South Effingham Middle School

South Effingham High School Mustang Choirs

2015-2016 Student Handbook

SEHS Choir Program The Choir Program at South Effingham High School is comprised of almost 100 students in Grades 9-12. Choir classes meet daily as one of students’ classes, and give performances throughout the school year in both the school and the community. Because of the nature of the subject, chorus is a yearlong course in which students must be completely committed.

Beginning Women’s Chorus Beginning women’s chorus will introduce fundamentals of vocal production and will focus on the changing male voice, basic music literacy, and choral performance. This class is open to any female student in grade 9 – 12. There is no prerequisite for this class.

Advanced Women’s Chorus Advanced women’s choir is a select group that performs, studies music of all diversities and styles. Musical growth is emphasized in part singing, vocal skills, musicianship and performance leading to a great degree of sophistication in those areas. This is an auditioned choir. You must be able to sing major, minor and chromatic scales and sight read. Advanced Women’s is for students that have had at least one year of chorus at SEHS. You MUST have the director’s approval to join this class.

Intermediate Men’s Chorus Intermediate men’s chorus will introduce fundamentals of vocal production and will focus on the changing male voice, basic music literacy, and choral performance. This class is open to any male student in grade 9 – 12. There is no prerequisite for this class.

The Choral Classroom Class time for each choir consists of rehearsal of performance music, as well as vocal techniques to improve singing abilities. Assessments are based on vocal performances of each student. Music Theory is also a very vital part of learning within the choral classroom, as each student learns how to read music individually. This is accomplished through written tests based on notes given in class.

All grade-level choirs will attend Large Group Performance Evaluation in March as well as perform a Fall, Winter, and Spring Concert.

Class Procedures Expectations All students will:  Show respect to self and others  Be prepared at all times  Refrain from disrupting the learning environment  Follow classroom procedures at all times

Daily procedures 1) Enter the choir room quickly and quietly. Collect all materials needed for class: folders, notebooks, sight singing books, pencils. Place materials under your seat. Be in your chair ready to begin rehearsal 3 minutes after the tardy bell. Book bags are to be kept under your seat not in the seat next to you. 2) Rehearsal will begin when the director stands in front of the class. The ensemble will wait quietly for instructions. All questions related to rehearsal will be welcomed and answered when a student raises his/her hand. 3) When rehearsals are dismissed, all materials will be properly replaced in their storage areas. Students are responsible for the cleanliness of THEIR choir room. Students will help each other straighten chairs and pick up all foreign objects from the choir room at the conclusion of class.

4) All chorus folders are to be kept in YOUR assigned number at all times, unless you take them home with you at the end of the day. You are responsible for your chorus folder for the entire year.

5) Gum, Candy and food items are NOT allowed in the chorus room.

6) The only liquid that is allowed in the chorus room is water. You will not be allowed to go to the water fountain to fill your water bottle during class. This must be done before class and you must be in the rehearsal area before the tardy bells rings.

7) Electronic devises are NOT allowed to be used during the rehearsal period. The only exception is if you are recording the rehearsal.

Consequences 1) Warning/ student conferences 2) Parent contact: note, email, phone call 3) After school detention 4) Office referral/ parent conferences

Group Performance Opportunities

During the course of the school year, the SEHS Choirs will have several opportunities to perform for both the school and the community. Students are given the opportunity through these concerts to demonstrate the musical skills and talents they have been working on in choir class and at home. These concerts are often the culmination of months of hard work and practice, and are the showcases for our students. Since these concerts are evaluations of classroom material, students are given a performance grade for the concert. A performance is the same as a major exam in an academic subject. Any student who cannot attend a concert for any reason must let the choir director know at least one week prior to the performance so that proper arrangements can be made. The student will need to bring in a note signed by a doctor/ parent stating their excuse. Please note: only excused absences will be allowed and as always, personal illness, death in the family, or other extreme circumstances will be considered excused absences. Parents and students are given knowledge of our concerts well in advance. Unexcused absences will not be allowed. Students who have an absence that has been approved by the director at least one week prior to the performance will be asked to perform his or her part individually for the director in order to make up that concert grade. Any student who does not make up a concert test within one week of the concert will be given a 10% for that grade. It will be the student’s responsibility to make up the performance grade. Only excused absences will be allowed to make up the concert test grades.

