Middle School Chorus Curriculum

7^th & 8^th Grade Vocal Majors
Class Days:  Everyday
Class Time:  6th period 11:55 - 12:40, 7th period 12:45 - 1:30

Goals

This course is designed as a comprehensive approach to musicianship giving students an opportunity to listen, conduct, sing, evaluate, compose, and study different styles of music.  The class is designed to promote musical growth by teaching correct vocal technique for individual singing and group singing, strengthening music reading skills, offering basic ear training in rhythm, pitch, and harmony and performing a stylistically diverse music.  The level of expectation is mostly determined by the knowledge and ability the students bring to the class. 

Activities/Content

• Through listening to one another and working together on sight singing and rhythm examples students begin to develop a strong sense of ensemble. 
• Students work together to learn a particular section of the music, create a uniform sound, and sometimes sing in quartets or duets for evaluation.
• Students practice daily correct vocal technique through vocal exercises and breathing exercises.  The goal is for the vocal exercises to transfer to the singing of choral selections. 
• To further student growth in the area of music theory, students participate in daily music reading exercises, rhythm exercises, melodic exercises, or both.  The exercises are designed to be fun, stimulating, and at times very challenging.  Confidence in reading music, will allow for quicker learning of the vocal parts of all choral selections.
• Song selections will represent a variety of styles and difficulty from historical to pop and sacred and secular so as to challenge students to appreciate historically important as well as diverse styles of music. 
• Students will participate in approximately three school performances each year and at least one choral festival or choral competition, which might include an overnight stay.  During one trimester in a given year, students will have the opportunity to put their 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 regular classroom requirement.  Examples of such opportunities are North Carolina Middle School Honors Chorus, All-State Chorus, and voluntary performances by smaller groups of students.  Participation may be through an audition process, a selection process. or through an honorary earned opportunity.  See more detail below.

More Detail Information

Make up Work
There is no way for a student to adequately make-up a rehearsal or a concert.  If a students knows
that a performance will be missed, outside work will be assigned and graded to count for the concert grade.  Therefore, absences should be rare.  Any written work such as homework or missed class work will be made up within three days of the absence.
 

Classroom Expectations
Proper classroom conduct will be expected at all times.  The following are reminders of proper conduct:
1.  Be prepared with music, folder, computer, and pencil when class begins.   
2.  Put trash in the trashcan.
3.  Treat your classmates as you wish to be treated.
4.  Absolutely no gum, food, or drink (except bottled water) is allowed in       
     the classroom.
5.  Always be a listener.  You learn a great deal about how 
     to sing by listening to each other.

Concert Attire
See Performing Arts Outfit on the ARTS CORNER Page 
          
Outfits will be ordered for students and costs will be billed to parents through the business office.  If you wish to purchase a used MS performance outfit there will be a sale on Thursday, August 30 from 3:15 - 6:30 and Friday, September 1 in the Black Box of the Fine Arts Theatre.  Your child must be with you to purchase an outfit.
 

Music
Cary Academy will provide most of the printed music for each student.  Folders should be kept in the music folder cabinet unless the student takes the music home for music study.  Music that is issued to a student folder becomes the financial responsibility of that student.  If music is lost or damaged, the student is responsible for it. 
 

Grading Scale
It is my hope that every student in chorus makes an A+ grade and a 4 for effort.  If this happens, you can bet that our chorus will be an exciting group in which to be a member.  It is certainly within every student to make an A in chorus. 
 

For the Fall trimester, grades will be determined according to the following percentages:
                      
                     
60%   Work Ethic - Energy, Focus Teamwork, preparation for class - with pencil, folder, tablet (if necessary)                                               

5%   Singing Quizzes                             
10%   Written Quizzes - question a day quizzes, theory tests, written class or homework, Listening skills - singing and theory based listening
25%   Performance - attendance, behavior, demonstration of knowledge of music and following directions

Grades will be updated on the Web. 

Performances
Performing for others is one of the highlights of being in chorus.  In general, the chorus performs one evening concert each trimester.  (Concert dates are listed on the Master Fine Arts calendar as well as from the CA Homepage.  Go to parents/students, click and then click ARTS - Vocal Music)  Concerts will normally be scheduled by the beginning of each school year.  If other opportunities arise, performances will be added to the schedule.  Only in a rare case might there be a performance scheduled with less than two weeks notice.  If a student finds a conflict with a scheduled performance or rehearsal, the director should be contacted immediately to arrange an agreeable solution.   Absences from scheduled rehearsals and performances will not be excused without the consent of the director.   An excused absence from school on the day of a performance constitutes an excused absence from the performance.  A student who is not present for at least half the school day is not eligible to rehearse or perform after school that day or evening.  To earn the full performance portion of the trimester grade, a student must participate in all scheduled performances or be excused by the director.   If a concert in missed, for whatever reason, the student will be expected to complete an assignment as "make-up" work to substitute for the missed concert..
 

Travel

During given years, the Middle 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.  

Enrichment Opportunities
Enrichment opportunities are enriching events in which students can participate.  The opportunities are for students who are motivated and wanting to be "extra" involved.
 

Fall trimester

• Tutor another student in reading music
• Attend Cary Academy and local area concerts and write a critique of the performance
• Audition for North Carolina Honors Chorus
• Audition and/or help on Evening of Entertainment
• Work as a section leader - invitation by Mrs. Holcombe

Winter trimester

• Tutor another student in reading music
• Attend Cary Academy and local area concerts and write a critique of the performance
• Work as a section leader - invitation by Mrs. Holcombe

Spring trimester

• Tutor another student in reading music
• Attend Cary Academy and local area concerts and write a critique of the performance
• Work as a section leader - invitation by Mrs. Holcombe

These opportunities are not a requirement.