West Stokes High School Chorus Syllabus Spring 2012
Kelsi Hobson, director
kelsi.hobson@stokes.k12.nc.us
1400 Priddy Road
King, NC 27021
(336) 983-2099 ex. 2351
Dear Parents and Students,
I am so honored and happy to be West Stokes High School’s chorus director this year. I look forward to working with you all and getting to know each of you this semester (and continuing on with some). My goal is that students will learn and grow through music, and that continued success is fostered in the WSHS Choral Department.
The following pages bring up several items of interest, as well as the choir room rules. Students need to thoroughly read the syllabus, and sign that they have read and understand the rules, policies, and grading outline. Parents please fill out the requested information on the final page and have your child to return it to me. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have a question or concern about anything throughout the semester. I am very happy to be here this year, and I cannot wait to start making music again.
Kelsi L. Hobson
Fee: There is a $10 fee for chorus which is payable to the Mrs. Sizemore at the beginning of the semester. Checks should be made out to WSHS.
Materials: Students need to purchase a 1-inch or 1/2-inch black 3-ring binder for their music, which they may be asked to use during a performance. Students may carry music in this binder daily or reserve it for performances. Please do not wait until the week or day of a performance to attain a binder. Students should bring a pencil with them each day.
Music: Will be numbered and distributed at the beginning of the semester. Every student will be assigned a single number, which will be located on each piece of music. Students will be responsible for keeping up with music and bringing it to class everyday. ***If a student does not turn in his or her music at the end the semester, he or she will owe the value of the music. This way all missing music can be replaced.*** If a student repeatedly forgets to bring music to class, his or her participation grade will be affected.
Participation: It is imperative that students actively participate, contribute, listen, and give their 100% in chorus class. Each member is important to the success of the ensemble and should always demonstrate a focused attention, a desire to improve technique, and a positive attitude. If a student chooses not to follow directions or consistently chooses not participate, his or her grade will be affected. Students can expect to make poor participation grades if they do not show up to class on time and prepared with pencil and music in hand. Also, if a student consistently chooses to use poor vocal technique, such as slumped posture, without making an effort to improve, participation grades will suffer.
Performances: Students should plan to be in the choir room (dressed and ready) at least 30 minutes before concerts in order to warm-up. Students may be asked to take the piano and risers back to the choir room after concerts in the gym. If this is the case, each student will be expected to do his or her part before leaving.
There will be several major performances this semester, including a mid-semester concert and one at the end of the year. Attendance at all concerts is mandatory since this is a performing ensemble class. It will be difficult to pass the course if you do not attend the concerts. All foreseeable concert dates are provided at the end of this syllabus.
***Other performance opportunities may arise during the semester and these will also count as grades.*** Ms. Hobson will make every effort to get any prospective performance dates to students and parents at least three weeks prior to the performance.
If a student sees that there is a problem or conflict with any of the concert dates, his or her parent should contact Ms. Hobson as soon as the conflict is realized. Excused absences for a concert include sickness, a death in the family, and unforeseen emergencies. Parents please make Ms. Hobson aware of the situation as soon as possible, so that students are not given a zero for the concert grade. Students with excused absences from concerts do not have to do a make-up assignment for missed concerts. Students that are not excused may be given the opportunity to do a make-up assignment after missing a concert. This will be decided at Ms. Hobson’s discretion. Unexcused absences from a concert typically result in a zero for that performance test grade.
Any student that is in CDC or out-of-school suspension on the day of a concert will not be allowed to attend the concert or perform. He or she will be missing our final rehearsal during school that day and will be unprepared for any last minute changes. The student will also receive a zero for this concert.
Finally, part of being in a performing arts class is knowing how to behave both on stage and off stage. Students are expected not to talk when on stage and to refrain from calling attention to any individual or themselves. When off stage students should remain attentive and respectful to the ensemble that is performing. Any student that exhibits improper, distasteful, or rude stage etiquette during any performance will not receive a “100” for that concert/test grade. He or she will receive a grade deduction that fits the misbehavior.
Plagiarism: Students are only asked to write a paper in my chorus class when they are excused from missing a concert. The grade for that paper is given in lieu of a concert grade. If a student plagiarizes their make-up paper (i.e. copy and pastes, failure to cite a source if quoted directly, etc.), he or she will receive a zero for that concert/test grade and be written up. I take plagiarism very seriously because it is illegal and many colleges expel students for plagiarizing.
Concert Attire:
-Ladies will check out our school choral dresses from the Choral Department. These were purchased brand new this year for $85 each. Should a student fail to return the dress at the end of the semester, the school will bill the student for the cost of replacing the dress.
The dresses can be hand washed and line-dried, and at the conclusion of the semester, students are asked to either hand wash or dry-clean their dresses before their return.
Ladies are to wear black closed toe dress shoes. Flats or comfortable heels are fine. Students will need to get their dresses hemmed with their shoes on. Hemmed dresses should barely touch the toe of the shoe. (Kathy Largen has hemmed many of West Stokes’ choral dresses and may be willing to hem some again this semester. Her number is (336) 983-9555.) Also, if a student is unable to get her dress hemmed due to financial reasons, the student should let Ms. Hobson know at the beginning of the semester and assistance can be provided.
