Choral Music Program       

                            For students who like to sing, chorus is a wonderful way to enrich their musical experience.  Many different forms and styles are performed/rehearsed.  There is one chorus for each grade level consisting of day chorus and activity chorus.  The day chorus meets on alternate days for 45 minutes.  Activity period chorus is for those band and orchestra students who wish to sing but cannot meet during the day.  Activity period chorus meets once a week during activity period and each respective teacher will determine what day it will be.  This information will be announced to all students in the fall.

            All chorus students are expected to sing with proper executive, tonal, and rhythm skills.  In addition, they should exhibit appropriate attitude, behavior, cooperation, and effort. 

·        Executive Skills are practiced with emphasis on vowel formation and purity, breath, proper use of consonants, tone quality, intonation, and posture.  Students are shown how these areas contribute to a musical, artistic performance.

·        Tonal Skills are practiced using Solfege syllables.  These skills include:  finding resting tones, easy to difficult major and minor tonal patterns, and ascending and descending major and minor scales.   The practice of these skills enables students to sing independent parts successfully.

·        Rhythm Skills are practiced using rhythmic syllables.  These skills include chanting and reading easy to difficult four and eight beat rhythm patterns.  The practice of these skills enables the students to sing independent parts successfully.

·        Balance & Critical Listening:  Students are frequently encouraged to critique themselves on their performance.  It is important that they can recognize areas of strength and weakness because this ability indicates good listening skills and understanding of the musical concepts.  Students are also reminded to listen to the other voice parts to ensure that all are heard equally for good choral balance.

                       All of the above skills are practiced and then applied to the choral music which prepares the students for a successful performance.

 Attendance Policy for Activity Period Chorus

             Because Activity Period Chorus members have less than half the number of rehearsals that Day Chorus members have, the following policy is in effect:  A student who misses one rehearsal prior to a concert will be able to participate in that concert.  Any student who misses TWO or more rehearsals prior to a concert will need to make up those rehearsals in order to be able to participate in the concert.  Students are given a weekly opportunity to view their attendance record.  Students are responsible for contacting their teacher regarding missed rehearsals.  Teachers will announce and post schedules of make-ups. 

            7^th and 8^th grade activity period chorus members are released from band and orchestra to attend a full rehearsal with day chorus members when there are 3 performing rehearsals in the week.  Although Activity Period Chorus members do not receive a letter grade for their participation, they are held to the same expectations as day chorus members.

 High School Chorus/Choir Requirements

                       One of  the goals of the 8^th grade chorus is to prepare students for high school chorus/choir.  To become a member of a high school choral group, students must audition with the high school choral teachers.  The 8^th grade chorus teacher will schedule these short auditions in the early spring. 

            Specific requirements will be discussed during the fall of the 8^th grade year and a written copy of these requirements will also be available to any parents upon request.  All students who are not in 8^th grade chorus and wish to be considered for a high school ensemble must contact the 8^th grade teacher for a recommendation and to schedule an audition time.