Welcome to
Riverside Poly High School
Performing Arts Department
VOCAL MUSIC DIVISION
Chorus
Concert Choir
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Chamber Singers
Combined Choirs
2011-2012 CHOIR HANDBOOK
EMAIL: choiratpoly@gmail.com
BLOG: http://choiratpoly.blogspot.com
POLY CHOIR FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/Polychoir
POLY HS WEBSITE: http://www.polybears.org/
PHONE: 951-788-7203, x 64108
Welcome. I am very excited that you are a member of the Vocal Music Division of Poly High School. If you are beginning your musical experience now, my goal is that you will be inspired to become the best vocal musician you can be. If you are continuing your musical study now, you will be challenged and encouraged to reach musical excellence. In the Choir Division, you will find many musicians who have given untold hours to the art of singing. They can influence you to dedicate your time here to high musical achievement and artistic enjoyment.
I want the Choir Division to feel like a big family. I hope for this every year, and sometimes it does happen. You can help make it happen by getting to know the other singers in your Choir.
The Choir Division is large, with four choirs practicing everyday. The Choir Room is open everyday during lunch, and you and your friends can visit the Choir Room during lunch. The Choir Club will have a meeting about every month in the Choir Room at Lunch at which time you can receive information about school activities, Choir parties, and special trips. And since you are a member of one of Poly’s great choirs, you are already in Poly’s Choir Club.
Please read this handbook carefully and have your parent or guardian read it also. Sign and keep this handbook for future reference. On the last page of this handbook, you will find a copy of the Choir Member Agreement Contract. You will also receive another copy of the Choir Member Agreement Contract. Please sign both copies. Keep Page 12 in your Handbook as your copy; return the second copy to me by Friday, September 2, 2011. You may be dropped from the Choir Program if you do not return the second copy of this Contract.
Being successful in Choir has 2 requirements. One is our annual, required Entertainment Book sale which will begin in 2 weeks. The other required part of being in Choir is performing in concerts. The scheduled concert dates are on page 7 of this handbook. Attendance at all Choir concerts is mandatory. Your grade is lowered if you do not attend all of Poly’s Choir concerts. Please read page 8 of this handbook regarding grades in Choir.
I am glad you are a part of Poly’s Choirs. I know you will have a great year.
Mr. Richard W. Steffen
Director of Choral Activities
Chairman, Poly Performing Arts Department
The Combined Choirs
The Combined Choirs is the large performing Choir that PoIy HS presents at many events. This Choir is composed of the Chamber Singers, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, the Concert Choir, and the Chorus. The music that this Choir performs is learned in the individual choir rehearsals, but special rehearsals for the Combined Choirs are scheduled and attendance at the rehearsals is mandatory. This Choir performs five times each year: at the PoIy HS Vocal Music Fall Concert, the Holiday Music Festival, the Poly HS Vocal Music Christmas Concert, the Poly HS Stage and Screen Choir Concert, and the Poly HS Vocal Music Spring Concert. You can find the dates for the scheduled concerts on the page 7 of this Handbook.
The Chorus
This Choir is for girls who are Poly students in Grades 9-12. Members of the Chorus are students who are beginning their singing experience. There is no audition necessary for singing in this Choir, and students may be in this Choir without having a 2.0 GPA. When this Choir performs alone, it wears white blouses (provided by the Choir) and dark pants (provided by the student). Dark shoes are required at the concerts; tennis shoes are not acceptable. When this Choir performs in the Combined Choirs, it wears Choir Robes owned by the Vocal Music Division. Each member will be assigned a cleaned robe before the first concert. Participation in all of the concerts is mandatory and affects your grade. You can find the dates for the concerts on page 7 of this Handbook.
The Concert Choir
This Choir is for boys and girls who are PoIy students in Grades 9-12. Members of this choir should have at least one year of Choir experience, and students may be in this choir without having a 2.0 GPA. This Choir performs alone as well as in the Combined Choirs. Members of this Choir wear the Choir Robes owned by the Vocal Music Division when they perform. Dark shoes are required at the concerts; tennis shoes are not acceptable. Each member will be assigned a cleaned robe before the first concert. Participation in all of the concerts is mandatory and affects your grade. You can find the dates for the concerts on page 7 of this Handbook.
