Allen ISD Choral Department Private Lesson Policies And Request Form (For Middle Schools)

Lesson Information Private voice lessons will be given through the Allen Choral Department during class time and after school. There will be one 25-minute lesson per week. The cost is $17 per lesson. Monthly payments are due at the first lesson of the month.

Teacher Expectations Recommended practice time is 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week. More time may be necessary for those preparing for auditions or tryouts. We expect a commitment to this practice schedule. Student participation in the following is expected for all studying privately: participation in all scheduled voice recitals or master classes, fall and spring auditioning for the Middle School Solo & Ensemble Contest November 2012 competing in the Allen Middle School All-Region Choir Audition January 2013 any other audition opportunity promoted by the choral directors Students should come to their lessons prepared, with a cooperative and respectful attitude. They should also bring all assigned materials to each lesson. Students should learn notes and music before coming to the lesson so that lesson time can be spent on musicality, phrasing, and vocal technique.

Drop Policy Students should make voice lessons a long-term commitment for the entire school year. If an unavoidable situation arises making it impossible to continue lessons, the student is expected to finish the lessons for the month that is paid for (no refunds). If expectations are not met, the teacher may choose to discontinue lessons after finishing the month that is paid for.

Absence Policy If a student is to be absent from class on a lesson day, he or she should notify the teacher by phone or e-mail as soon as possible. This includes class time absences for field trips, class conflicts, and other performances. As we are not in the administration’s interoffice mail system, we are not notified by the office about absences or field trips. Notification remains the student’s or parents’ responsibility. Failure to notify the teacher will result in default of the lesson. It may be made up at the teacher’s discretion if they so choose and if their schedules permit. Excused lessons will be made up as fits the teacher’s schedule. If a teacher cannot make up an excused lesson, they may elect to credit the lesson at their discretion. In the event the teacher must be absent, notification will be made and lessons made up at the earliest possible time.

Studio Placement 1 We have four private teachers on staff this year. Their bios are attached for your review. The attached request form allows you to indicate a preference of studio. Not all teachers will be available on all campuses or during all choir periods. Every effort will be made to place a student in his or her preferred studio, but it is advisable to mark a second choice. 2 Returning students will be assigned to their previous teacher unless the student requests a change. 3 If you have specific concerns or questions for an individual teacher, their phone numbers are listed for you.

Please return attached “Request for Private Voice Lessons” by August 31, 2012 so that students may be placed in lesson times in specific studios. Thank you. About the Private Voice Teachers

Jenifer Christman Woody Christman Charlotte Ellsaesser Melissa Lee

Jenifer Christman has been teaching private voice lessons for sixteen years. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (graduating Cum Laude with a teaching certificate and an emphasis in voice) from Stephen F. Austin State University, and Master of Music in conducting, voice, and music history from Sam Houston State University. While at SFA, Ms. Christman studied with voice teacher Cody Garner, and was a soloist with the choir for their TMEA performance and European tour. At SHSU, she studied with Dr. B.R. Henson and Barbara Corbin, and was a soloist for the Henson Chorale, a professional choir based in Houston. During her second year of graduate study, Ms. Christman was also an Associate Instructor at SHSU. After graduation, she was the Director of the Wylie High School Choral Department for nine years, switching to private voice instructor after the birth of her son, Connor, who is now a junior at AHS. After 12 years as the primary voice teacher at Pearce High School in Richardson, Ms. Christman made the move to Allen and McKinney, teaching voice at AHS, LFC, Ford and McKinney North High School. During these sixteen years, many students of Ms. Christman have been members of the Texas All-State Choir, won numerous awards at UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest, been featured as pop/country/musical soloists, and gone on to major in music in college and pursue careers as professional musicians. Ms. Christman especially values the All-State experience since she was also a member of the Texas All-State Choir in high school. Ms. Christman is happily married to Woody Christman, who is also a voice teacher, and lives in Allen. You may contact her at [email protected] or by phone at 972/390- 2951.

Woody Christman taught in the Richardson ISD for thirty-three years. He was the choir director at J.J. Pearce High School and has recently retired (2005). He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1972 and his Master of Music Education degree in 1977, both from the University of North Texas. Woody has had two choirs perform at the TMEA Convention, two choirs tour Europe and one perform in Carnegie Hall in New York City. His choirs have won Outstanding Choir Awards at Buccaneer Festival, Six Flags, Southern Choral Classic (Florida), Bijou Classic, Blue Bonnet Festival, Alamo Classic, and Orlando Music Festival at Disney World. He served as Region Vocal Chairman for both Jr. High and High School and served as the chairman of the UIL Sight-Reading Committee for two years selecting the sight-reading pieces for UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest. He has been an adjudicator for UIL Contests throughout Texas. He is also an accomplished piano accompanist. His current affiliations include: TMEA, TCDA, TMAA, TSTRA and was honored as a “Life Member” to PTA. Woody is currently teaching at Allen High School, Lowery Freshman Center, Curtis Middle School, Ereckson Middle School and McKinney North High School. Woody and his wife, Jenifer, reside in Allen and share a wonderful son, Connor, who is in 11th grade at Allen High School. If you need further information please feel free to contact me: Home (972) 390-2951, Cell (214) 686-4051, [email protected].

