Wiki Page, MIXED CHORUS B: Course Syllabus

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2024-12-01T15:11:20-08:00

RENTON HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR PROGRAM

WELCOME and INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Renton High School Choir Program! The Renton HS Choir program forms a vital and important part of the total high school experience. We strive to be community-oriented and perform at various functions around the Renton region.

The Renton HS Choir program offers students an opportunity to perform and sing in concert performances at school and various other venues. Students are encouraged to explore their creativity through the aesthetic communication of various styles of choral music.

The main emphasis of the choir program is on musicianship and the pride of accomplishment, followed closely by citizenship, tradition, morale, spirit, and loyalty. It is the pride of a job well done and the accomplishments achieved that make the sacrifices worthwhile. It is possible, by setting your schedule in a reasonable manner, to have a highly successful choral career and still maintain high scholastic standing. The success of the organization will lead to the success of the individual and vice versa.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Best way to get in touch with me is through email. My email is jerry.lim@rentonschools,us

Warmly,

Jerry Lim, Renton HS Choirs

CHORAL MUSIC CURRICULUM:

Vocal Production - Consistent tone; breathing through a phrase; intonation; vowel placements; diction; etc.

Rehearsal techniques and strategies - Effort; focus and concentration; listening; teamwork; etc.

Tonal Blend - Harmony; balance; a cappella; etc.

Musical Aesthetic and Stylistic Elements of Singing - Phrasing; dynamics; tone quality; balance; etc.

Concert Etiquette - Posture; focus and concentration; quiet listening; etc.

Listening Skills - Aural discrimination; recall; critical analysis of performances

Music Theory - Note reading; rhythmic dictation; melodic dictation; etc.

Music History - Biographies; contextual information on music; etc.

Various Styles of Music Selections - Baroque; Classical; Contemporary; Broadway; Jazz; etc.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

The Renton HS Choir program is aimed as a year-long course. Students are expected to show effort in daily rehearsals and working as a team. Listening and following directions are important to building and developing the choir. Selections of music are chosen to compliment the skills and proficiencies of the choral group, not to student expectations of Top 40s. The Renton HS Choir performs at least three evening concerts throughout the year, in addition to various field trips and festivals, etc. Students are expected to attend all scheduled performances unless excused/pre-arranged with teacher.

Renton High School Choirs 2024 - 2025 Tentative Choir Schedule

Date: Day: Time: Event:

March 11th Tues 6:30-7:30PM Trimester 1 Evening RHS Choir Concert

Call time will be 5:30PM to get ready with stage warm-ups and quick run-throughs.

Renton HS Choir Classroom Rules and Procedures

It is my duty to keep a safe learning environment in the classroom. It is your responsibility as a choir member to contribute the best you have to offer to the classroom. Remember, all classroom rules supplement the school rules. All rules apply to outside school activities. To help us learn and do our best, the following is a list of classroom rules:

1) NO GUM in the Choir classroom.

2) Students will need to leave their cellphone, sign out and use a Hall Pass to be excused from classroom. Only one student may be excused at a time. Take care not to disrupt the rest of the class as you sign out to leave the classroom or when you enter. Students will not be excused 10 minutes at the beginning and end of the class.

3) Please remove hats while in class.

4) Do not disrupt the class. Since disruptions affect others, this is the rule I emphasize. Disruptions include blurting out, talking out without being called on, making extra and non-constructive comments, asking questions that are off-topic, being argumentative, talking while the teacher or a fellow student is speaking, being off-task, playing with toys, hitting or harassing your neighbor, profanity, yelling, putting on make-up or chapstick, making noise outside of the classroom so that it can be heard inside, purposely not singing correctly, and so on... You are old enough to know what is, and is not disruptive. Continued disruptive behavior will result in detention/detentions or office referral. Disruptive behavior will result in lowered grade.

Order of Disciplinary Action in the Classroom:

1. Verbal Warning

2. 5 Minute Lunch Conference

3. Phone Call to Parent

4. 30 Minute After School Detention (on a Friday) and Phone Call to Parent

5. 60 Minute After School Detention (on a Friday) and Phone Call to Parent

6. Referral to an Administrator

If for any reason, the safety of any person is or will be compromised, immediate removal from class may be carried out without warning.