The Vocal Jazz Ensemble
This Choir is for girls who are PoIy students in Grades 9-12. All members of this Choir must pass an audition for acceptance into this Choir. This Choir performs alone as well as in the Combined Choirs. This Choir also sings for other community and school district events. Each member’s grade on the Quarter and Semester Grade Cards is affected by participation in every concert. Wardrobe for this Choir is long dresses and black dress shoes. One-half of the money for the wardrobe for all students is due when the wardrobe is ordered; the other half is due when the wardrobe is distributed. Choir Robes are worn when this choir sings in the Combined Choirs. Each member will be assigned a cleaned robe before the first concert. With student, teacher, and parent input, this Choir may travel on a Spring Tour. Participation in the tour is not required. Each member will participate in singing tests in class; these tests are sung alone, without accompaniment, and in front of the class. Each member of this Choir sings a solo at the end of each semester as part of each member’s Final Exam (see p. 10.) Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain in this Choir. Failure to maintain that average will result in a change from Vocal Jazz to Concert Choir at the end of the semester. You can find the dates for the scheduled concerts on page 7 of this Handbook.
The Chamber Singers
This Choir is for boys and girls who are exceptionally advanced Poly vocal musicians in Grades 10-12. All members of this Choir must pass an intensive audition for acceptance into this Choir. The music for the Chamber Singers is very demanding, and much time outside of class is needed to succeed. Music from all periods of music history will be performed, and texts in many languages will be used. In addition to the concerts of the Combined Choirs, this Choir performs in local and distant events. Each member’s grade on the Quarter and Semester Grade Cards is affected by participation in every concert. Poly Chamber Singers sing at selected home sports games; these performances are graded as a concert. Wardrobe for the women is a long, formal dress. Wardrobe for the men is a black tuxedo. Also, Chamber Singers polo shirts are required. One-half of the money for the wardrobe for all students is due when the wardrobe is ordered. Choir Robes are worn when this Choir sings in the Combined Choirs. Each member will be assigned a cleaned robe before the first concert. With student, teacher, and parent input, this Choir may travel on a Spring Tour. Participation in the tour is not required. Each member will participate in singing tests in class; these tests are sung alone, without accompaniment, and in front of the class. Each member of this Choir sings a solo at the end of each semester as part of each member’s Final Examination (see p. 10.) Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain in this Choir. Failure to maintain that average will result in a change from Chamber Singers to Concert Choir at the end of the semester.
You can find the dates for the scheduled concerts on page 7 of this Handbook.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS AND RULES
1a. CHAMBER SINGERS: You will be assigned a folder and music. If you lose your folder, you will be charged for the folder: $10.00. The folder and music will be returned at the end of the year.
1b. VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE: You will be assigned a folder and music. If you lose your folder, you will be charged for the folder: $10.00. The folder and music will be returned at the end of the year.
1c. CONCERT CHOIR and CHORUS: You will use an envelope with music in it each day in class. The envelope and the music remain in the Choir Room at the end of class each day.
2. Promptness to class every day is expected. Poly “Lock Outs” are enforced. A tardy slip may be given to you if you are late. A student is late to a choir class if the student is not inside the Choir Room when the final bell starts to ring; students entering the door after the bell starts to ring are tardy. (See tardy policy on pg 5.)
3. Your section may practice in an assigned rehearsal area away from the other sections. You need to remain in that area to which you are assigned. If you leave that area without permission, you may be considered truant and be marked absent for that class that day.
4. You are not allowed to wear a hat during choir classes; be sure that all of your clothing follows PoIy’s rules.
5. When you enter the Choir Room, you may place your book bag along the office wall (the north wall) or along the whiteboard wall. Book bags will not be kept at your seat.
6. Do not chew gum in class. You may receive a detention for chewing gum in class.
7. Do not bring food or drink into class. You may receive a detention for eating or bringing food or drink into class.
8. There are days for learning Music Theory. You will need the following items. Have these items in class every day. A significant part of your grade will depend upon you having these required tools for learning:
a. your music folder
b. a pencil
c. your 3-ring notebook/binder
9a. Be respectful of others. They will want to be respectful of you in return. Remember:
a. do not enter another Choir Member’s property (purse, bag, etc.)
b. do not use any profanity or demeaning words in the Choir Room
9b. Be respectful of Mr. Steffen. You will find that he will always be respectful of you. Please:
a. do not bring expensive items or cash to class so that they do not get stolen
b. do not use your cell phone for conversations of texting during class
c. do not use your ipod in class unless it is for a choir activity
10. If you are in class but cannot sing due to illness, you may be assigned to the library that day to write a report on a chapter about music. In order to receive credit for the class you missed, you should be prepared to orally give that report to the class on the day that you return to class.
