Choir Rules & Procedures

WELCOME BACK!!  WELCOME BACK!! 

Welcome to GMS and welcome to the award winning Red Devil Concert Choir.  I’m thrilled and excited that you have chosen to be a part of the Red Devil Concert Choir, many of you for the second year in a row.  We have an AWESOME group coming back this year.  What a GREAT group of musicians we have this year!  What GREAT singers!  What a GREAT schedule!  We’re going to have a super year with exciting and rewarding experiences in choir as the year progresses.

I’m so excited about choir this year.  We’ve got a new choir room on the new 8th grade hall and we’ve got choir 3 times a week again!

Our size is going to be a little bit smaller than last year’s because we had such a large group moving up to the high school.  Nonetheless, it will still be a tremendous group!

This handbook is for Germantown Middle School Choir members and their parents with the hope of giving information regarding the various phases, activities, policies, and regulations of the choral music program.  All choir members and parents are urged to read the entire handbook carefully at the beginning of each school year.  The ultimate goal of the following policies, guidelines and rules are to help create a successful young musician, and thus, a great choral program.

FOCUS OF INSTRUCTION:
Sixth Grade Choir:  Reading music, correct tone and sound production, correct singing posture, care of the voice, development of vocal techniques, and readiness for the ensemble performance.
Seventh and Eighth Grade Choir:  Continued development of music reading, continued development of individual vocal techniques, group performance of choral literature, continued care of the voice, and ensemble performance.

CLASSROOM RULES
1.  Be prompt – Be in assigned seat when class begins.
2.  Be prepared – Bring all equipment needed for class:  folder,             music, pencil, etc.
3.  Be polite – Demonstrate respect for all members of the class.
4.  Participate and follow directions the first time they are given.

REWARDS
1.  Special recognition and verbal praise
2.  Notes and calls home
3.  Happy Notes
4.  Additional privileges and responsibilities

GRADING PROCEDURE
We will again use the same grading system as last year in choir this year.  Students will receive an A, B, C, D, or F again in choir this year.  Conduct grades will also be given.   Every student starts each class period with an A.  It is up to the student to keep their A!
A = 93 – 100
B = 85 – 92
C = 75 – 84
D = 70 – 74
F = 69 and below

The student can lose their A for the day in choir in several ways.
-20 points for being disrespectful
-20 points for being late to class
-20 points for not participating
-20 points for not performing their assignments satisfactorily
-20 points for not being prepared

Students may gain extra points through the check system.  Checks will be earned at Ms. Ward’s discretion when students go above and beyond the call of a normal choir student.  Each student with 15 checks at the end of the grading period will receive an extra point added onto their average.

CONDUCT GRADES
Students will be given conduct grades in choir.  Conduct grades will be given according to how many marks they accumulate during the nine weeks.  0 – 1 mark equals an E, 2 to 3 marks equals an S, 4 to 5 marks equals an N and 6 or more marks equals a U.

CHOIR ACTIVITY FEE
There will be a choir activity fee of $75 this year for each choir member enrolled in choir.  This fee will pay for transportation costs, music, awards, clinicians, contest registration fees, solo and ensemble fees, etc.  This fee does not include the Six Flags trip fee. Choir activity fees are due by Monday, September 10th, or your child could be removed from the choir program.

RED DEVIL CONCERT CHOIR UNIFORMS
The choir student will be responsible for purchasing a choir uniform, choir shoes as chosen by the director, and black socks (males) or flesh colored stockings (females).  This will help ensure unity of our uniform.  The cost for a new uniform will be $135 for females and $100 for males.  There are also a limited number of used uniforms.  They are available directly from the student who bought them last year.  You may check the bulletin board for any used uniforms that are for sale.  We are also in the process of scheduling a Swap Night.  More information to come!

MUSIC FOLDERS
Music Folders will be done a little differently this year.  Instead of making every student a copy of all music, we will have a classroom set of choir folders.  They will have all music in them.  All students are expected to keep folders neat and orderly, even though we will be sharing.  These folders can only be taken home if it has been checked out through Miss Ward.  A folder count will be done at the end of each day.

WEDNESDAY MORNING REHEARSALS
We will have Wednesday morning rehearsals again beginning in September.    Rehearsals will begin at 7:29 AM and will end at 8 AM.  Roll will be taken and all members must be present.  Too many absences from the Wednesday morning rehearsals will result in dismissal from the performance choir.  Check the choir email or Ms. Ward’s website for choir information, practice schedules, performances, etc.  To be early is to be on time.  To be on time is to be late.

REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES
Rehearsals and performances are a vital part of our choir program.  An unexcused absence from a scheduled performance will result in a deduction of 50 points.  Also, an unexcused absence from a required rehearsal will result in a deduction of 10 points per rehearsal.  Students may be removed from the performance choir when absences affect the performance of the full ensemble.  Excuses, no matter how good they are, will not produce a fine choir.  They should be given only for the gravest of reasons.  Choir rehearsals and performances require total participation in order to be effective for all concerned; please avoid activities and appointments on days when you are asked to attend.

WEST TENNESSEE VOCAL MUSIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
This year, we are proud to announce again, our Red Devil Choir will again be a member of the West Tennessee Vocal Music Education Association (WTVMEA).  Their website is www.WTVMEA.org if you are interested in reading more about the group.  Our choir students will be eligible to participate in the All – West Tennessee Honor Choir Tryouts, Clinic and Concert, the Solo and Ensemble Festival, and the Choral Concert Festival.  Mr. Lane and Ms. Ward will receive all of the details about this organization in late August when we attend the association’s meeting.  Look for more details about these VERY special events and opportunities for our Red Devil Concert Choir.  We will send out a letter with all of the details as soon as we receive them.  What a GREAT opportunity for our students to participate and perform with other great musicians and singers from the West Tennessee area.

EMAIL ADDRESSES
If you have an email address, please fill out the student information sheet at the end of this handbook and return it to Ms. Ward as soon as possible.  Each week Ms. Ward will send out a choir information newsletter via email listing practices, upcoming events, awards, congratulations, etc.   Also included in the email will be rehearsals and school and band activities.

THE BOX
Any notes from parents, practice sheets, private lesson sheets, creative ideas, special student awards, etc., please place in THE BOX on Ms. Ward’s desk.  Any money to be turned in should be sealed in an envelope and placed in THE BOX, as well.    On the outside of the envelope please write your child’s name and what the money is for.  Also, please put your child’s name on the check when a check is sent.

AWARDS
Special choir awards will be given this year at the Spring Concert.   Choir Awards will include outstanding girl and boy musicians, excellent girl and boy musicians, most improved musicians, section leader awards, etc.

BAND AND CHOIR BOOSTER CLUB
All band and choir parents and friends of the band and choir are encouraged to become active in the Band and Choir Booster Club of Germantown Middle School.  This is a totally 100% volunteer organization.  This is an exciting group dedicated to supporting our students.  We could not function and be successful without the help and time of many booster members.  Booster meetings are held the second Monday night of every month at 6 PM in the GMS Band Room.  Our first Booster Meeting will be Monday night, August 27th at 6 PM in the Band Room.  Duties of the Band and Choir Boosters include such things as chaperoning, helping with fund raising activities, helping with the concerts, uniforms, and serving on various committees.  We are in need of several people to head committees dealing with these areas.  Continued success of the band program depends on volunteer efforts of many working together.  There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.  Sign up and become a part of the Band and Choir Booster Club now.  Give our Band and Choir Booster Club President, Mr. Holland, a call at 870 – 0053 and become actively involved.  Come to the Booster Meetings each month and help our Mighty Red Devil Band and Red Devil Concert Choir members at GMS.

All band and choir fees are due no later than Monday, September 10th or your child could be removed from the band or choir program.