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Choir Handbook
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to the S. P. Waltrip High School Choir and Vocal Program! We are striving for excellence and are glad to have you join us in our pursuit of that goal. Your participation in this organization will not only enables you to become a knowledgeable singer and a musician for a lifetime, but will also help you become a more responsible, disciplined, focused, and well-rounded individual. The S. P. Waltrip Choir will provide you with wonderful, memorable experiences. In addition, we firmly believe your involvement in this program will develop skills that will help you progress in all aspects of your life as a Waltrip student.
Please read this handbook carefully. Sign and return the appropriate forms located at the back of this handbook. Do not hesitate to call or email me if you have questions.
We look forward to a great year in choir!
Sincerely,
Laurie Amsler
S. P. Waltrip Choral Director
lamsler@houstonisd.org
713-688-1361 Ext. 385
General Information
The Waltrip High School Choir Program currently includes the following performing groups:
· Advanced/ Intermediate Mixed Choir, Period 3G
· Beginning Choirs. Periods 1G, 2G and 2R
Previous choir/vocal experience is helpful but not required for membership in a Waltrip High School choir. Choir is a full year elective and students may be dropped from choir at the request of the director. Interviews/auditions for choir placement are held in the spring for the upcoming year and before schedules are finished in the fall semester. This year again, unless a change is made Intermediate Choir will meet with Advanced Choir. Although Advanced Mixed Choir is the most advanced choir with rigorous requirements and greater demands placed on students, each choir works very hard and is of equal importance to the overall success of the choir program.
In addition to the interview/audition, the following criteria are taken into consideration for placement in the appropriate choirs for the following school year:
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--Concert Attendance |
--Focus in Rehearsal/Class |
--Grades (Eligibility) |
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--Rehearsal Attendance |
--Part-Singing Skill |
--Participation in Optional |
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--Cooperation |
--Sight-Reading Skill |
Choir Activities |
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--Grade Level |
--Vocal Quality |
|
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--Attitude |
--Behavior |
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Students are encouraged to continue their vocal training in Choir throughout their high school career not only for the credit but also for the experience and joy of singing. In order to more likely assure that students are placed in Choir for the next year, students must request Choir prior to when schedule requests are filled out in the second semester. It is also highly important that students take and pass all required classes in order to graduate in a timely manner and so that they can continue their training in Choir throughout high school. Your involvement and participation in this can be greatly effective and appreciated.
The choral and vocal director is Ms. Laurie Amsler, a graduate of Texas Woman’s University and who holds Kodaly certification from Sam Houston State University. With 22 years experience as a vocal music educator in Texas, Ms. Amsler brings a love of music and singing to Houston ISD that she is most willing to share with all students.
General Guidelines
Choir students will develop their singing voices, learn to sing in a choral ensemble, learn to read music, learn the basics of music history, genres and styles, develop self-discipline, concentration, and cooperation. A great deal of class time is spent on vocal and musical techniques as well performance standards and will be demonstrated in performances throughout the school year.
Choir students will have opportunities in individual activities such as solo and ensemble contest, district and region auditions and region honor choir as well as group performances. Group performances include seasonal/holiday concerts, tours, U.I.L. concert/sight-reading contest (as is feasible), competitions, and variety shows/concerts.
Grades are based on:
ü participation/cooperation
ü written and oral tests of singing and music reading skills,
ü attendance at required performances and practices,
ü and behavior/citizenship.
Each required performance is a major grade in the grading period in which it is performed. Required performances and rehearsals are notated in the S.P. Waltrip Choir Calendar. Some before and/or after school rehearsals will occur in order to properly prepare for auditions for TMEA District and Region Auditions including Region Honor Choir, school performances, UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest, and UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest. These additional events will be announced in class.
Students earn grades in Choir based on the following criteria:
· Appropriate participation in class, rehearsals and performances
· Posture
· Sight-reading
· Using Solfege Syllables and Hand Signs (Curwen Hand-Signs)
· Correct vowel sounds
· Any written and/or oral exams administered by the director.
· Organization (bringing complete, solid black, choir binder including music, and sharpened pencil to their seat every day, returning forms, keeping up with and filling out choir rubrics, etc.)
· Students are expected to participate in Choir U.I.L. preparation and events.
(Extra consideration may be given to those who participate in optional activities such as region choir, region honor choir, solo/ensemble contest, etc. Some extra work and rehearsals outside of class will be required.)
The choir is an ambassador of the school it represents. Therefore, each and every choir member is expected to exemplify excellent behavior both at school and away from school, during rehearsals/class, in concerts and on trips.
