As many of you know, choir is a little different from other classes because we perform! Music offers so many students the same skills that they would receive if playing a sport like teamwork, discipline, problem solving, performance practice and a huge amount of creativity.  Work in class is evaluated on the process of making music and the product of making music. 

Choir Fee: each student needs to pay a $15.00 choir activity fee. This helps cover activity costs for the year like All-State auditions fees, Regional Choir activity fees.

What your child will be learning…

GRHS:

Concert Choir - This choir is open to all students and is a beginning to intermediate level choir. Varied range of music is performed in unison to three part harmony. Basic skills in music literacy, music history and musical styles are developed. 

Chorale- An advanced mixed treble and bass voice choir. Traditional choral music in 4-6 parts are experienced. Further study in music literacy, musical styles theory and vocal development. Students in Chorale will be able to audition for district Honors Choir each fall.

Pack-n-Harmony (Pack)- An advanced Auditioned small group jazz/commercial music choir. Jazz and contemporary commercial music is performed in this group. 4-8 part harmony music. Advanced rhythms, improvisation, harmonies and literacy is practiced. Performance technique and further vocal development is covered. Students in this class are required to also learn music and perform with the Chorale as well as audition for All-State Choir. Outside of the class time practicing is expected, and taking the Chorale Choir is encouraged. We are planning to take this group to the Jazz Festival in February and they also perform at swingin’ on the green.

Treble - An intermediate to advanced all treble voice choir. Music with 3-6 part harmony. A varied range of repertoire which includes chamber music, jazz, a cappella, and traditional choral music. Continuing work on rhythm and reading music, vocal development and performing is covered in this class. This class is planning on performing at Jazz Festival in February and also singing at Swingin’ on the Green.

Choir Class Rehearsal Guidelines

1. Please be on time and ready to sing in your seat when the bell rings and throughout the class period.

2. Have only your choir folder and pencil out during the class period, cellphones are not permitted. Choir is a time to think creatively and learn kinesthetically, aurally and visually. Cellphones only hinder and stifle this kind of learning environment.

3. No beverages or food other than water.

4. Raise your hand and wait to be called upon if you wish to speak.

5. Participate fully in class throughout the rehearsal period.

Behavioral Redirections 

When a student doesn’t follow a guideline, he/she will receive a WARNING as a consequence. The second time he/she will receive a Behavioral Redirection Form which they must fill out and evaluate their own behavior, rehearsal points will be lost for the day. The third time a student doesn’t follow guidelines, they must fill out the Behavioral Redirection Form, will lose rehearsal points for the day and parents will be made aware through phone or email. 

Cell Phone Policy

Please refer to the GRHS Handbook for details on the cellphone policy, cell phones are not to be used in class at all. I recommend students keeping them in their back pack or in the wall pockets. If a cell phone is seen out, students must take the cellphone to the office, please refer to the GRHS Handbook for more details on this policy.

Standard Music Procedures

• Be ready to sing, at your seat with music when the bell rings

• Bathroom - one student can use the bathroom at a time. The student must sign out with the online system. If you do not want to be tardy, please wait until after the bell has rung and roll has been taken.

• If you need to speak with a counselor or nurse, notify your section leader, the teacher or accompanist so he/she knows and sign out online with instructor permission.

• Late passes go on my music stand when entering.

• When singing and sitting maintain good posture while singing

• Make sure to read any announcements on the board

• Practice rooms must have a light on when occupied, no food is allowed in the practice rooms.

• If you are unable to sing due to bad health or another issue, speak with me at the beginning of class. If sitting out is approved, you must sit where the director can see you, the cell phone policy still applies to you. Daily rehearsal points will be adjusted.  If you can’t sing due to illness, but still follow along with your music in your seat, you will receive your full rehearsal points for the day. Narnia is off limits unless you have instructor permission.

• Required Materials: Music and Folder is provided. Please have a pencil. 

1) Why do we have Guidelines and Behavioral Redirections? 

The Guidelines and Redirections ensures that every student has an equal opportunity to learn. By creating clear guidelines, every student can be treated fairly and therefore have the opportunity to be successful. When students do not follow a guideline, they are hurting the environment for other students. As a result, they will receive the appropriate consequences as listed above. Consequences only occur when students choose to ignore rehearsal guidelines. 

2) What happens if I come to school, but feel too sick to sing during rehearsal? 

First, you must immediately tell me at the beginning of class that you are too sick to vocally participate. You are then expected to sit quietly in your normally assigned chair with your music out and a pencil. You must follow along with what the choir is doing, making the appropriate markings in the music; your participation grade will not be penalized. In addition, you may be asked to participate in other ways such as filling out a written evaluation to be graded, making verbal comments, etc. A GENTLE REMINDER: ONLY CHOIR MATERIAL MAY BE OUT, EVEN WHEN SICK. Should you not participate appropriately, you will lose all your points off of your daily calculated Participation Grade. Under special circumstances you may sit to the side of the group. If you do, you will not receive your participation points for the day and cellphones must not be used.

3) What happens if I need to use the bathroom during class?

Please sign out with the chromebook at the door. 

4) What happens if I forget to bring my music binder to class? 

You must inform your teacher that you are unprepared at the beginning of class and they will give you a borrowed binder for the period or you may need to share. ½ daily rehearsal points are docked for being unprepared.

5) What happens if I lose my music binder? 