Fall/Winter/Spring Concerts – Each 9 weeks the choirs perform concerts for the parents and the community. All of our concerts will be held at Countryside Baptist Church, and feature a variety of standard and seasonal choral pieces.

Large Group Performance Evaluation – In March, the choirs travel to a local school campus to participate in the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) District One Large Group Performance Evaluation. Their performance of two prepared pieces is critiqued by a panel of judges and awarded a rating of Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor. Each group is also judged on their sight-reading ability, which refers to their ability to read a piece of music they have never seen before.

The above-mentioned concerts may require after school rehearsals. These rehearsals are imperative for our success. There will be no more than two after school rehearsals prior to each concert. All excuses to miss after school rehearsals must be turned in to the director one full calendar week before the rehearsal for approval. Prior notice will be given for any extra rehearsals.

Individual Performance Opportunities

In addition to full choral concerts, there are many opportunities for students to showcase individual performance skills. The preparation for these events takes place outside of choir class, and is an opportunity for students to work alone or in small groups. All of these events are optional, and while all students are encouraged to participate, only those willing to put in extra work at home will be successful.

District Honor Choir District Honor Choir is comprised of the top High School choir students within our Advanced Women’s and Intermediate Men’s choirs. Twelve students are chosen by audition to represent SEHS at the District Honor Choir concert, which takes place in October.

All State Chorus The All-State Chorus is comprised of the top High School choir students in the state of Georgia. Students are selected for the honor choir through an audition process, beginning in November. The audition consists of performance of the major, minor and chromatic scales, one prepared piece, sight-reading, and a written test of music terminology. The top scoring students from the state are selected to participate in the honor choir, which meets in the spring.

Various Solos and Small Ensembles Throughout the year, song selections provide opportunities for students to audition for a vocal solo, or part of a small ensemble. Instrumental solos and/or ensembles may be included as well.

Grading Policy

Performances (45% of total grade)  There are at least four MANDATORY concerts during the school year.  Tests/ quizzes will be announced in advance by the director, and will evaluate concepts and skills learned in class.  Performance grades will be based on correct participation during performances, including correct uniform, posture, and behavior.

Written Assignments/Individual Singing Test (35% of total grade)  Written test materials will be selected by the teacher and may come from the text or other supplemental materials.  Individual singing text will cover sight-reading material or sections from the music that is being worked on in class.

Homework (20% of total grade)  Students are expected to participate in all class activities, to focus their attention on the choir director, and to follow individual and group instructions.

Grades may be lowered for the following: 1. Unexcused absences from rehearsals and/ or performances 2. Lack of effort or poor performance in class, during tests, or at performances 3. Chewing gum and eating food during class, rehearsals, performances 4. Not having required materials for class

Excused Absences (note from doctor/parent required)  Personal illness (if absent from school)  Death in family  Extreme circumstances

Unexcused Absences  Non-school-related extracurricular activities  No ride  Non-emergency activities

Important Items for class  1 Sharpened pencil with an eraser  1 Energetic, hard-working attitude

Students must meet all academic and behavioral expectations of SEHS and the SEHS Choir in order to be eligible to attend any off-campus or honor event.

Concert Attire

In order to present a unified stage appearance, the SEHS Choruses perform in uniform. There are two uniforms a formal (provided by the school) and a casual (to be purchased by the student). The uniform rental fee is $40.00. This cost is to offset the cost of alterations, cleaning and replacement of uniforms, each member rents a uniform for the present school year.

Concert attire is based upon venue and song selection. Students are notified of the attire well in advance of each concert date. Students need to have all parts of the uniform for our concerts. No student will be allowed to perform with the choir without the proper uniform.

There is a rental fee of $40 for the uniforms. This cost covers cleaning of the uniforms at the end of the year and any replacement uniform Please see the SEHS Choir Handbook Agreement Form for further information regarding choir shirts.

