The Middle School Choral Program
At Edwards/Visintainer Middle Schools
for the 2007/2008 school year
For those of you who are unfamiliar with our program, I thought I’d include a few terms and descriptions for your reference. Please read all the way through since it has very good information for all students in choir.
Concert
Choir, Grades 6, 7 and 8:
Concert Choir is our “entry-level” program. Except for a few rare exceptions, all students in the program participate in concert choir for their grade level. This is a scheduled class and focuses on the basic skills for large-group singing such as intonation, breath support, music theory, music history, vocal projection and music reading and writing. This course is designed so that singers of any ability can achieve success and develop their singing skill. The main goal is to prepare them for choir in high school by increasing range, building confidence and teaching them to read music.
The Do-Woppin Devils Jazz Choir:
In an effort to always provide a challenge for every student, we also offer an after-school choir. This choir is selected by audition; and includes students from 6th, 7th and 8th grade. The group offers small-group instruction as well as advanced studies in music electronics. These students learn tougher music than in Concert Choir and must rely on themselves for pitch and rhythm [more parts, fewer people]. There is a $15.00 participation fee.
Featured
Soloists:
For those students who still need to be challenged further, solos are available throughout the year. Some solos are “dependent”, that is they are part of a selection the choir is singing. Sometimes a student needs an entire song to challenge them. These are the “featured” or “independent” solos. In this case, the students select and prepare the music themselves; and then compete against each other for the spots in the concert.
Singer of the Year:
This honor is the highest level of challenge offered. While the students selected must be good singers, this is not the sole requirement. Throughout the year, students earn points from concerts, projects, tests, [both singing and written], homework and extra responsibilities [solos, jazz choir, section leader, equipment manager, etc.] Just before Spring Concert, the points are totaled; and the winner is chosen. Quite often these outstanding students go on to demonstrate their talent by singing a solo; but this isn’t required. Each fall, the totals start again from scratch.
It is my hope that our program offers enough options to challenge every student who enters our program!
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Attendance Policies: · Student attendance at ALL listed performances is Mandatory. · Student absence will be automatically excused for the following:
· Any student absence requires a Make-Up Assignment. · All excuses are to be submitted in writing as far in advance as possible, or upon the student’s return to school. · Conflicts with other events are generally NOT excused; but notification of absence is still required. Parents should note that any performance represents a large grade; and that while absences are bound to happen, they cannot just be written off. Make-up assignments exist to allow students to earn points lost through absence. They are NOT punishments. Note that students with unexcused absences will be given a larger assignment to help them earn back the larger number of points lost from their absence.
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New Choir Curriculum for 2007/2008 The Board of Education has adopted a new Music Curriculum. This new curriculum will impact the ENTIRE MUSIC DEPARTMENT. Here are some facts to keep in mind. GRADES:
PERFORMANCE: [30%]
SKILLS: [30%]
APPRECIATION: [30%]
EFFORT: [10%]
EFFORT [Report Card Comments]:
TEXTBOOKS:
CONCERTS:
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FUND RAISING Funding Music Programs is a difficult subject to address; but our Choral Music program is in need of your support. This year the Choral Program is in good shape financially due to tremendous support in previous years. The goal now is to keep up with our expenses so we don’t face another financial crisis. We have more students in choir than ever and they are all counting on your support.
Re-using music helps defray some of this cost; but it can’t cover all of it. Our music library is getting old. As music gets used, it needs to be replaced. Some of our music is so old that it is no longer in print and cannot be replaced. At that point, the song must be dropped from use and be replaced by more current music. The amount of money raised and donated DIRECTLY effects how much new music can be purchased for your child’s performances! The rest of our money goes to the purchase, repair and maintenance of our equipment. Much of our equipment is brand new, but it does require repair and maintenance from time to time. During the 05-06 school year, we replaced our failed synthesizer as well as updated and expanded our sound equipment. Thanks to community and district support, our needs this year will focus on maintaining and repairing our existing equipment. Fortunately Edwards and Visintainer share equipment. This considerably cuts our costs. Through careful maintenance, use and planning we can maintain this equipment for less than $500.00 a year and save any extra money towards minor and /or unexpected expenses.
FUND RAISING OPTIONS: 1. Hershey Candy Sale [October]: The candy comes in cases of 40 bars at $1.00 per bar. A student who opts to sell would have to sell a case [$40] to raise $20. All candy orders must be paid in advance. Students may opt to sell 3 cases. Students can earn movie passes. More information went out in a letter on September 14th. Please ask your child if you have not seen it. 2. Donations: Simply send a check made out to BCMB at anytime during the year. Please remember that fund raisers and donations are not required. No family should feel that they must do this if their child is in choir. Of course any help that you can give is always appreciated.
Thank you for your support!
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