Middletown
High School

200 Schoolhouse Drive
Middletown, MD 21769

Chorus

Handbook

2009-2010

Ms. Jessica Parsley
Director of Choirs
Email: Jessica.Parsley@fcps.org
Phone number: 240-236-7475
www.mhshome.org

Middletown High School
Chorus

200 Schoolhouse Drive
Middletown, MD 21769

August 24, 2009

Dear Students and Parents,

Welcome to the start of another great year at Middletown High School!  Congratulations on being a member of one of the finest choral programs in the area.  It is the purpose of each choral ensemble at Middletown High School to provide an avenue of performing experience through which our students can begin to understand and appreciate music as an art, a science, a discipline, a mode of expression, and a source of enjoyment.

In the handbook that follows, you will find a description of specific choral music objectives, the grading policy, essential materials for class, tentative concert dates, and the student information form.  Please take a few minutes and review it carefully.  I hope this information serves to answer any questions you have about the choral music program. Please feel free to call or email me if you have any questions or concerns. Finally, please read this handbook carefully, sign and date the last page, and have your child return it to me by Friday August 28th.
Please keep the rest of this handbook for your information and scheduling.

Thank you for reading this so that you know what is expected of your son or daughter. 

I look forward to an exciting and musically rewarding year together!

Sincerely,

Ms. Jessica Parsley
Director of Choirs
Middletown High School
240-236-7475
Jessica.Parsley@fcps.org

Table of Contents:

I.          Cover Page                                                                  page 1

II.        Letter of Introduction                                                 page 2

III.       Classroom Goals and Expectations                            page 4

IV.       Grading Policy, Materials Consequences                   page 5
& Concert Dress        

V.        Important Dates & Chorus Trips                                page 6

VI.       Rehearsals, Choral Boosters                                       page 7

VII.     Choral Handbook Form                                              page 8

GOALS

• Students will develop a better understanding of music and singing.
• Students will develop, practice, and exhibit good vocal technique which includes:
• Connecting deep efficient breathing with their singing to produce a well-supported tone.  A crucial part of this is good posture.
• Singing with the best tone quality possible on the correct vowel sounds.
• Singing with the proper principles of articulation and diction
• Singing musical phrases in the proper style.
• Singing expressively at all dynamic levels.
• Working as a choir to produce a well blended and balanced sound among and within the sections.
• Students will exhibit proper rehearsal skills:  listening, trying with total effort, taking notes, repeating a musical segment until it is correct, etc.
• Each student will improve his/her sight-reading skills.
• Students will sing in tune.
• Students will learn about the theory, analysis, and composition of the music.
• Students will learn about the history and human elements of the music they are studying.
• Students will develop the ability to make aesthetic judgments.
• Students will grow in social and citizenship skills as a result of their choral experience.
• Students will attend choral performances.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS: When accepting membership in the MHS Concert Choir or Vocal ensemble, you agree to perform to the best of your abilities and cooperate with all members and leaders of the choral program in making your chorus the finest musical organization that our combined efforts can produce.  Our success will come from the pride and satisfaction you will feel when you know you have done your best.  With this in mind, it is important that the following guidelines be followed:

• When the bell rings for class, be seated quietly in your seat with all materials.
• Bring a pencil and your music to every rehearsal.
• Have a positive attitude.
• Show consistent effort.
• No class disruptions or interruptions will be tolerated.
• Sing with a correct singing posture.
• Show respect to others with your language and conduct.
• There is to be no food or drink in the music area of the school.
• Report on time to all rehearsal, classes and performances.
• Listen carefully to all instructions and follow them precisely.
• Practice your part until you can perform it well, and help those around you.
• Support all those who are attempting to help and lead you.

MATERIALS:

• Choir folder and music
• Pencil (NO PENS)
• Theory Workbook (for $6)
• Choir polo
• Concert attire (see below)

GRADING:
Rehearsal Participation & Contribution          40%
Performance Attendance & Contribution       35%
Quizzes and Assignments                               25%

Rehearsal Participation & Contribution grades (40%) are earned by being present and on time, and meeting the Classroom Expectations.  Students earn 5 points for each rehearsal they attend.  An unexcused absence will result in earning 0 points.  1 point may be subtracted for each occurrence of the following:  tardiness, talking, chewing gum, not singing, not participating, lack of focus, disrespectful attitude, poor posture, misplaced book bag, missing music, causing distractions, and other things at the discretion of the director.

Performance Attendance and Contribution grades (35%) are earned by being present, on time, in proper attire, and participating positively and fully.  An unexcused absence will result in earning 0 points. 

Reminder: Any kind of job is not an excuse for missing rehearsals or a concert.  If you have a conflict, you must let Ms. Parsley know AT LEAST two weeks prior to a performance, or 1 day prior to a rehearsal. 