During Class and All Rehearsals
Since we have a lot to accomplish, you are expected to:
1. Be ready to get started and rehearse!
A. Come to class every time and with a spirit of cooperation and respect, wanting to accomplish something more each day.
B. Sit in your assigned places with your own choir binders and pencils within at least one minute after the tardy bell rings.
C. Do not have any foreign objects or chew gum in your mouth at any time in Choir. Do not eat candy, or food, or drink sodas during Choir Class. Since these interfere with singing, they are not allowed. You may bring plain, bottled water to drink during Choir Class.
D. Keep your choir binder handy and organized so it’s ready to show and use its contents. Turn in all paper work on time!!
E. Keep a sharpened pencil handy so you can make notes in your sheet music. Mark your music with pencil!
2. Listen to the directions and the pitch the first time they are given.
A. Listen to yourself and match all pitches correctly every time.
B. Listen to your section and blend your voice with your section.
C. Listen to how your part fits in with the other section/s while they are rehearsing their part. Silently memorize your part.
3. Ask questions.
A. When you hear people around you struggling with a part, raise your hand and ask how the part should sound.
B. It is not necessary to point out those who are singing incorrectly.
C. Allow that person to correct him or himself.
4. Pay close attention to the instructions even when the director is working with
another group.
A. Many suggestions and corrections covered in one section will apply to everyone else.
B. Also, try to follow your part to see how it fits with other sections.
C. The choir is a team. It is not enough for you to know your part. It is the uniting of the parts that makes the song a work of art.
5. Stay quiet and still before, during and after every song.
A. It is sometimes tempting in class to just sit and talk, or not participate while others do all the work.
B. Every voice is necessary.
C. Without every voice, the choir is not the best it can be.
D. Great choirs are great because of consistent good rehearsals.
E. There is no room for talking during rehearsals.
6. Exercise self-control.
A. The best disciplinarian in the choir is NOT the director, but each choir member who wants the choir to be the best it can be. It is important to be supportive to everyone in the choir who is giving their best efforts.
B. Everyone will enjoy choir so much more if they can notice improvement, and move on to other material. The feeling of accomplishment is wonderful for all of us!!
Every member of the choir must sing, focus, and pronounce together. Any movement, wandering gazes, giggling, laughing, elbowing those around you, looking at other choir members, or acknowledging people in the audience, takes attention away from the choral group.
1. Enter the stage, looking straight ahead, arms at sides watching your step.
2. Do not talk, gaze around the room, or acknowledge anyone in the audience in any way when in place,
3. Keep your hands at your sides while performing.
4. Resist the urge to adjust glasses, flip hair, scratch your nose, etc.
5. Focus on the director.
6. Do not respond to movement in the audience.
7. Do not talk or lose your focus between songs, when the audience is applauding.
8. Walk off quietly when the performance is completed.
9. The audience can still hear you, even if you are offstage.
10. Listen to others when they are performing.
11. Do not ridicule, discredit, or criticize their performance.
12. When you distract the performance of others, you are the loser.
13. Do not leave during a concert.
14. Encourage other performers.
15. Even if you did not like what they had to offer, find something good in what they did and praise them for it.
16. In a concert, it is not choir against choir or performer against performer. It is a number of fellow musicians striving to improve, and fulfill their potential.
Conduct for Trips
Trips are taken only following the approval of the HISD administration. All school, choir and school board policies are in effect during trips. Students who violate regulations trips will be subject to disciplinary action upon return and/or may be sent home from the trip at the parent’s/guardian’s expense.
On the bus:
1. Do your part to make each trip enjoyable for everyone.
2. You may only play music with headphones attached.
3. Stay seated at all times.
4. Do not yell.
5. Pick up all trash.
6. Quietly, pay attention during all announcements and roll checks.
7. Keep everything inside the bus. Nothing is to be put out of the windows.
8. Do not open the emergency door.
9. Be polite to all adults and students, including chaperones.
10. No profane language or gestures will be tolerated.
11. If a choir member does not wish not to return from a trip with the choir, this will allowed only if a letter is submitted to the choir director prior to departure for the trip. Students may leave only with their own parent or guardian.
Supplies, Uniforms, Fees, Fund Raisers, and Optional Expenses
Supplies
Each choir student needs the following supplies for choir class. Every choir student needs to have his/her own complete, black, choir binder with him or herself and be in his/her seat every day before the bell rings, ready to begin class.
Choir Daily Supply List 2007-2008
Black Choir Binder, filled with the following:
· Solid black, hardback vinyl 1 inch binder, with inside pockets
with name inside the cover (no writing on outside of binder, please)
· Notebook paper--5-6 clean sheets of in binder at all times
· Pencils-- sharpened with erasers (mechanical pencils okay)
· Music and other handouts including rubrics, tests, and evaluations given out by teacher
Each choir student is responsible for all supplies and materials that are issued to them. These materials must be turned in at the end of the year and must be in good condition. This includes any signed-out sheet music, etc.
