Burke High School Vocal Music Handbook

2016-2017 “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” -Jimi Hendrix

David Groth, Director of Choirs Victory Sedlacek, Accompanist

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Welcome

Hello parents, guardians, and students! Welcome back to the Burke Choir family! I hope you will all welcome me into the family. One of the main goals for this year is consistency and better rehearsal behavior. This will put us at a level we have NEVER been. We have many new singers this year, so it is paramount that we start this right away to avoid behavior that will slow us down. This year we will focus on having pride in what we do; making sure that everything we do is for the good of the group and the development of great musicians and great human beings. Music helps us develop life skills but it does not come easily. We will be diligent and precise and the fun will come in conjunction with excellence. Be prepared to SIGHT READ every day! I firmly believe that this will make the level of our choirs grow exponentially. Remember that I am here for you and will help you in any way that I can. However, being in a choir is a group effort, and you MUST put in the effort to make us GREAT! I hope you have a great year! May music warm the heart and soothe the soul, David J. Groth, Director of Choirs david.groth@ops.org 402-557-3253 In this handbook: 1. Classroom procedures & rules…………..……....3 2. Concert dress/appearance & grading……............4 3. Choir Council……………………………….…...5 4. Honors credit…….................................................6 5. Forms..................................................................7-11 6. Calendar of Events...………………………..….13 *I reserve the right to revise this handbook at any time, provided ample notice.* -Mr. G

burkechoirs.weebly.com

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Classroom Procedures

1. Obtain folder from folder cabinet 2. Put cell phone in folder slot 3. begin bell work 4. Put sheet music in order as written on the board 5. Mark important instructions in your music with a PENCIL! 6. Perform how you practice & practice how you perform

Classroom Rules

1. RESPECT the learning environment, other learners, materials, and the teacher 2. FOLLOW all instructions given by Mr. Groth or Ms. Sedlacek 3. TRY your hardest EVERY DAY!

Attendance/Illness Policy

Daily Rehearsals: If you are ill and feel as though you cannot sing, please inform me so you can use one of your sick days. You will have 2 sick days per semester that you can use. You will not lose participation points for excused absences. Students with doctors' notes are also excused. If you are too sick to sing, you should probably stay home!

Concerts are similar to unit or chapter tests in other classes. Your personal attendance is mandatory. ALL absences will need to be made up. Excused absences may be made up in one of two ways: 1) Sing your portion of the concert accurately on your part and your own time with Mr. Groth.

You may not use class time to do so. 2) Complete a concert review regarding all of the literature sang on the concert. Information

expected on this review will pertain to composers, ensemble performance, etc. You will not be chased down to complete the work. Completion of make-up work is your responsibility. Unexcused absences (skipping the concert, attending a conflicting non-school event, failure to secure a ride, not having uniform ready to go, not telling your parents, etc.) will only be eligible for 50% credit. Your make-up work will be a report chosen from a variety of topics. You will have 2 days to complete the report.

Call time for ALL CONCERTS is 6:15 p.m.

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Concert Dress and Appearance

Unless you are told specifically otherwise, robes will be worn at all public performances. Dress

for underneath the robes is black dress pants, a dress shirt or blouse (preferably button up and

long sleeve), BLACK dress socks, and BLACK dress shoes. Women may wear skirts or dresses

with black hose only! NO flip flops or tennis shoes!! Robes are property of Burke High School.

If your robe needs special cleaning, you will be charged a $30 cleaning fee. If you lose/damage

your robe beyond repair, you will be charged $140 for its replacement!

Grading

Course grades will be determined by planned assessments such as singing tests, performances, quizzes, and projects scored with rubrics. These tests will be, but not limited to, singing tests, memory tests, sight-singing tests, performance tests, and daily assessments made by the teacher. All coursework and assessments are judged based on the level of student learning from “below basic” to “advanced.” This course will provide multiple opportunities to achieve at the “proficient” to “advanced” levels. Students are evaluated based on a proficiency scale or project rubric. Proficiency scales for this course are available upon request (teacher will identify location such as portal, teacher website, attached, etc.) For the standards based grading scale, refer to the Burke High School Student Handbook pages 11 and 12.