Note: Disruptive, non-cooperative behavior for a substitute teacher: 1st Incident-teacher will assign consequence and notify home. Repeated disruptive behavior for a substitute teacher will result in an office referral. All students must serve all detentions. Any student who fails to serve a detention will have the detention doubled. If those detentions are not served, a short-term suspension will be given.

Attendance:

If you have 2 or more unexcused significant tardies (longer than 5 minutes) a Referral will need to be filled out and may be referred to the office. You must be in your assigned seat when and after the bell rings, otherwise you will be marked tardy. Tardies and absences do affect your grade negatively. Please consider the consequences of your choices. The decision to be late or on time to class is yours. Please do not spend time socializing in hallways and then rush to class at the very last minute.

Assignments:

Assignments are due as assigned to facilitate timely grading. Late work due to an excused absence must be turned in on the day of return. Special cases will be considered if arrangements are made with parental contact. Assignments on CANVAS will close after due date!

Concert Attendance:

A portion of your grade is dependent on your concert attendance and performance. Please be on time for warm-ups before concert performances. While waiting for your turn to go on stage, students need to sit quietly and be attentive to other group’s performances. Poor concert etiquette will result in lowered concert grade. The appropriate demonstration of audience skills is one of the state learning goals. When you are not performing, you should listen politely to other performers. You should NOT draw attention to yourself, but reflect positive attention onto the performers on stage.

Excused absences are accepted in the event of personal illness or death in the family. Failure to appear at a scheduled practice or performance without proper notice will result in a failing grade for that event. It is impossible to make-up a performance and the other members carry an extra burden because of someone else’s inconsideration. Extenuating circumstances should be discussed with the director PRIOR to the event. Make-up assignments will only be given if absences are of a serious nature AND accompanied by a parent letter. Forgetting to show up for a performance is not an acceptable excuse. Transportation problems or work schedules also need to be resolved by the student prior to the performances. The attendance policy in the Renton High School Student Handbook will be utilized and enforced in addition to classroom attendance policies.

Concert Attire and Fees:

Mixed Choir members – We will decide on Concert Attire in class. The past years, Mixed Choir has chosen to wear black shirt tops and black pants/skirts bottoms.

All choir members should be neatly groomed, without the use of perfume or cologne. No hats or head coverings are used, unless they are a cultural requirement. Sagging pants are not appropriate.

Renton HS School Choir Grading Procedures

The following is a simple breakdown of how students will be graded.

Category Weight

Classroom Effort and Participation 40%

Concert/Performance Average 20%

Assignments/Quizzes 40%

__________________________________ ______________________

Total 100%

* Special Education students are exempt from these grading procedures.

* Extra credit modifiers may be available at the discretion of the director.

Classroom Participation

Classroom participation is defined as singing out to be heard; excellent posture while singing; focusing on lesson and not on friends; participating in classroom discussions; working on assignments. Disruptive behavior and over-socializing will result in poor classroom participation grades.

A-/A 90-100% (Superior) Strong singing; Volunteering; Very straight posture; Not talking back; Very focused.

B-/B/B+ 80-89.9%(Excellent) Singing; Not talking; Mediocre posture; Cooperating; Not distracted.

C-/C/C+ 70-79.9%(Fair) A little bit of singing; Some slouching; Some talking; Little distracted.

D+/D/F 0-69.9% (Needs work) Little/no effort in singing; Slouching; Distracted/Distracts class; Talking; Arguing/Talking back; Giving Opinions at Inappropriate Times; Off-task.

Performance Average

Student attendance at a performance, planned rehearsal, or planned function will typically receive full credit. Poor concert etiquette will result in lowered concert grade. Absences will result in a failing grade for that event. Performances cannot be made up. Parents may discuss special situations PRIOR to the event with the director. Alternate assignments are available for EXCUSED absences.

Assignments/ Quizzes

Students will need to complete assignments in class. These will be posted on CANVAS.

Online Grade Progress

Grades can be checked online on the Skyward school access to review your child’s choir classroom grade progress. Please feel free to contact me if there are any concerns about your student’s progress.