Upper School Cary Academy Singers

Division:                     Upper School

Department:              Fine and Performing Arts: Vocal Music

Course Title/Code:  Cary Academy Singers                       

The Cary Academy Singers is non-auditioned class, open to 9^th – 12^th grade students.  The class meets five days each week.  Students are expected to arrive to class on time with no food or drink brought into the classroom.  The Cary Academy Singers are expected to learn an extensive amount of music and to learn it quickly.  Students are required to attend all rehearsals and choral activities that are scheduled throughout the year.  A listing of choral activities can be found by visiting the Chorus web site.  From the CA Homepage, click, parents or students and then click ARTS.  You will then click Vocal Music to find my site. 

Goals

The Cary Academy Singers is designed as a performance class.  It is designed to offer students a comprehensive choral music experience and to continue personal musical growth by teaching and expecting correct vocal technique for individual and ensemble singing, strengthening reading skills, and continuing ear training in rhythm, pitch, and harmony.  In an effort to offer students a comprehensive view of choral music and the rich history that surrounds it, students will study and perform stylistically diverse music.  Students are expected to perform at a superior level of musicianship.

Activities/Content

• On a daily basis, students practice correct vocal technique through vocal exercises and breathing exercises.  The vocal exercises not only warm the voice and focus the mind, they are designed to be utilized when singing choral selections.
• Students participate in daily music reading exercises, rhythm exercises and/or melodic exercises.  The exercises are designed to be fun, stimulating, as well as very challenging.  They incorporate choral technique such as tone, blend, balance, diction, enunciation, and dynamics that is designed to transfer to singing choral selections.
• Listening to each other either in small vocal groupings, in a recording of our group or as we are singing as a group fosters an advanced level of listening skills, a strong sense of ensemble, and a high level of musicianship.
• Song selection will represent a variety of styles and difficulty from historical to pop as well as sacred to secular so as to challenge students to appreciate historically important and diverse styles of music.  Students are expected to understand the role of the performer, which is to offer an audience an esthetic experience through musical sound and poetic lyrics.  Students are expected to demonstrate an open minded attitude toward all music that is studied in an effort to learn about music history and music of many cultures and differing beliefs. 
• Students will be expected to effectively work as individuals, in vocal sections and within the entire group during each and every class period.
• Students are expected to participate in approximately three performances each year and if scheduled, at least one choral festival or competition (unless excused by the instructor).  During one trimester in a given year, students may have the opportunity to put choral talents to the test by performing a staged concert that includes choreography of simple movements and some costuming.
• “Enrichment” opportunities are offered for individual students who may wish to participate outside the expected classroom requirement.  Examples of such opportunities are North Carolina High School Honors Chorus, participation in our all school musical and voluntary performance by smaller groups of students.  Participation may be through an audition process, a selection process or through an honorary earned opportunity.  Other “enrichment” opportunities allow students to attend choral or musical performances and write a review of the performance or to audition for a musical opportunity outside the school. 

During given years, the Upper School Chorus takes an over night field trip.  In planning performance opportunities which involve travel, it is hope and somewhat expected that all individuals will participate.  While the music is our focus, there are many positives that evolve from traveling and "living" together for a few days.  Because chorus involves such "teamwork", we can never perform our best if EVERY member is not present.   There are exception to all rules and expectations, but it is my hope that all students participate.  When choosing music, numbers, voicing, and abilities come into play and a few singers missing can truly upset the applecart.  If you ask the students about their experiences and memories, they will always put group travel and performance at the top of the list.  

Assessment

• Students are evaluated on in-class participation, preparation, and commitment to the ensemble work ethic. 
• Students are often asked to critique a rehearsal, personal effort, or a concert.  Sometime a choral section will critique each other for the practice of verbalizing correct music and singing terms as well as developing listening skills.
• Written quizzes, tests and/or vocal evaluations are given.  Vocal evaluations may include singing in quartets, individually onto a cassette tape or as the entire group.
• Choral performances are a major portion of the assessment for second and third trimester.  Students  are expected to participate in all performances.  This is where the group and each individual demonstrate what has been learned and how far the level of musicianship has developed.  If a student cannot attend a concert, due to illness or circumstances beyond their control, a separate assignment will be assigned to replace the performance grade.

Grading Scale for First Trimester

55%    Positive Participation - focus, effort, posture within the entire choral group as well as being prepared for class with pencil, music    
                   folder/music, tablet computer and NO food  - also to include any group/Ensemble work - section singing, section/group
                   assignments, camaraderie, learning music within the ensemble
10%    Singing Quizzes
10%    Written Quizzes - question a day quizzes, theory tests, written class or homework, listening quizzes
25%    Performance   

The grading scale will be adjusted for second trimester.