1. Formative Assessments (35%) Students will be given daily assessment points based on classroom participation and

completion of classroom activities.

Students will also have listening evaluations where they will evaluate the performances of other choirs using a scoring rubric similar to the district contest

evaluation sheet. “Spot checks” in quartets or trios if necessary. Periodic score checks may take place throughout each year. The director should be able

to look through your music and see at least some pencil marks (circled missed notes,

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breath marks, etc). These will not be announced so make sure you are doing this during rehearsals!

Additional assignments including basic music theory may be given with ample notice from the teacher 2. Summative Assessments (65%) 10 points per day Singing tests. Students will have several singing tests to assess part retention, progress, and memory. Tests will be done during class. Sight singing tests. These are individual tests each student will complete every quarter. Performances. Performances are considered summative assessments and are a requirement of every choir course! Written tests & quizzes. Periodic written tests and quizzes will be issued to assess retention of vocabulary and concepts

Choir Council

Student leaders are very important to the success of any choir program. The Burke Choir Council consists of 18 student leaders, described below:

President: A Junior or Senior elected by the students in the Concert Choir, this person presides over choir council meetings (called by Mr. Groth) and assists Mr. Groth during contests and concerts by helping warm-up choir(s) and keeping things organized. This person is Mr. Groth’s righthand man (or woman). Vice-President: A Junior or Senior elected by the students in the Concert Choir. If for any reason the President cannot be present for a meeting or is ill during a concert, the duties will be taken over by the Vice-President. The Vice-President also assists the President when needed. Secretary: Elected by the students in Concert Choir. The Secretary records minutes during Council meetings and assists the President and Vice-President with paperwork duties. Librarians: By teacher appointment. Responsible for collection, distribution, and maintenance of music and the choral library. Choir representative: Treble Ensemble, Men’s Chorus, & Treble Chorus will each elect a representative to sit on the choir council. This person is also in charge of their choir’s social activities. Section Leaders: Four per choir: one soprano, one alto, one tenor, and one bass. Selected by Mr. Groth via the section leader application form submitted by those students interested in holding a section leader position. Concert Choir, Treble Ensemble, & Show Choirs only.

Elections will take place the second week of school.

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Honors Concert Choir & Treble Ensemble Along with the expectations listed above, students taking concert choir and/or women’s choir for honors are expected to complete these requirements each semester: Option 1: Complete a performance evaluation of 6 different choral pieces that compare to the voicing of the group that they are a part of (SATB or SSA). These evaluations can be of a live performance (must provide concert program) or a youtube video (must provide video title) When listening to each choral piece, discuss each NSAA district music contest trait on a scale of 1 to 5 (1=exceptional, 5=poor)

• Tone (beauty, blend, control) • Intonation (tonality awareness, pitch center, unisons/intervals/chords) • Precision/Facility (accuracy in rhythms, notes, etc.) • Balance (voices, melodies, harmonies, accompaniments • Expression/Interpretation (phrase shape/style contrasts in tempos & dynamics) • Diction (enunciation, clarity of consonants, purity/naturalness of vowels, diphthongs,

etc.) Review Format

• Typed in a 12 size, legible font (Times New Roman, Calibri, or Ariel) • Single spaced • One page per piece of literature • Name and date in top left corner, class and assignment in top right corner

Option 2: Rather than completing the 6 evaluations PER SEMESTER, you can omit evaluations by being involved in other choral activities. Below is a list of opportunities that you can choose to do for honors credit. 1st Semester

• Prepare to your ability and audition for all-state choir (Omit 3-Women’s Ensemble Only) o Students who choose this option must practice a MINIMUM of 3 times with Mr.