TARDY POLICY
In the classroom experience, promptness is important so that all of the members of the class can begin their work on time. This is especially true for Choir classes, because each person is needed to make the Choir sound its best; the Choir is incomplete when even one member is missing. And as Poly hopes to prepare students for the future, promptness is important because many employers count on their employees to be to work on time. Here is the tardy rule for Poly Choir classes:
A student is tardy to a choir class if the student is not completely inside the Choir Room door when the final bell starts to ring; students entering the door after the bell starts to ring are tardy. Students arriving before the bell and then leave the room without permission and return after the bell rings are tardy. Students who are tardy are “Locked Out” and report to the office to receive their discipline.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
Detentions are given to a Poly Choir student for preparation or actions that are unacceptable in the Choir class setting. This includes but is not limited to:
1. Failure to bring Choir folder and music to class (Advanced Choirs)
2. Use of profanity toward anyone in class
3. Use of gender, racial, religious, or sexually demeaning words
4. Rude behavior toward anyone in class
5. Defiant behavior toward Mr. Steffen
If these or similar behaviors occur in a Choir class, a detention is given.
1. When the detention is given, a form is given to the student to sign.
2. Refusal to sign a detention form results in a detention and a Disciplinary Referral.
3. Detentions for Choir classes are 15 minutes long. Detentions can be served:
Every Tuesday or every Thursday from 2:50-3:05 pm
It is the responsibility of the student who is tardy to become available to serve the detention. A student is always given 24 hours notice to serve the detention.
4. Failure to serve a detention or being late for serving a detention results in receiving an additional detention (a total of two detentions.)
5. If a student fails to serve two detentions in each semester, the student is given a Disciplinary Referral. One consequence for failing to serve two detentions in each semester may be a Saturday School Assignment through the Disciplinary Office (Attendance/Discipline Office, Poly High School, 788-7203). A consequence for continual failure to serve detentions may be removal from a Choir Class at end of the semester.
Discipline problems will be solved in the Choir classroom if possible; if that is not possible, students with discipline problems will be referred to the Discipline Office.
AUDITIONS FOR ADVANCED CHOIRS
Auditions are required for acceptance into PoIy’s two Advanced Choirs: Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Singers. Auditions for these choirs are the same:
1. singing warm-up exercises
2. singing scales (major and chromatic)
3. singing tonal memory exercises
4. testing in Music Theory
5. testing in Sight Singing
6. testing in Solfege Syllables
7. testing in Kodaly Hand Signals
8. singing a solo by memory
Auditions are always private. Students are placed in the appropriate Choir for their current performing ability and for their musical knowledge. Auditions are offered at the end of each semester. Enrollment is offered each semester for those advanced choirs that have openings.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE of 2011-2012
(The following times are concert times, not “warm-up” times.
“Warm-up” times are earlier than concert times. “Warm-up” times are always posted in the Choir Room well in advance of each concert. Part of your concert grade
is based on being in the Choir Room at the “warm-up” times.)
PoIy High School Choir Fall Concert
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Poly High School Arthur Littleworth Theatre
Holiday Music Festival
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Poly High School Arthur Littleworth Theatre
PoIy High School Choir Winter Concert
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Poly High School Arthur Littleworth Theatre
PoIy High School Choir Screen and Stage Concert
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Poly High School Arthur Littleworth Theatre
PoIy High School Choir Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Poly High School Arthur Littleworth Theatre
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
1. Dates for performances are given to you on the first day of the semester. (Refer to page 7 for the schedule.) As a member of a performing choir, you are expected to plan your other activities around these performances. If you are unable to do so, please consider enrolling in another elective now.