Ladies should not wear large, distracting jewelry or multiples sets of earrings during concerts. Questions regarding jewelry will be addressed prior to concerts.
-Gentlemen’s attire will be decided upon at the beginning of the semester. Black socks and black dress shoes are mandatory J
Fundraising: There are many costs incurred when running a choral department, such as purchasing music, going to the state choral festival, tuning the piano, and sometimes paying an accompanist. If an excellent choral department is enjoyed by students, all students must do their part fundraising and make an effort.
This past semester, the choral department purchased new dresses, so students could check them out for free. The dresses are close to being paid for thanks to the fundraising efforts of last semesters’ choir students. Continued fundraising this semester will help us to finish paying them off and reach other goals. Students can expect early in the semester to be given their first fundraiser packets, which will be Little Caeser’s Pizza Kits (amazingly good).
Choir Room Rules:
-No gum. It’s dangerous for singing.
-No food or drink (Water only).
-No texting or talking on cell phones. Cell phones should be out of sight and on “silent” or “off” mode (not on vibrate, alert setting, etc). Cell phones will be confiscated if used, ringing, or vibrating in class. They will be returned at the end of the class period or the end of the day. If the problem persists students or parents will have to approach the office administration directly when retrieving phones.
-Leave book bags, satchels, etc. in designated area at the back of the room.
-***Singers should be seated with music and pencils in hand when the bell rings.
-Students are not to enter music office or storage room unless Ms. Hobson or Mr. Jarvis are present.
-***Students will refrain from playing pianos unless instructed otherwise. As a general rule, the grand should not be touched.
-Respect teacher, classmates, choir room, pianos, and instructional materials.
-Arrive to class on time and be ready for the warm-up.
-Use appropriate vocal and posture skills (set up straight, not hunched over).
-Talking should be minimal and occur at appropriate times.
-Be positive and respectful of others’ musical efforts.
Grading
45% Daily Participation and Preparedness
40% Performance Attendance and Participation
15% Written Theory Quizzes/Assessments
Extra Credit
-A limited amount of extra credit will be given to students who attend any concert of a collegiate or professional music ensemble. Students need to bring in the program of the concert to receive extra credit points.
-Students may also earn extra credit for researching the composer, arranger, lyricist, historical context, or musical period of a piece that is being studied in choir. The student should ask Ms. Hobson which theme to pursue and then present his or her findings to the teacher. At Ms. Hobson’s discretion the student may be allowed to present knowledge of the topic to the class. A limited amount of extra credit will then be awarded to the student.
Kelsi Hobson, director
kelsi.hobson@stokes.k12.nc.us
1400 Priddy Road
King, NC 27021
(336) 983-2099 ex. 2351
Dear Parents and Students,
I am so honored and happy to be West Stokes High School’s chorus director this year. I look forward to working with you all and getting to know each of you this semester (and continuing on with some). My goal is that students will learn and grow through music, and that continued success is fostered in the WSHS Choral Department.
The following pages bring up several items of interest, as well as the choir room rules. Students need to thoroughly read the syllabus, and sign that they have read and understand the rules, policies, and grading outline. Parents please fill out the requested information on the final page and have your child to return it to me. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have a question or concern about anything throughout the semester. I am very happy to be here this year, and I cannot wait to start making music again.
Kelsi L. Hobson
Fee: There is a $10 fee for chorus which is payable to the Mrs. Sizemore at the beginning of the semester. Checks should be made out to WSHS.
Materials: Students need to purchase a 1-inch or 1/2-inch black 3-ring binder for their music, which they may be asked to use during a performance. Students may carry music in this binder daily or reserve it for performances. Please do not wait until the week or day of a performance to attain a binder. Students should bring a pencil with them each day.
Music: Will be numbered and distributed at the beginning of the semester. Every student will be assigned a single number, which will be located on each piece of music. Students will be responsible for keeping up with music and bringing it to class everyday. ***If a student does not turn in his or her music at the end the semester, he or she will owe the value of the music. This way all missing music can be replaced.*** If a student repeatedly forgets to bring music to class, his or her participation grade will be affected.
Participation: It is imperative that students actively participate, contribute, listen, and give their 100% in chorus class. Each member is important to the success of the ensemble and should always demonstrate a focused attention, a desire to improve technique, and a positive attitude. If a student chooses not to follow directions or consistently chooses not participate, his or her grade will be affected. Students can expect to make poor participation grades if they do not show up to class on time and prepared with pencil and music in hand. Also, if a student consistently chooses to use poor vocal technique, such as slumped posture, without making an effort to improve, participation grades will suffer.
Performances: Students should plan to be in the choir room (dressed and ready) at least 30 minutes before concerts in order to warm-up. Students may be asked to take the piano and risers back to the choir room after concerts in the gym. If this is the case, each student will be expected to do his or her part before leaving.
There will be several major performances this semester, including a mid-semester concert and one at the end of the year. Attendance at all concerts is mandatory since this is a performing ensemble class. It will be difficult to pass the course if you do not attend the concerts. All foreseeable concert dates are provided at the end of this syllabus.
***Other performance opportunities may arise during the semester and these will also count as grades.*** Ms. Hobson will make every effort to get any prospective performance dates to students and parents at least three weeks prior to the performance.
If a student sees that there is a problem or conflict with any of the concert dates, his or her parent should contact Ms. Hobson as soon as the conflict is realized. Excused absences for a concert include sickness, a death in the family, and unforeseen emergencies. Parents please make Ms. Hobson aware of the situation as soon as possible, so that students are not given a zero for the concert grade. Students with excused absences from concerts do not have to do a make-up assignment for missed concerts. Students that are not excused may be given the opportunity to do a make-up assignment after missing a concert. This will be decided at Ms. Hobson’s discretion. Unexcused absences from a concert typically result in a zero for that performance test grade.
Any student that is in CDC or out-of-school suspension on the day of a concert will not be allowed to attend the concert or perform. He or she will be missing our final rehearsal during school that day and will be unprepared for any last minute changes. The student will also receive a zero for this concert.
Finally, part of being in a performing arts class is knowing how to behave both on stage and off stage. Students are expected not to talk when on stage and to refrain from calling attention to any individual or themselves. When off stage students should remain attentive and respectful to the ensemble that is performing. Any student that exhibits improper, distasteful, or rude stage etiquette during any performance will not receive a “100” for that concert/test grade. He or she will receive a grade deduction that fits the misbehavior.
Plagiarism: Students are only asked to write a paper in my chorus class when they are excused from missing a concert. The grade for that paper is given in lieu of a concert grade. If a student plagiarizes their make-up paper (i.e. copy and pastes, failure to cite a source if quoted directly, etc.), he or she will receive a zero for that concert/test grade and be written up. I take plagiarism very seriously because it is illegal and many colleges expel students for plagiarizing.
Concert Attire:
-Ladies will check out our school choral dresses from the Choral Department. These were purchased brand new this year for $85 each. Should a student fail to return the dress at the end of the semester, the school will bill the student for the cost of replacing the dress.
The dresses can be hand washed and line-dried, and at the conclusion of the semester, students are asked to either hand wash or dry-clean their dresses before their return.
Ladies are to wear black closed toe dress shoes. Flats or comfortable heels are fine. Students will need to get their dresses hemmed with their shoes on. Hemmed dresses should barely touch the toe of the shoe. (Kathy Largen has hemmed many of West Stokes’ choral dresses and may be willing to hem some again this semester. Her number is (336) 983-9555.) Also, if a student is unable to get her dress hemmed due to financial reasons, the student should let Ms. Hobson know at the beginning of the semester and assistance can be provided.
Ladies should not wear large, distracting jewelry or multiples sets of earrings during concerts. Questions regarding jewelry will be addressed prior to concerts.
-Gentlemen’s attire will be decided upon at the beginning of the semester. Black socks and black dress shoes are mandatory J
Fundraising: There are many costs incurred when running a choral department, such as purchasing music, going to the state choral festival, tuning the piano, and sometimes paying an accompanist. If an excellent choral department is enjoyed by students, all students must do their part fundraising and make an effort.
This past semester, the choral department purchased new dresses, so students could check them out for free. The dresses are close to being paid for thanks to the fundraising efforts of last semesters’ choir students. Continued fundraising this semester will help us to finish paying them off and reach other goals. Students can expect early in the semester to be given their first fundraiser packets, which will be Little Caeser’s Pizza Kits (amazingly good).
Choir Room Rules:
-No gum. It’s dangerous for singing.
-No food or drink (Water only).
-No texting or talking on cell phones. Cell phones should be out of sight and on “silent” or “off” mode (not on vibrate, alert setting, etc). Cell phones will be confiscated if used, ringing, or vibrating in class. They will be returned at the end of the class period or the end of the day. If the problem persists students or parents will have to approach the office administration directly when retrieving phones.
-Leave book bags, satchels, etc. in designated area at the back of the room.
-***Singers should be seated with music and pencils in hand when the bell rings.
-Students are not to enter music office or storage room unless Ms. Hobson or Mr. Jarvis are present.
-***Students will refrain from playing pianos unless instructed otherwise. As a general rule, the grand should not be touched.
-Respect teacher, classmates, choir room, pianos, and instructional materials.
-Arrive to class on time and be ready for the warm-up.
-Use appropriate vocal and posture skills (set up straight, not hunched over).
-Talking should be minimal and occur at appropriate times.
-Be positive and respectful of others’ musical efforts.
Grading
45% Daily Participation and Preparedness
40% Performance Attendance and Participation
15% Written Theory Quizzes/Assessments
Extra Credit
-A limited amount of extra credit will be given to students who attend any concert of a collegiate or professional music ensemble. Students need to bring in the program of the concert to receive extra credit points.
-Students may also earn extra credit for researching the composer, arranger, lyricist, historical context, or musical period of a piece that is being studied in choir. The student should ask Ms. Hobson which theme to pursue and then present his or her findings to the teacher. At Ms. Hobson’s discretion the student may be allowed to present knowledge of the topic to the class. A limited amount of extra credit will then be awarded to the student.