For our concerts and choir pictures, we dress up. We want to look good for our audiences and each other as choir members. For these concerts, we want everything working in our favor to help us present a high-quality, musical event. In addition to learning the music in class, rehearsals, and individual practice, each choir student must prepare his/her appropriate and special clothing for being a member of the choir. For many, this means shopping for the clothes. If you already have the appropriate clothes and shoes, then you may use them provided they still fit you. Please read the information below that applies to your choir. All choir students wear black and white as is explained below.
Advanced-Intermediate Choir uniforms are checked out to students after the choir fee is paid. The uniforms are the property of the Waltrip High School Choral Department. It is expected that uniforms be kept in good, clean condition throughout the school year for performances.
These uniforms must be turned in at the end of the year or before withdrawing and must be returned cleaned (still in the bag with the dated receipt).
Ladies:
1. Long, black, Waltrip choir dress, properly hemmed but not cut
2. Black, low-heeled, dress shoes, no flip-flops or athletic shoes
3. No flashy or extreme jewelry of any kind
4. No earrings (and only one pair) or necklaces larger than a dime
Gentlemen: Waltrip Choir Tuxedo that includes:
1. Black coat with all buttons sewn on properly.
2. Black pants hemmed properly but not cut and sitting at waist level white shirt completely tucked in
3. Cummerbund, properly adjusted to fit neatly over the waist band of the pants
4. Bow tie, properly adjusted to fit neatly, but not choking, around the shirt collar and
under the front collar flaps
5. Black dress shoes (no athletic shoes or flip-flops, etc.) with black socks
6. No flashy or extreme jewelry of any kind in view
Beginning Choirs: The student and his/her family provide Beginning Choir uniforms. It is also expected that uniforms be kept ready and in good, clean condition throughout the school year for performances.
The colors are solid white and black. This uniform is as follows:
Beginning Ladies:
1. Long-sleeved, plain, solid white, blouse
2. Long, black skirt or dress pants
3. Black, low-heeled, dress shoes, no flip-flops
4. No flashy or extreme jewelry of any kind
5. No earrings (and only one pair) or necklaces larger than a dime
Beginning Gentlemen:
1. Long-sleeved, tailored, plain, solid white, button-down collar shirt, completely
tucked in
2. Solid black dress pants cinched at the waist and that are NOT baggy
3. Black dress shoes with black socks
4. No flashy or extreme jewelry of any kind showing
5. No earrings (no more than one pair) or necklaces larger than a dime
Each choir member will be expected to wear the complete uniform for all concerts unless otherwise informed. On the day/s that choir pictures are taken, all choir students will be required to bring/wear their designated choir uniform for the pictures. A grade will be given for this.
The choir fee per choir student of $15. to help defray choir costs such as uniforms, music, entry fees, and transportation costs, etc. This needs to be turned in as soon as possible.
Each Advanced-Intermediate Choir student will be issued a uniform after this is paid.
If there is a severe financial situation concerning this fee, please contact Ms. Amsler as soon as possible.
Optional Expenses
· Choir T-shirt $ 10 We have to order them.
· Voices of Tomorrow CD $10.
· Choir Banquet, if enough respond $ 25-30. (approximate) Save up now!
· Voice Lessons (upon availability)
· Other as announced
These are necessary to fund our program. A grade will be given for participation. Each student is expected to participate in these activities to promote unity in Choir and so that we can pay for things we need, keep and enhance the choir program. Please check the calendar for dates on these. Participation is also appreciated!
This year, an option to participating in the fund raisers is to make a $50. cash donation.
For the sake of excellence and the unity in the choir, each choir student is expected make every effort to attend and participate in all our rehearsals and performances. Choir performances showcase the school. Every student is expected to participate with enthusiasm, bringing the joy of music to all of us!
Choir performances are mandatory and count as major grades. Performances cannot be made up. Each performance is a real-time event and synchronized for all the participants. Every choir member is important and needed.
Throughout the year, each choir will present several public performances. Performances are listed on the choir calendar. Additional performances or changes may be added with as much advance notice as possible. Parents, guardians, and friends are encouraged to come these performances!
Before and/or after-school rehearsals are extensions of the classroom and attendance at these will be considered when calculating student grades. Monday, Tuesday or Thursday mornings, afternoons or evenings are the usual times for extra rehearsals.
While an after-school paying job may be important to a student right now, school work must first since it affects the future. Students should communicate with employers as far in advance as possible about rehearsals and performances so that arrangements can be made and employers are not left without the help they need. Schoolwork must come first!