2. You are expected to be at EVERY PERFORMANCE that your Choir gives. You will receive points for each concert. Except for personal illness excused by Mr. Steffen before the concert (Office 788-7203, 64108), failure to sing at a performance will result in “0” Points as your grade for that concert. Work missed at a concert because of an excused absence for personal illness must be completed to receive any points. Please remember that your Concert Grade is 50% of your report card grade.
3. “Warm-up” times prior to concert are very important. These times enable the Choir to “warm-up” their voices, concentrate on the concert, and receive final instructions. The “warm-up” times will always be announced. Promptness is expected. Tardiness at the “warm-up” time may result in a reduction of points for that concert or in not being allowed to perform. Not performing will result in “Zero Points” for your grade for that concert.
4. All students are responsible for the cleanliness and care of their wardrobe for all year. This includes proper shoes. Incorrect wardrobe will result in a reduction of points for that concert.
GRADING SYSTEM
ATTENDANCE AT ALL CHOIR CONCERTS IS REQUIRED. One-half of your grade is determined by your singing at Choir Concerts outside the school day. Since this is a performance class, all of our concerts are very important. All of our classroom rehearsals prepare us for our concerts. The dates for the concerts for this semester are found on page 6. Your development as a vocal musician should be improving through each semester. Your semester grade IS NOT an averaging of your two quarter grades. Your 2nd Quarter Grade will be the same as your 1st Semester Grade, and your 4th Quarter Grade will be the same as your 2nd Semester Grade. The grade you received in the Vocal Music Division is determined as follows:
· 50% of your grade is based on your classroom participation
Classroom Participation includes:
daily attendance and promptness; actively singing in class, behavior in class; having materials in class; written tests; singing tests; semester exam
· 50% of your grade is based on your singing at all Choir Concerts
Singing at all Choir Concerts includes:
returning signed Concert Contract (see page 10) and Concert Reminders, arriving on time to Warm-up time; participating in warm-ups; actively singing in your Choir’s songs and the Combined Choirs songs at every concert; your behavior during the concert; singing “your best” according to your ability
Grading Scale (Quarter and Semester Grades):
100-90% = A; 89-80% = B; 79-70% = C; 69-60 = D; 59-0% = F
REQUIRED FUND-RAISER
Each Poly Choir Member (Chamber Singers, Vocal Jazz, Concert Choir, and Chorus) is required to participate in one fund-raiser. Each member will sell one (1) ENTERTAINMENT BOOK. The profit of the sale of the required book helps pay for the cost of the student’s choir robe cleaning. Failure to pay for one (1) book will result in a charge for the cost of the book with the Poly Bookkeeper. Any student may sell additional books; profit from those books will go into that Choir Member’s account and can be used for any of this year’s choir activities. Checks for the ENTERTAINMENT BOOK are written to the Choir Booster guild: Friends of Singers Guild.
CHOIR WARDROBE
The costs for participation depend on the performing choir in which you are enrolled. All Poly Choir members will wear a Choir Robe at the concerts. The Choirs always look their best when the robes are clean, so the robes are cleaned each year. The cost for the cleaning of the robe is $ 10.00; this can be paid from the profit of your Entertainment Book sales. Wardrobe for all choirs includes black shoes; incorrect wardrobe will result in a reduction of points for that concert.
Members of the Chorus have their own wardrobe. The wardrobe is a white blouse, which is owned by the Poly Choir, and black pants, which are the responsibility of the choir member. Chorus members wear black shoes when they perform. Their clothes affect students’ grades when they perform.
Members of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble have an additional wardrobe. Cost for the gown for Vocal Jazz Ensemble is $ 60.00. Black dress shoes are required.
Members of the Chamber Singers have an additional wardrobe, also. Since this choir performs with top choirs from other schools, their wardrobe is formal. Cost for the formal gown for Chamber Singers women is $ 90.00. The women purchase and keep their gown. Cost for the tuxedo wardrobe for the Chamber Singers men is $90.00. The men rent the tuxedo jacket, and they purchase and keep the rest of the wardrobe. The Chamber Singers also purchase a green polo shirt for informal performances for $ 18.00. Black dress shoes are required, and black socks are required for the men.
TRIPS AND TOURS
The Advanced Choirs have the opportunity to travel and perform. The Chamber Singers have performed in many places: Chicago; Ensenada, Mexico (2 times); Honolulu (5 times); Las Vegas (2 times); New York City (3 times); Orlando (2 times); Phoenix (2 times); San Diego; and San Francisco (4 times). The Vocal Jazz Ensemble has performed in Catalina Island, Long Beach, San Francisco (2 times), and Santa Barbara. Each fall decisions are made as to if and where a tour will be.
SOLOS
Every concert at Poly High School features soloists from each of the choirs. Auditions for solos for each concert will be announced at least one month prior to each concert. Students who are auditioning for a solo should choose, learn, and memorize their solo. Solo auditions are held in the Choir Room after school on the chosen day. Solos are chosen by the quality of the audition and not by the grade the student is in. Solos should fit the theme the concert:
Fall Concert: Solos should have texts by American poets or music by American composers
Holiday Music Festival: This one solo REPRESENTING ALL OF THE POLY CHOIRS could be about the holidays: Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa. It could also be about winter themes.
Winter Concert: Solos could have the theme of Christmas (either secular or sacred) winter themes (snow, etc.), or family times
Stage and Screen Concert: Solos need to be from musicals, movies, or television shows
Spring Concert: Solos could be about friends, saying “goodbye”, having “happy” thoughts, or “it’s time for vacation”
AWARDS
Each spring the Choir Club celebrates the successes of the Choir year with an Awards Banquet. Awards given may include: Outstanding Singer Senior, Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman (both girl and boy); Choir Achievement Awards for Most Improved, Most Helpful, and Most Inspirational (from every choir); John Rutter Award for Musical Assistance; George Lantz Award for Music in the Community; Anton Bartholomew Award for “Poly Performer”; Gloria Blakey Award for Musical Excellence; Richard Williams Award for “Inspirational Soloist”; Tory Howe Lynch Award for “Singer’s Friend”; Spirit of Poly Choir award; awards for acceptance into CSUSB Honor Choir; SCVA Honor Choir, ACDA Western Division Honor Choir, and ACDA National Honor Choir; Student Conductor award; Choir Officer pins; Senior Class pins; Lettering, Double Lettering, and Triple Lettering in Choir; and the Best All-Around Vocal Musician Award, the highest award given.
LETTERING IN CHOIR
Poly Choir members can letter in Choir. To letter in Choir, a student must be in any choir for 4 consecutive semesters with 2 of those semesters in Poly’s varsity choir, the Chamber Singers.
SOLOS FOR FINALS
2011-2012
Fall Semester Finals in January 2012
Spring Semester Finals in June 2012
1. Every Advanced Choir member (Chamber Singers and Vocal Jazz Ensemble) will sing a solo as a portion of the Final Exam. Every choir member in the non-auditioned choirs (Concert Choir and Chorus) may sing a solo as a portion of the Final Exam for extra credit. This occurs at the end of January and the beginning of June. The solo used for the Fall Semester cannot be the solo used for the Spring Semester.
2. The solo will be memorized. Students will not be allowed to have the text of the song on their hand, arm, clothing, or a paper on the floor.
3. The solo will be presented in front of the class.
4. The solo will be presented with microphone and spotlight (when available.)
5. The solo will be either in the Choir Room or in the Little Theatre.
6. Every student must have printed music for the piano accompaniment. Accompaniments on tapes or on compact disks are not permitted. Solos may not be sung “a cappella”.
7. Every student will have a copy of the printed music at least two weeks before the date of the solo presentation. Every student will be informed of that deadline one month before finals begin. Failure to meet this timeline will result in a Progress Report sent home to parent/guardian and a lowering of the Final Exam grade.
8. Every student will rehearse the solo with Mr. Steffen with the printed music at least one week before the date of the solo presentation. Every student will be informed of that deadline one month before finals begin. Failure to meet this timeline will result in a Progress Report sent home to parent/guardian and a lowering of the Final Exam grade.
9. Nursery rhymes, such as “Mary Had A Little Lamb” or “Three Blind Mice” and Christmas carols, such as “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells”, are not permitted.
10. Every student will be graded by Mr. Steffen using the following criterion:
a. Memorization (singing text by memory)
b. Intonation (singing in tune)
c. Enunciation (singing text understandably)
d. Style (use of the voice in a way appropriate for the song)
e. Stage Presence (use of stage, microphone, and spotlight)
