West Hills High School
Concert Choir

If Music Be The Food of Love (High School performance)

If Music Be The Food of Love (Alternate listening track)

Festival Sanctus

Osifuni Mungu

Everytime I Feel The Spirit

Following Listening tracks to be added soon:

The Lion King Medley

Rhythm of Life

If Music Be The Food Of Love

Broadway Ladies

Newsies Medley

The following dates are mandatory. Please mark them on your calendar

*Festivals, trips/tours, choir retreats, rehearsals, and performances will be made final as soon as possible and may be scheduled during the year with at minimum of two weeks notice given. Please know that you will be held accountable to these dates as well. As stated in the syllabus, they are mandatory unless you are severely ill, or have a school or religious conflict*

Download 2009/2010 Syllabus here.

West Hills High School
Concert Choir 2009/2010
Director: Rachel Scott
Phone: 619-956-0561      Email: rscott@guhsd.net

 

COURSE EXPECTATIONS
 
 
I.  OVERALL OBJECTIVES
To develop an aesthetic sensitivity to choral music as an art form; to gain an understanding of musicianship and musical styles; to further develop the voice; and to work as a cohesive unit, each individual contributing their talents.  Performing is a major component of this class.  The material covered and the literature studied are directly related to this end and attendance at all performances is mandatory.
 
II.  TEXT AND MATERIALS
A sight singing book/packet will be assigned to each student.  In addition, each student will be assigned a numbered folder with music.  The student is responsible for each of these items.  Any book, folder, or music that is damaged or lost must be replaced at the student’s expense.  Students will be required to have a pencil at rehearsal at all times.
 
III.  PARTICIPATION/PERFORMANCES
Concert Choir is an advanced auditioned only group.  It is a co-curricular class, meaning that instruction occurs during the school day with performances and limited rehearsals on occasional nights. There are also regularly scheduled sectional rehearsals outside of class (lunch and after school), as well as occasional lunch rehearsal for combined choir rehearsals. All of these activities are mandatory.  Only severe illness and school or religious conflicts will be considered for absence from a mandatory scheduled event.  Any exception MUST be worked out, in writing, with Ms. Scott no less than 2 weeks prior to the event.  If the student is unable to attend a performance due to illness, the parent should call or e-mail Ms. Scott in a timely manner.  Included in this packet is a comprehensive performance calendar for the year.  Students will be held accountable for these dates and any future dates that might be added in a timely manner.  Failure to attend a scheduled performance will be reflected in the student’s grade and may jeopardize the student’s future participation in the choral program.
 
IV.  EXPECTATIONS
Because of the intense nature of this course, students must have an extraordinarily high level of commitment and self- motivation.  Students must also be well-disciplined and able to work in large, as well as small groups with or without the benefit of an adult instructor.  All parents are encouraged to contribute by volunteering as chaperones, acting as drivers for field trips and performances, and assisting in the coordination of performances, benefits, events, and tours as necessary.
 
V.  OVERVIEW OF GRADING  
 
40 %   Participation and Attitude - Determined by the student’s attendance, actions, and attitude while in rehearsals, performances, sectional rehearsals, on field trips, and while working with other students. Point System: Attendance/Participation +10 points/day; Tardiness -5 points /day; Disruptive behavior -2 to -10 points/day.

20 %   Class Work/Assignments/Special Projects - Includes music theory lessons, homework, or assignments such as uniforms, deadlines, permission slips, activities, and related responsibilities.  At other times of the year, this category includes auditions, written critiques, and extra-curricular assignments.
 
20 %  Concert Attendance and Responsibilities - Includes promptness and attendance at all performances (concerts, festivals, competitions, field trips, and tour concerts) and dress rehearsals as  well as other responsibilities (set up, take down, clean up, etc.).  All performances are mandatory.
 
20 %    Tests, Quizzes, and Vocal Exams - Given one to two times per grading period.  Graded areas include basic music theory skills (written tests), sight singing tests, note accuracy, tone quality, breathing, diction, memorization, etc. (solo/ensemble tests).
 
VI.  STUDENT BEHAVIORS WHICH AFFECT EARNED GRADE
 
A.  Concert Attendance – Only exception; MUST be worked out, in writing, with Ms. Scott no less than 2 weeks prior to the event.  If a student fails to attend a scheduled performance, the earned grade could drop as much as a whole letter grade.  Only severe illness and school or religious conflicts will be considered an excused absence from the concert.
 
B.  Discipline Plan for Unacceptable Behavior - Includes gum chewing, eating or drinking during class, tardiness, talking, cell phone text messaging, rudeness, inattentiveness, etc.
1st offense - warning, loss of points
2nd offense - loss of points, contact parents, possible detention, 1st Referral, and “U” for conduct grade
Further offenses - further loss of points, Referral written to VP (upon 3rd Referral, student is dropped from class)
 
C.  Excessive Absence - Faithful attendance is vital to the success of any cooperative activity, especially choir.  Irregular attendance has a negative effect on individual student growth, as well as the overall group sound.  Planned absences must be discussed with the director in advance.  