Groth or Ms. Sedlacek • Be selected to All-State (Omit 2) (Concert Choir: Omit 3) • Audition for All-State (Omit 1) • Audition for Winter Musical (Omit 2) • Participate in an honor choir (Omit 1)

2nd Semester

• Participate in Winter Musical (Omit 5) • Audition for District Music Contest (Omit 2)

o Students who choose this option must practice a MINIMUM of 3 times with Mr. Groth or Ms. Sedlacek

• Participate in District Music Contest (Omit 1) • Participate in an honor choir (Omit 1)

(updated July 2016)

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Statement and Acknowledgment of Guidelines and Procedures

I, _________________________ have read and understand the guidelines and regulations

outlined in this Handbook. I understand that failure to abide by the behaviors and expectations

outlined above may result in disciplinary action and/or a grade penalty. I promise to complete, to

the best of my ability, all tasks asked of me in the choir course(s) I am enrolled in. Most of all, I

promise to HAVE FUN! :)

Date: ___________

__________________________________

__________________________________

________________________________ __________________________________

**Please sign and return this page to Mr. Groth by FRIDAY, AUGUST 26TH to receive a formative grade for this handbook. *Questions? E-mail Mr. Groth at david.groth@ops.org or call at (402) 557-3253 It is going to be an OUTSTANDING year! List the name(s) of the choir(s) you are in:

(Student Signature) (Parent/Guardian Signature)

(Parent/Guardian E-mail address)

(Print Parent/Guardian Name)

(Print Student’s full name)

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�YES, I would like to help support the Vocal Music

Department!

Parent Contact Information:

Parent #1

Name:

Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

E-mail:

Parent #2

Name:

Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

E-mail:

Student Contact

Name:

Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

E-mail:

Parent #2

Name:

Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

E-mail:

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2014A15&Public&Information&Consent&For&News&Media&Release&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

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2014A15&Parental&Permission/Release&of&Reliability&

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(This form will be used throughout the entire 2016-2017 school year)

Student Name: ________________________________

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2016-2017 Choir Events E= Ensemble, O= Onyx Ovation, CC= Concert Choir, TE= Treble Ensemble, MC=

Men’s Chorus, TC= Treble Chorus, AUD= by audition only

Date Time Event Location Choir Aug. 23rd 6:30pm Show Choir Boosters Meeting Auditorium N/A

Sept. 2nd N/A Show Choir donation due Choir Room E, O

Sept. 17th 8am-12n All-State Help Session UNO AUD

Oct. 4th 7:00pm Fall Concert Auditorium ALL

Oct. 7th & 8th 3:30-5:30 All-State Auditions Choir Room AUD

Oct. 14 TBA Choreography Day Choir Room E

Nov. 7th-10th 3:05pm Musical Auditions BHS Auditorium AUD

Nov. 15th DUE Hastings Honor Choir submissions N/A AUD

Nov. 17th-19th ALL DAY All-State Choir Festival UNL AUD

Dec. 6th 7:00pm Winter Concert Auditorium ALL

Jan. 17th 7:00pm Show Choir Premiere Night Auditorium E, O

Jan. 21st TBA Ralston “Ramageddon” Ralston HS E, O

Jan. 27th-29th ALL DAY UNO BOCH Festival UNO AUD

Jan. 28th TBA Westside COE Westside HS E

Jan. 29-31 TBA BOCH Festival UNO AUD

Feb. 3rd-5th TBA All-City Holland Center AUD/CC

Feb. 11th TBA NWMSU Show Choir Festival NWMSU E

Feb. 23rd-25th 7:00pm Musical Performances Auditorium AUD

Mar. 4th TBA Viking Cup North HS E, O

Mar. 1 & 2 All Day Memory Test Choir Room ALL

Mar. 4 & 5 TBA Viking Cup North High E

Mar. 6th & 8th 3:15pm 2017-2018 Show Choir Auditions Choir Room AUD

Mar. 9th 7:00pm Vocal Music Concert Auditorium CC, TE,

MC, TC

Mar. 11th TBA Bellevue East Jazz Festival Bellevue East E, O

Mar. 24th & 25th ALL DAY Burke Jazz Festival Auditorium E, O

Apr. 26th 7:00pm Post DMC Recital BHS Auditorium AUD

May 3rd 7:00pm Final Concert BHS Auditorium ALL

May 22nd 7:00pm Graduation UNO Arena E

ALL DATES ARE TENTATIVE AND ARE SUBJECT TO

CHANGE