High School Chorus
Rules and Grading High School Chorus
Rules and Grading
Rules:
Chorus is an elective course offering and since it is imperative that all people involved work together for the good of the group, the following rules need to be kept in mind by all involved in the program.
1. No gum. (Includes all food, candy, pop, etc.) Waste basket is for gum. You cannot
sing
properly with gum.
2. One person talks. (The director most of the time.) (Raise hand to talk.)
3. Try everything I ask and always show respect. (No one laughs or makes fun of anyone in
here.)
4. Assigned positions and folders. (They will be changed now and then.)
5. Keep hands, feet, etc. to yourself and all things in room are off limits.
Consequences:
May include any of the following depending on the seriousness and frequency of the rule infractions.
- Verbal warning and loss of participation points.
- Written work assigned by the director and due the following day in class and loss of
participation points.
- Detention and notification of parents and loss of part. pt.
- Call to parents and loss of part. pt.
- Send to principal and loss of that day's part. pt.
- Other consequences deemed appropriate by the director.
Note: A student who causes an on-going interruption to the daily rehearsal and instruction process will harm the overall performance of the group and therefore such behavior will not be tolerated and may terminate that student's membership in chorus.
Grades
Nine weeks grades will be based on the following:
50 % individual grades indicating improvement in skills (including such things as sight reading, counting, tone quality, vocal technique, knowledge of musical terms, etc.)
25% daily evidence of teamwork (contributing to the group through attitude, behavior, supportive comments and actions, lack of negativity, etc.)
25% Concert performance and student's written evaluation of those performances
At the end of the nine-weeks grading period all daily grade points and concert points for that grading period will be added together and converted to a percent. The following grading scale will be used:
92 - 100% = A
83 - 91% = B
74 - 82% = C
65 - 73% = D
0 - 64% = F
Required Concerts are:
1. Invitational Chorus Concert
2. Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal the night before the Christmas
Concert
3. Christmas Concert
4. Both performances of the Something Different
Concert
5. Spring Concert
If a student is absent from school the day of a concert due to illness or emergency, that student is automatically excused from participating in that evening's concert and a note to the director is not required. (Note: According to school policy, a student must be present a minimum of four periods of school on the day of an athletic or other event in order to participate. Lunch can't be one of the periods.)
All other conflicts (either prearranged or occurring on the day of the concert but after the student was present in class) require a note signed by the parent and including the date of absence/tardy and the reason for the absence/tardiness. Expect the director to call for clarification if a reason is not provided.
Prearranged absences and tardies occurring on a performance date must be submitted no later than one week in advance however parents and students should notify the teacher as soon as a conflict arises so that a solution to the conflict can be found or necessary adjustments can be made.
Excused absence/tardiness from a concert will be at the discretion of the director. Note: Work is considered an unexcused absence. Excuses normally accepted are illness of self or serious and unavoidable emergencies.
Additional Chorus Information
Class Fees
Lost or damaged music, concert folders, or chorus robes (and stoles) will be paid for by the student or students at replacement cost.
Concert Attire
Students will be wearing choral robes and stoles provided by the school for all concerts except the Something Different Concert. Male chorus students must provide their own black trousers, black socks, and black shoes. Female chorus students must provide their own black hose and black shoes. Black dress slacks for females is also acceptable.
Dress for the Something Different Concert is to be determined by the chorus officers and myself at a later date but traditionally has involved jeans, tennis shoes and a specially designed t-shirt that the students must either earn by selling a predetermined number of concert tickets or must purchase a minimum of two days before the first performance.
Students who do not comply to the required dress may be sent home to change or may not be allowed to perform resulting in the loss of all of their performance points and also the possibly of further disciplinary action.
Course Objectives
1. Develop good singing habits
2. Improve music reading.
3. Sing a variety of choral literature.
4. Learn to work cooperatively and develop positive leadership.