You will be appropriately charged for losing the music and will receive new music. You will not be marked unprepared for the days you are using a borrowed binder once you pay to replace the binder. Please speak to Mrs. Egeland.

GRADING POLICY...

Grading is based on:

1. 50% - Daily work in class with rehearsal: a daily grade of 20 points per day, or 100 points per week is given for rehearsal effort. 

2. 20% - Quizzes/tests - There is a final test based on musical literacy and vocal production improvement at the end of each semester worth 120 points, and 2 part checks each semester worth 40 points each.

3. 30% - Concert performance and attendance

(Concert attendance is considered mandatory. If a concert is missed and excused due to illness, a student must make-up for the missed concert by completing an assignment equal to what was missed.)

What Makes up the 50% daily participation grade?

The daily participation grade consists of 4 points per day with a weekly total of 20 points per week.

4 points= above level. The student is meeting or exceeding expectations during rehearsal

3 points=at level. The student is needs improvement in only one or two areas during rehearsal.

2points=below level. The student is only meeting half the expectations or less.

1point=basic. The student is present, in their seat, but not performing or putting in any effort in rehearsal.

PREPARED: A student is considered prepared for class when they have completed all of the following: a) have their folder, music, and a pencil at rehearsal b) hands in any specified assignments such as permission slips on due date c) places all non-choir related materials under specified assigned seat. d) exits the choir room with all assigned choir-related materials 

*ACTIVE PARTICIPATION WHEN TOO SICK TO SING: If a student is not singing due to illness, they are still expected to participate, just as they would in any other class. Participation means a student has their music out, follows along, and makes appropriate markings in their music in order to effectively learn and gain knowledge from the daily rehearsal. 

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS AND FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS: There are typical expectations that are expected on a daily basis. Each student should: a) Start participating in the warm-up immediately after the bell rings (if entering class after warm-up begins, either immediately joining the warm-up or entering the room quietly) b) Follow all directions given by Mrs. Forbush and/or designated leader c) Demonstrate focus throughout the rehearsal d) Demonstrate proper eye contact with Mrs Forbush at all times e) Make appropriate markings and corrections in the music f) Raise hand before speaking g) Listen and follow along in the music when others are singing h) Demonstrate proper body alignment during times of singing and non-singing instruction i) Hold music properly when singing or reading 

Overall Participation receives the full 4 daily points. A student receives only ½ participation points based on the following rubric:

-4 daily points...

-I begin the warm-up on time and am focused on my own personal growth at the beginning of class. 

-I am motivated to be successful and try to stay focused. 

-I try to be on task. I try to stay engaged and am in the right place in the music, and begin singing with the group.

-My body alignment is good. I consistently sit or stand with proper alignment.

-I engage in eye contact with my director when singing.

-I make appropriate markings in their music when I am told to do so. 

-When asked to do something new or we sing a song I don’t like, it’s hard to want to give 100%. but I try to stay positive and engaged.

Concert Expectations

1. A large part of your grade is concert performances, all CONCERTS AND DRESS REHEARSALS are mandatory.

2. You must stay through the full performance unless excused by me in order to receive your full grade.

3. Cell phones are not permitted on stage.

4. Expect 30 minute early arrival ready to sing dressed in concert attire.

Concert Attire

1. Chorale: Black pants, black collared shirt, black dress, Floor Length, sleeves need to be over the shoulder. Black shoes. Skirt or dress must be floor Length and tops must have a neckline no longer than 2 inches below the collar bone. For masculine shirts, Kelly green ties will be provided. Please see the Concert Attire tab on our website for Amazon links!

2. Pack-n-Harmony - black attire of your choice with GRHS Kelley Green accent (must be KELLEY green) Skirts must be below the knee or longer and shoulders must be covered.

3. Concert - all black attire same as Chorale

4. Tri-Tones - Green dresses provided, These will be checked out at the beginning of the year. If you would like to keep your dress or if you lose your dress you must pay a $30 fee. 2024 - tri tones is a large group this year and we don’t have enough green dresses. We will be dressing in all black in the same attire as chorale and concert choir.

5. Please see that your concert clothes are taken care of throughout the year, cleaned, pressed and hemmed.

When Traveling out of town for Festivals or other performances it is important that students represent the school: Students must abide by the same dress standards as the school handbook.

What makes up the 30% Performance/Assessment portion of my grade? 

It is a requirement that all choir members attend concerts. In addition, all students are required to attend any concert that is an official choir performance, provided ample notice is given. In the event that students/families have specific conflicts on additional concerts, the excuses will be evaluated on an individual basis, provided ample notice was provided by the student and the legitimacy of the excuse, as deemed by Mrs Forbush. There will be a grade given for all concerts. The grade of any concert will be as follows: 25% for arriving on time, 25% for being dressed appropriately and properly prepared, 25% for attentiveness during the rehearsal and while times of non-performing, 25% for focus on stage and during the performance.

What makes up the 20% Quiz/Testing Grade?

During Class each semester there will be several assessments  given. Students may be tested on their understanding of music, sight-reading, marking music, memorization of lyrics, and any other concept learned in class. Written and performance assessments will take place both in rehearsals, and Google Classroom. All assessments in this performance/assessment category will collectively comprise 20% of your overall grade. 

Examples of assessments:

Music reading and literacy assessments, music mastery part check assessments.