reflection will be completed (in place of the post-performance reflection for those classmates that did attend the concert). The student will be asked to watch the concert video in order to compliment other performing ensembles, as well as answer the question, “How did your absence impact the performance? Why?”
A Note to Parents/Guardians
Similar to other aspects of school, concerts represent a partnership between the school, the student, AND the parent/guardian. We all depend on each other: parents/guardians depend on the school to present public performances, the school depends on the students to attend the concert, and the students depend on parents/guardians to support their performance.
Performance in the West Central Music Department is a direct demonstration of the 21st century skills stated in the Iowa Core. Our hope is to guide students so that they will “demonstrate leadership and take responsibility for results, show initiative and resourcefulness, and be productive and accountable for their actions” (taken from Iowa Core, K-12 21st Century Skills, Essential Concepts and Skills, page 11).
Please join us in helping to hold your child accountable. If a problem arises, we hope you will contact us and we will try to help in whatever way possible.