So, please notify employers of the school choir schedule as soon as possible so that you can help them make other arrangements. If you need a note from me to take to your employer, please let me know at least a week in advance. I will be glad to have this available for you.
When it is necessary to have before/after school rehearsals, students will be notified about the times and dates of these rehearsals in advance. The activity will be graded.
Students are expected to be ready to start on time so that all the time allotted can be dedicated to full rehearsal for everyone.
Sometimes emergency events happen that cannot be avoided. In these cases, a certain amount of reason will apply provided that a written note or the absence form from home signed by the parents/guardians is brought in the next day the student comes to school. (A blank form is included with this handbook.)
Acceptable reasons for missing a performance or a rehearsal are:
1. student illness
2. family distress emergency
3. the death or serious sudden illness of an immediate family member.
Examples like going shopping, forgetting the event, social events, or other like activities will not be accepted as an excused absence. Advance planning and coordinating with family is necessary!
Unexcused absences will receive a low grade. If no note is submitted, then no credit is given, and the student will receive a zero for the event. Excuses from sectional rehearsals and other rehearsals should be presented in writing and signed by the parent/guardian to Ms.Amsler no less than 24 hours before, or after, the absence. (The blank form can be used for this, too.
In every case of absence, a note is required for documentation. The note must be brought in no later that the next day the student comes to school. A grade will be given and depends on the reason. While a phone call is appreciated, a paper note is required. Cooperation is appreciated!
1. Work hard each day to be prepared musically and physically.
2. Take all rehearsals and performances seriously and give 100%.
3. Arrange your transportation ahead of time!
4. Encourage parents/guardians, friends, principals and teachers to attend concerts.
5. Attend all full and sectional rehearsals.
6. Take care of your voice.
1. Work hard each day to improve and form good singing habits.
2. Stand like a real singer. Listen like a real singer.
3. Work outside of class on the music.
4. Apply previously learned material to each rehearsal or performance.
5. Listen and use your pencil to mark your music.
6. Improve your sight-reading skills individually and as an ensemble.
7. Sing with expression and sensitivity.
8. Have a desire to be great: never be satisfied with low quality!!
9. Study with a private voice teacher.
1. Show your Choir pride! Walk like a real singer! Talk like a real singer!
2. Invite people to our concerts. Tell them what we are learning to do. SPREAD THE GOOD WORD ABOUT WALTRIP CHOIRS!
3. Be competitive but appreciate and encourage the abilities of others.
4. Pay attention while other choirs are performing their songs.
1. Always look ahead and see the desired goals we are working toward. KEEP THE VISION IN FRONT OF YOU.
2. Don’t let personalities get in the way of our unified effort. Work together to move forward and make progress.
3. Encourage each other in positive ways. Help each other.
4. Always honor each other and the members of all choirs.
5. If you don’t get it right the first time, keep trying over and over and over again. Success means you never stop trying..never!!! (WITNE)
Private Voice Lessons
Private lessons can be an important part of any high school choral program. Choir students are encouraged to study privately in order to enhance their vocal development. More information concerning a private voice teacher will be made available to those students who ask about one.
Choir Leaders
Each choir student is expected to set the best example to his/her section and the choir in following procedures, attendance at rehearsals, performances, etc. as well as keeping all grades above (75+) passing. These are the leaders of the choir. All leaders are expected to work cooperatively and positively with the director and the choir
The S.P. Waltrip High School Choir will have selected and elected student leaders as is appropriate and many of whom will come from the Advanced-Intermediate Choir. The positions are:
· President
· Vice-president
· Secretary/treasurer
· Historian
· Section leaders
· Librarian
Section leaders may be selected in each choir class.
Students must be eligible academically, have at least a 90 average in choir, have a “G” or higher conduct average and have no unresolved financial obligations. The students in the choral organization elect officers with the exception of section leaders who are selected by the director. The director delegates section leader duties as needed. Student leaders are expected to attend meetings.
Let’s Make It A Great Year!!!
Rehearsal Dates Concert Dates
Thursday, October 11th, 4-5:30 PM - WHS Auditorium
Thursday. October 18th, 6:30 PM - WHS Auditorium
Thursday, November 29th, 4-5:30 PM - WHS Auditorium
Thursday, December 6th, 6:30 PM - WHS Auditorium
Tuesday, February 26th, 4-5:30 PM - WHS Auditorium
Tuesday, March 4th, 6:30 PM - WHS Auditorium
Tuesday, May 6th, 4:5:30 PM - WHS Auditorium
Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 PM - WHS Auditorium
All the above dates are graded. Concerts count as the majority of the grade for the grading period in which each occurs.
Additional dates are listed on the calendar that follows.
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