Mr. Michael Riggs- Assistant to Choir Director
Mrs. Kyle Cartwright - Private Voice Teacher
Mrs. Michelle Chon - Piano Accompanist
Mr. Dan Walsh- Choreographer
Rolling Meadows High School Choirs
2007-2008 Syllabus
Expectations:
- Leave bad attitude and ego at the door.
- Be respectful of the director and other classmates. This includes not talking during rehearsal.
- Be prepared for class by having a pencil and your binder in your seat with you BEFORE the bell rings.
- Be focused for every rehearsal.
- Keep track of your music. Any music not returned in sufficient condition by a student will cost that student the cost of the music to replace it. Any music left in a practice room and returned to Ms. Stromberg will cost a student 10 cents per piece to get it back. Pennies are not acceptable.
- Share all questions or concerns about music with the class.
- Spend time practicing outside the classroom.
- Keep all work that is returned to you.
- No IPods.
- You may use the bathroom at any time after the bells rings, but only until the last 10 minutes of class.
- No eating in the choir room. Lunch is to be eaten in the cafeteria; not the choir room, not the music hallway, not in practice rooms.
Tardy Policy: If you are not IN your seat, with your binder and a pencil when the bell rings, you are tardy. Upon the 3rd tardy, you will have an after school detention that day. Every tardy after that is also a detention.
Performances:
Since choir is a performance-based class, all performances are required. If you cannot attend a concert, then you must give me a written excuse one week prior to the concert date. Emergencies do come up, but tell me in advance whenever possible.
POP Concert Sunday, November 4 3:00 p.m.
Madrigal Dinner Sunday, December 9 1 pm, 6 pm
Holiday Concert Wednesday, December 12 7:30 pm
Chicagoland Showcase Saturday, March 1 5 am- 9 pm
Wheaton Competition Saturday, March 15 4:30 am- 9 pm
Spring Concert Wednesday, March 19 7:30 pm
End of the year Concert Friday, May 16 7:30 pm
Saturday, May 17 7:30 pm
Graduation Sunday, June 1 11 am-1:30 pm
Assignments:
- Concert Reports
One will be due by each midterm, and the other due before each final. You must attend a choir concert outside of the choirs you are in, and write a 2- page report on the concert. You must turn in a program and/or ticket. Be sure to write about musical ideas and comments. A report that consists of, “I didn’t like this piece because the girls dresses are ugly” will not count for a report. Refrain from using any adjective or adverb more than twice in a report. You must turn in a program and/or ticket with your report.
1 Music Report
One music report will be due before winter break. You must attend a music concert of the Rolling Meadows High School Band or Orchestra.
Write a 1-page report on the concert with the same criteria for the Concert Reports. You must turn in a program and/or ticket.
Theory Worksheets
Music theory is an important part of learning music. Every two weeks, students will have theory worksheets they must turn in to receive full credit. If you do not score 70% or higher, you must redo the worksheet and turn it in for the following week. If you do not read directions, the assignment will be returned to you with no score, and no credit until it is turned in again with all directions being followed. The next week will still have a due date for the next assignment.
*This MUST be written in PENCIL! Any assignments turned in with pen will also be returned with no credit.
Concert Reflections
The day of class after each concert, there will be time for everyone to write down their thoughts on the performance. They will include their personal performance, their groups’ performance, and the other groups’ performances.
Attendance/Participation/Attitude
This is a huge part of a student’s grade. Each student will get 5 points a day for participation. Students may lose points for the following:
Not following directions
Chewing gum in class
Not having their folder and a PENCIL ready at the bell.
Giving attitude to the teacher when asked to do something
Not being respectful of everyone else in the class
Doing other work during class
Anything else I consider lack of cooperative participation
Concert/Performance Attendance
Be there, no excuses. During concerts, you will be seated in the performance venue so that you may see the concert. There is no talking, or disruption at any time. You are to sit in the performance order that I gave you. If there is any need for you to be reminded of this more than once, you will receive half credit for the concert. Another reminder will result in no credit. As performers, you do not have the luxury of being regular audience members, so do not assume you have the same rights. You start getting graded the minute call time appears on the clock, and are finished being graded when you have checked out with me.
Call Time: If the call time is 6:00, and you are walking in at 6, you are tardy. Call time means you are dressed and quietly sitting in the designated area, waiting to warm up.
Exams
There will be quarterly exams and final exams for this class. The other tests will be singing tests. In order to be a successful choir, the members must know their notes and words. These dates may be given in advance, but there is the possibility of the singing tests being POP quizzes. If you cheat, or talk during a test, you will have your test taken, and you will receive a zero. No exceptions.
Grades will be determined by points, so there is NO rounding.
Class Attendance/Participation/Attitude 5 pts a day
Concert/Performance attendance and behavior 50 pts per performance
Midterm Exam 50 pts
Final Exam 100 pts each
Singing Test 15 pts each
Concert/ Music Reports 25 pts each
Theory assignments 10 pts each
Concert Reflection 15 pts each
Other Assignments 15 pts each
You are highly encouraged to take private voice lessons as a part of your vocal experience at RMHS. Please sign up at the beginning of each semester. Lessons will be offered during seminar, lunch, and after-school. Students who take privately will be expected to perform at the Solo/Ensemble Festival at RMHS and any other recital your voice
teacher is holding.
Please write all night or seminar rehearsals and performance dates in your class assignment book that the school provides for you as soon as information becomes available to you.
Dresses and Tuxedos will be assigned before the first concert. Please make
certain to return these uniforms in the condition that they were checked
out in. Failure to do so will result in fines for repair. To ensure that each student is wearing clean attire, a $20 dry-cleaning fee is due the second Friday after school has started. Failure to pay this dry-cleaning fee will result in not being assigned attire, and therefor not being allowed to perform in the concerts.