Charlotte Ellsaesser, Dramatic Soprano, hails from Southwest Louisiana – Cajun country! After high school, college and …the Viet Nam War, Ms. Ellsaesser moved to Dallas. After participating in a Master Class with George London, Ms. Ellsaesser began her vocal studies in earnest with Madeline Sanders. Mr. London not only sent her to Madeline but found patrons for her studies. After two years with Ms. Sanders, Ms. Ellsaesser won the San Francisco Opera Auditions as well as the International G.B. Dealey Competition and so it all began. She studied with the San Francisco Opera at the Merola Program where she was invited back for the following year. Ms. Ellsaesser also did a tour of study in Europe with AIMS. She made her operatic debut with Dallas Opera and then sang Pamina with Arizona Opera. Then she headed to New York City and worked consistently for the next eight years singing in most states in the United States including New Mexico. The Santa Fe New Mexican wrote “Ellsaesser’s Mimi was easily the sensation of the weekend. Her soprano voice houses one of the most electric and powerful I have ever heard…” In her Lake George Opera Festival debut in New York, singing Mozart’s Constanze, the New Yorker magazine called her voice “major and of international importance”. In 1983, Ms. Ellsaesser moved her career to Europe where she made her debut with the Saarlandisches Staatstheater singing Leonore in Beethoven’s “Fidelio”. Opern Welt, a prestigious European magazine for classical music wrote of her performance in Electra by Strauss, “Ellsaesser sang the formidable lines of Chrysothemis ravishingly!” Ms. Ellsaesser continued singing in Europe for 12 years before moving her family back to America where she opened The Vocal Studio in Southwest Louisiana. She taught there for some ten years where her students consistently placed in All Region and All State Choirs. She taught the 1st chair Soprano I and 1st chair Soprano II and these two girls held the 1st and 2nd chairs for Soprano I in subsequent years. They also sang in a rock and roll Show Choir for their high school during these same years. Having sung many musicals and in clubs as well as countless churches in her formative years, Ms. Ellsaesser strongly believes that the genre of music a singer chooses to sing (classical, contemporary Christian, musical theater, pop, rock, gospel, blues, country, etc.) does not change the fact that one must learn to sing with the entire body in order to have a healthy, life-long singing experience! Ms. Ellsaesser maintains the philosophy that singing is a vigorous physical activity much like basketball, football, soccer or training for the Olympics!

Melissa Lee (lyric mezzo-soprano), a 1998 graduate of Allen, graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in English Lit, winning awards and honors as a top student graduating from both departments. She has studied voice for over fifteen years and frequently finds work as a professional classical soloist. As a member of Allen choirs, Mrs. Lee made All-Region Choir every year and Texas All-State Choir her senior year. She also participated in the AHS Show Choir, the AHS Vocal Jazz Ensemble, an AHS women's barbershop quartet, and performed roles in three musicals during her AHS tenure. She has competed as a Soprano II, Alto I, and Alto II at the high school level, as well as a lyric coloratura soprano and a lyric mezzo at collegiate and professional levels. She is proud to have seen several students go on to the Texas All-State Choir in her seven years as a voice teacher in the Dallas area. Having taught in Allen ISD since the fall of 2003, Mrs. Lee looks forward to graduating off her 2003-2004 Curtis 7th graders as seniors of the Class of 2009 this year. Mrs. Lee is also trained in Catholic music liturgy and frequently works as a church musician for area churches. Recently, she worked for six months as the Interim Director of Music Ministry at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Allen and continues there as staff soloist under their new director. She also enjoyed seven years as director of children’s choirs at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plano. Her specific focuses as a teacher are on consistent production, beauty of tone, dynamic variety, engaging presentation, and vocal freedom. For more information, email her at [email protected] or call her at (469) 323-6433.

Private voice lessons will be offered during choir classes and after school. The cost is $17.00 for a 25-minute lesson once a week. Payments will be due in advance at the beginning of each month.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Student Name ______Grade ______

Choir Period(s) ______Campus ______Voice Part ______

Address ______

Phone Numbers: Home ______Parent Cell ______

Student’s Cell ______

Parent Name ______Parent's email address ______

Student’s email address ______

AVAILABILITY

Would you be available for lessons during 1st____ (8:15-9:15am) or 8th______(2:35-3:30pm)?

Would you be available for lessons after school (after 3:30) if necessary? Yes ___ No ___

CLASS SCHEDULE

1: ______

2: ______5: ______

3: ______6: ______

4: ______7: ______

8: ______

PLACEMENT INTO STUDIOS Returning students will be assigned to their former teacher unless a teacher change is requested. New students will be placed into a studio as our teachers’ rosters will allow according to campus and schedule.

Private Voice Teachers: Jenifer Christman (972) 390-2951 [email protected] Woody Christman (972) 390-2951 [email protected] Charlotte Ellsaesser (214) 886-9301 [email protected] Melissa Lee (469) 323-6433 [email protected]

You will be contacted by your teacher to set up your lesson time. At that time, arrangements will also be discussed for the payment you should bring to your first lesson. Once you have been assured of your studio, checks should be made out to the teacher in question at the first lesson of every month.

I agree to a commitment of private voice lessons for my student for the school year of 2011-2012. I have reviewed the policies and agree to them.

______Parent Signature