CONSEQUENCES:

• Warning
• Student-teacher conference
• Parent – teacher phone conference
• After school detention
• Conference/consequences with an administrator
• Removal from class

CONCERT DRESS:

Concert Choir: Choir robes owned by school
Ladies:  Black nylons, comfortable black dress shoes (no open toe, flats or low heels are recommended), no dangling earrings, no strong perfume.
Men:    Black or very dark dress pants, dark socks, black dress shoes, no jeans, sneakers, or strong cologne.
Everyone: Your hair must be out of your face. Please do not wear obvious jewelry.  For some concerts you will wear the choir polo with khakis.

Vocal Ensemble: Choir robes or polo with khakis for combined performances.
Ladies:            Long black dresses, pearls and earrings from music department; black nylons comfortable black dress shoes (no open toe, flats or low heels are recommended), $15 dress fee due to Choral Boosters by September 4.
Men:    Black bow ties and vests from music department; black dress slacks, long sleeved white tuxedo shirts for $15 from the Choral Boosters (check due by September 9), dark socks, black dress shoes. 

DATES:         **All concerts are required for credit**

Tuesday, September 8             7 pm    Meet the Director Night- 1st Choral Booster Meeting
Saturday, September 26          TBA    Middletown Heritage Days   
Tuesday, October 20               Day     PBS recording
Friday, December 4                6 pm    Middletown’s Christmas in the Valley
Monday, December 14           2:30     After-school dress rehearsal
Tuesday, December 15           7pm     MHS Holiday Chorus Concert
Sunday, February 21               2pm     “Cabaret” Chorus Concert
Monday, March 15                 2:30     After-school dress rehearsal
Tuesday, March 16                 7pm     MHS Chorus and Orchestra Concert
Wednesday, March 17            Day     County H.S. Choral Adjudication
Monday, May 10                    2:30     After-school dress rehearsal
Tuesday, May 11                    7pm     MHS Chorus and Orchestra Concert
Wednesday, May                    TBA    Baccalaureate (Concert Choir)
Tuesday, May 25                    1pm     Graduation (Vocal Ensemble)

Other dates:
December 5-6                          TBA    Holiday Extravaganza
Sunday, December 13             3 pm    Harpers Ferry’s Old Thyme Christmas
**Vocal Ensemble only**
Friday, January 16                              Solo & Ensemble Application due
February                                  TBA    FCPS Vocal Solo & Ensemble Festival
Saturday, May            8                      TBA    State Vocal Solo & Ensemble Festival

All-County Chorus dates (audition only)
Monday, October                    All-County HS Chorus application due
Tuesday, November                All-County HS Chorus auditions
Saturday, February 6              All-County HS Chorus, Band, & Orchestra Concert

All-State Dates (audition only)
Friday, October 2                    All-State Jr. Chorus application due
Friday, October 9                    All-State Sr. Chorus application due
Saturday, November 14          All-State Jr. Chorus Auditions
Saturday, November 21          All-State Sr. Chorus Auditions
February 26-28                        All-State Sr. Chorus Festival
March 12-14                            All-State Jr. Chorus Festival

REHEARSALS:
There will be 1 after-school rehearsal per month for each voice part.  These rehearsals are required.  They will be on Wednesdays from 2:30-3:30.

CHORUS TRIPS
Most years the chorus takes a special performance trip to a festival or competition that is out of state.  Sometimes we go on overnight performance trips.  It is a great learning experience and a lot of fun for all.  This type of trip does not count towards the student’s grade in chorus.  Please look for more information about this year’s trip to come soon.

CHORAL BOOSTERS
A very important part of our program is the MHS Choral Boosters Association.  The Choral Boosters help our choral program to meet many needs by giving their time and energy to help with our various events and to raise funds for our needed materials and supplies.  We need to generate about $6,800 this year to maintain the choral music program at its current level of activity.  This equates to about $85 per student, and is beyond what the school budget will fund. THE CHORAL BOOSTERS ARE OPEN TO ANY INTERESTED ADULTS and we need as many as possible of you to participate in planning and helping.  We need your input, ideas, talents, enthusiasm, and support.

Choral Boosters meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in room 403 at MHS, the chorus room. 

The first meeting is Tuesday, September 8, 2009.  You will hear me speak about my plans for the upcoming year.  The various Choral Booster committees will give a brief presentation describing what they do.  The Choral Boosters are happy to accept financial donations to defray chorus expenses.  These donations are tax-deductible.

STUDENTS
I am glad that you are a part of this group.  I am looking forward to an exciting year of growth for all of us.  I hope to help all students achieve their highest potential.  Students and parents, please come to me with any questions or concerns you may have.  Contact me via voice mail or email at anytime.

Choral Handbook Form

We have read the Chorus Handbook and understand the policies and procedures followed by The Middletown High School Choral Program. The performance calendar has been duly noted.

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(Print student’s name)                         (Grade)                       (Student’s signature)

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(Print parent’s name)                                                               (Parent’s signature)

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Parent Email

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Home Phone

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Parent Work Phone

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Parent Cell Phone

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Student Email

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Student Cell Phone

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Address

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