D.  Excessive Tardiness - Students must be in their assigned seats with their folders by the last bell.  Students not in their seats will be considered tardy. After the 2nd tardy participation points will be docked and any written work will count for half credit.  Excessive tardiness will result in the student being placed on a Behavioral Contract.  Further tardiness may result in being dropped from the class.
 
E.  Uniforms/Grooming - Each choir student is expected to participate in fundraising.  Fundraising helps provide for uniform maintenance, purchase of a choir shirt, accompanist’s pay, and administrative costs for the program.  Boys must purchase black socks, and black dress shoes to wear with their tuxedo.  Girls must purchase a long slip, skin-tone nylons (knee-highs are fine), and black character shoes with no higher than 2-inch heels to wear with their dress. Students are expected to be neatly groomed at all performances with uniforms neatly pressed.  Girls’ hair long enough to touch the collar must be worn in a fashion that keeps it out of the eyes or pinned back.  Shorter hair must be kept off the face. Make-up should be used tastefully.  Necklaces, bracelets, watches, rings, facial jewelry, earrings and tongue studs (girls and boys) are not to be worn. Boys should be clean-shaven with hair combed neatly back off the face.  If these stated standards are not met, points will be deducted from the student’s performance points and the student may not be allowed to perform. 

 F. Donations and Fundraising- Each choir student is asked to make a $150 choir donation for the year which helps provide for uniform maintenance, purchase of a choir shirt, accompanist’s pay, sheet music and administrative costs for the program. If you cannot afford to pay the full donation, fundraisers will be provided to assist in reaching the $150 goal. Each choir student is asked to participate in fundraising to help with the group costs of a choral program. Please turn in your choir donation on or before Friday October 2nd. Please make checks payable to West Hills High School.

VII. PRE-REHEARSAL PROCEDURES:
 
1) Upon entering, all food, drinks (other than water bottles), and gum must be disposed of, or placed away from the risers.

2) Find your folder and begin to organize your music in the rehearsal order that will be posted on the whiteboard.  This process will take a little time, so please plan to
arrive at least a few minutes before the beginning of class to ensure that you are prepared when the bell rings.

3) When the bell rings, please be in your assigned position and ready to begin with your music organized.
 
VIII.  REHEARSAL TECHNIQUES & PROCEDURES
 
A.  An effective rehearsal requires total involvement–mentally and physically.  As a member of Concert Choir, the student must accept any challenge set before them and give 100% for the group every day.  Participation in rehearsal and performances is expected to be:
1)positive
2) enthusiastic
3) cheerful
4) willing to please 5) polite
6)accepting of new ideas
7) attentive
8) supportive
9) hard-working

B.  Students are expected to use good singing posture at all times and have a pencil at each rehearsal.
C.  Absolutely NO gum, food, or sodas are allowed in class.  Bottled water is permitted.
D.  Cell phones are not permitted on the risers during rehearsal.  Phones must be turned OFF and left in the student’s backpack or in their choir folder slot.  Text messaging during rehearsal will result in an immediate referral.
E.  Warm-up time must not be taken lightly.  This time is extremely important in developing pitch awareness, blend, range, vowel formation, and especially in focusing the rehearsal.
F. Students must be in their assigned seats by the final bell ready to begin rehearsal and should not leave their seat without permission.  Students will sing their assigned parts unless the director grants permission otherwise.
G.  Students are urged to ask any questions of a personal nature before or after rehearsal, NOT during announcements, discussion, or rehearsal time.
H.  If, for any reason, a student cannot sing on a given day, he/she must let the director know BEFORE class.  If this practice becomes excessive, the student will be given a written assignment to make up the lost rehearsal points.
I.  All grooming should take place at home or in the restroom and NOT in class.
J.  Treat EVERYONE in the classroom (students, teacher, accompanist, choreographer, substitute) with courtesy and respect. Likewise, treat our room, furnishings, and equipment with respect
 
IX.  SCHOOL WEBSITES
A. westhillschoir.com- Our choir website will keep you updated with videos and photos of our choirs, along with news and information about the program, and its events throughout the year.

B. charmsoffic.com: Students will use this site on a regular basis to access assigned materials, view our choir calendar, listen to recordings of our music and log practice times etc. Parents will use this site on a regular basis to access forms and handouts and regular real time updates about our upcoming events on the calendar.  You need to check charms on a regular basis for calendar updates. Student/Parent login is your student id number.

    

 

Music

Academic content standards for Visual and Performing Arts in grades nine through twelve, adopted by the California State Board of Education.

Proficient
Advanced
Glossary