The Casual uniform is a BLACK South Effingham Chorus t-shirt and blue jeans. This is the same shirt that we have used in the past. If you already have the black t-shirt then you do not need to purchase a new one. If you do not have this shirt then you will need to purchase a t-shirt for $10.00. This shirt maybe worn on Friday as spirit wear.

Formal Concert Attire  Women  Long Black dress (provided by school)  Black CLOSED TOE shoe with NO MORE than a 2 inch heel. There should not be any color on the shoes (provided by student)  Necklace (provided by school)  Men  Black tuxedo coat (provided by school)  Black tuxedo pants (provided by school)  White tuxedo shirt (provided by school)  Maroon Vest (provided by school)  Maroon tie (provided by school)  Black shoes, (NOT TENNIS SHOES) There should not be ANY color on the shoes (provided by student)  Solid BLACK sock. NOT black tennis socks. (provided by student)

Casual Concert Attire shoes (provided by student)  Black chorus t-shirt ($10.00)  Blue jeans  Any school approved shoe  ALL SHIRTS MUST BE TUCKED IN!

There will be a replacement fee charged to the student if the uniform is not returned at the end of the school year or if damage has been done to the uniform. The cost of the Women’s dress - $100.00, necklace - $10.00. The Cost of the Men’s Tux (coat and pants) - $100.00, shirt - $20.00, Vest - $35.00, Tie - $10.00

SEHS Mustang Choirs Calendar of Events 2015-2016

*Southeastern Choral Arts Festival Auditioned September 18 & 19, 2015 Armstrong State University

Fall Concert Countryside Baptist Church October 1. 2015 7:00 PM

*District Honor Choir Auditioned October 2-3, 2015 Armstrong Atlantic State University

*All-State Auditions SEHS November 14, 2015 Time – TBA

Winter Concert Countryside Baptist Church December 17, 2015 7:00 PM

Large Group Performance Evaluation Savannah Arts Academy March 3-4, 2015 Time - TBA

Music In Our Schools Month Concert Countryside Baptist Church March 8, 2015 6:30 PM

Spring Concert Countryside Baptist Church May 19, 2015 7:00 PM

*Denotes optional, individual performance opportunities

Concert that are in BOLD print are the five MANDATORY concerts for the year.

In an effort to reduce paper, the SEHS choral program will not send home paper notices to parents. All parents will receive important email updates 2-3 times per month keeping you informed and up to date on all aspects of the choral program. Please make sure that your e-mail address and phone number are correct on the student verification forms that will be sent home the second week of school.

South Effingham High School Mustang Choirs

Raymond R. Ellis, Jr. 1200 Noel C. Conaway Road Director of Choirs Guyton, GA 31312 [email protected] 912.728.7511 ext 1364

Handbook Agreement Form 2015-2016

Please sign and return this form after reading the SEHS Choirs Handbook.

We, as student and parent, have received a hand book, understand the policies set forth in the South Effingham High School Choirs handbook, and as members of the choir agree to abide in every way.

______(Parent’s name- please print) (Parent’s signature)

______(Student’s name- please print) (Student’s signature)

______(Grade Level) (Date) South Effingham High School Choruses Uniform Agreement

Please return this form with a check made out to SEHS or cash with your child by Friday, August 22, 2014. If there are financial difficulties resulting in a need to formulate a payment plan, please contact Ray Ellis at SEHS (912) 728-7511 ext. 1364. PLEASE RETURN THIS WHOLE FORM. If you would like another copy of this form please let me know and I will send one home.

We have read the SEHS Uniform Guidelines and accept the responsibility for a uniform for the present school year. We understand that uniforms fees cannot be refunded in the event that a student withdraws from the program. Please return the completed signed form.

______(Parent’s name- please print) (Parent’s signature)

______(Student’s name- please print) (Student’s signature)

______(Grade Level) (Date)

Uniform Rental $40.00 Select shirt sizes $10.00 (make checks payable to SEHS)

T-shirt size ($10): XS S M L XL XXL XXXL

OFFICE USE ONLY DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE

____ Check number ______Date Issued

____ Cash ______Date Returned

WOMEN’S ____Dress number ____Necklace

MEN’S ____ Tux Coat Number ___Pants Number ____Bow Tie Number ____Vest Number ___Shirt Number