Welcome!
Welcome to a brand new year of music at Westfield! We are looking forward to another fun year of learning, creating, and of course singing with such great students!
Westfield has built a reputation for having a fine choral program with students who produce quality musical performances. We are truly looking forward to building upon these successes with the 2017-2018 students in choir.
The purpose of this handbook is to give the students and parents a greater understanding of the choral program at Westfield Community School. It is important that students and parents go over this handbook together.
The last page of the handbook must be signed by both student and parent and returned no later than WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23rd! THIS COUNTS AS YOUR FIRST CHOIR ASSIGNMENT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!
*Please Note: After Friday, August 18th students will not be able to join choir until start of 2nd semester (3rd quarter)*
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mrs. Piel at [email protected].
Westfield has built a reputation for having a fine choral program with students who produce quality musical performances. We are truly looking forward to building upon these successes with the 2017-2018 students in choir.
The purpose of this handbook is to give the students and parents a greater understanding of the choral program at Westfield Community School. It is important that students and parents go over this handbook together.
The last page of the handbook must be signed by both student and parent and returned no later than WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23rd! THIS COUNTS AS YOUR FIRST CHOIR ASSIGNMENT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!
*Please Note: After Friday, August 18th students will not be able to join choir until start of 2nd semester (3rd quarter)*
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mrs. Piel at [email protected].
Rules & Expectations
In any successful music program, all members have unique and important responsibilities. For example, it is the choral director’s responsibility to oversee and ensure a well-balanced, quality music education for the students involved. Parents have the responsibility of supporting their children’s endeavors within the program. Student responsibilities are as follows:
1. Be on time – in your seat with binder/music/pencil by the time rehearsal starts. If you sign in for attendance, leave to go to the bathroom, and come back after rehearsal has begun you are STILL LATE.
Remember as a school policy, three tardies = detention!
1. Be on time – in your seat with binder/music/pencil by the time rehearsal starts. If you sign in for attendance, leave to go to the bathroom, and come back after rehearsal has begun you are STILL LATE.
Remember as a school policy, three tardies = detention!
- Be respectful of everyone and everything around you. This includes listening when someone else is speaking, whether it is the teacher or a classmate. It also includes respect for materials – take care of your sheet music and music folders! You will always turn your copies of music back in after each concert and will be held against you if you do not turn in your copy.
- Follow directions and be a careful listener during rehearsal. THIS IS KEY TO A GREAT AND PRODUCTIVE REHEARSAL.
- Every student will bring their choir binders home with them as well as bring them back to rehearsal EVERY DAY. Forgetting your binder will result in loss of points for each day you forget it.
- NO GUM/FOOD/DRINKS in the choir room. Eat it or throw it out before you come to rehearsal. However, you MAY bring water to rehearsal. Not juice, not tea, not pop, water only!
Supplies Needed
- PENCILS, PENCILS, PENCILS: Everyone is expected to bring a pencil (NO PENS) to rehearsal everyday. These are used for marking in your music as well as any in-class assignments. It is always a great idea to have EXTRA pencils on you as Mrs. Piel is unfortunately not a Pencil Fairy and her lending supply is limited!
- MUSIC BINDER: EVERY student must bring a 1” black binder to class every day to keep music and any other handouts in. Please take care of this binder.
- SHEET MUSIC: Sheet music will be provided for the students to keep in their binders at all times.
- Music is expensive! Inappropriate writing, deliberate tearing, or general carelessness with original copies of music will require a fee for replacement before grades are released at the end of each quarter.
This binder will go home with them everyday as well as with them to rehearsal everyday. Students will not be keeping binders/music in the choir room.
- Music is expensive! Inappropriate writing, deliberate tearing, or general carelessness with original copies of music will require a fee for replacement before grades are released at the end of each quarter.
- BOX OF KLEENEX: We are asking that each 6th grade student make a donation of one box of Kleenex to the classroom collection of tissues. However, 7th and 8th graders are ALWAYS welcome to donate as well! :)
Concert & Rehearsal Attendance Policy
Choir is a performing art that relies on many individuals to make a quality artistic product. Therefore, it is imperative that every student be at every rehearsal and performance.
Honor Choir rehearsals and special rehearsals for festivals, contests, and ILMEA meet outside the school day. If participating in these groups, rehearsals are mandatory. Excused absences are illness and family emergencies. Although valid and important, attending a study session, intramurals, or meeting with a teacher are still not excused absences from these outside rehearsals.
After the 2nd unexcused absence from Honor Choir or any other special ensemble, it will be up to Mrs. Piel to decide if you are still committed and if you will stay in the group for the remainder of the year.
Since rehearsing a large group of students at one time takes a lot of planning, please let Mrs. Piel know about any absences in writing as soon as possible.
- Performances (Concerts, Contests, Festivals, etc.) – An unexcused absence from any performance will result in the lowering of the student’s final grade in the class by two letter grades. Illness, family emergencies, or a death in the family are among the few permitted excuses – please make every effort to notify Mrs. Piel by e-mail or phone as a performance is a large percentage of the student’s overall grade. Any performance missed due to a family vacation will be made up through a performance-based assignment AND at least 2 weeks written notice is needed. Students who miss concerts due to a family vacation without notice are considered unexcused.
- Rehearsals –The only excused absences are illness, emergencies, family vacations, or other class field trips.Unexcused absences will result in a total loss of participation points for the day. It is important that students take responsibility to let their teachers know that they have choir rehearsal and cannot miss class to make up tests, work on projects with other team members, etc. during choir. Final rehearsals on concert days are mandatory.
Honor Choir rehearsals and special rehearsals for festivals, contests, and ILMEA meet outside the school day. If participating in these groups, rehearsals are mandatory. Excused absences are illness and family emergencies. Although valid and important, attending a study session, intramurals, or meeting with a teacher are still not excused absences from these outside rehearsals.
After the 2nd unexcused absence from Honor Choir or any other special ensemble, it will be up to Mrs. Piel to decide if you are still committed and if you will stay in the group for the remainder of the year.
Since rehearsing a large group of students at one time takes a lot of planning, please let Mrs. Piel know about any absences in writing as soon as possible.
- Tardies
Grade Breakdown
Grade Breakdown
The following overall percentages apply:
- Formative Assessments 40%
- In-class writing or listening assignments
- Note name/solfege/counting worksheets
- Weekly Practice Journals - must be turned in ONLINE every Monday
- Small-group checks (sight-reading AND repertoire)
- Summative Assessments 40%
- Concert Attendance and Participation (On time to all required rehearsals, full participation in concert including knowledge of notes, rhythms, and words performed; appropriate attire)
- Voice Tests
- Note name/solfege/counting assessments
- Concert Reflections
- Sight-Reading assessments
*If a student does NOT complete a summative or formative assessment, the grade for that assessment is automatically reduced by 50% until the assessment is completed, for which they can earn partial credit. (In the case of an excused absence, they will get full credit upon make-up).
- Practice 15%
- Note name/solfege/counting practice worksheets
- Binder/pencil checks throughout the year
- Bellringers/exit slips
- Behavior 5%
- On time for class
- Prepared for class
- Participating/engagement
- Respectful behavior
- Collaboration
Instrumental Choir Students
Students in band or orchestra may also be in choir. By having the privilege of being a member of two music ensembles, students are expected to keep up with the work and assignments in both classes. Time will be split equally allowing students to participate in both ensembles – either “blue week” or “gold week” schedule:
BLUE WEEK: Students in two ensembles will attend either band/orchestra on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY.
GOLD WEEK: Students in two ensembles will attend either band/orchestra on TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.
As concerts near, teachers may alter schedules slightly to prepare for performances.
Joining mid-year from band or orchestra:
Students participating in ONLY band or orchestra may join choir mid-year (start of 3rd quarter ONLY) with permission and at the discretion of Mrs. Piel, Mr. Dobbeck, Mr. Pitner, and Mrs. Jones. They MUST be maintaining a B in band or orchestra to join.
Remember, being a part of two music ensembles is a privilege and you will get TWICE the musical experience here at Westfield! But working hard in BOTH groups is a must and will require a meeting with the music teachers if you are not maintaining a consistent grade in both groups throughout the year.
BLUE WEEK: Students in two ensembles will attend either band/orchestra on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY.
GOLD WEEK: Students in two ensembles will attend either band/orchestra on TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.
As concerts near, teachers may alter schedules slightly to prepare for performances.
Joining mid-year from band or orchestra:
Students participating in ONLY band or orchestra may join choir mid-year (start of 3rd quarter ONLY) with permission and at the discretion of Mrs. Piel, Mr. Dobbeck, Mr. Pitner, and Mrs. Jones. They MUST be maintaining a B in band or orchestra to join.
Remember, being a part of two music ensembles is a privilege and you will get TWICE the musical experience here at Westfield! But working hard in BOTH groups is a must and will require a meeting with the music teachers if you are not maintaining a consistent grade in both groups throughout the year.
Concert Attire
Looking your best at a performance actually makes you sound better. Therefore, the dress code for all choir concerts, except Solo/Ensemble, D300 Choral Festival, and ILMEA, is as follows:
Every student will wear black dress pants, black dress shoes, and black socks along with the Westfield music department polo. All students will purchase a polo using the required form found on the back of the handbook FORM (given to your child at school) or this website! If you have a polo from last year that still fits or a sibling’s polo that you can wear, you do not need to purchase a new polo. Please check to make sure your polo still fits and if it doesn’t, please order a new one. Don't wait until the concert to realize you don't have one or that it doesn't fit anymore!
Appropriate concert dress is part of the performance and will affect overall grade if not dressed appropriately. It could also result in the student not being able to perform in the concert and lowering of their grade.
Every student will wear black dress pants, black dress shoes, and black socks along with the Westfield music department polo. All students will purchase a polo using the required form found on the back of the handbook FORM (given to your child at school) or this website! If you have a polo from last year that still fits or a sibling’s polo that you can wear, you do not need to purchase a new polo. Please check to make sure your polo still fits and if it doesn’t, please order a new one. Don't wait until the concert to realize you don't have one or that it doesn't fit anymore!
Appropriate concert dress is part of the performance and will affect overall grade if not dressed appropriately. It could also result in the student not being able to perform in the concert and lowering of their grade.
Please print the following form and turn in by WEDNESDAY 8/23!
handbookform.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |