20082009 Choir Handbook

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• 2008-2009 Choir Handbook

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Welcome
• to Lakeshore Choirs!

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• A word about this slideshow
• When you are ready to advance to the next slide,
  press the spacebar on your computer. If you want
  to go backwards, press the left arrow button on
  your computer.
• Be sure to read all the way to the end to receive
  your password to fill out the required student
  forms!

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• If you have troubles viewing the slideshow please
  call Mr. Wurst
• _at_
• 428-1402, ext. 2102
• Thank you!

Fast Factdid you know that we are meeting in a
new classroom this year? Stop by Room 148 to
check it out!
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Students who have come before you have made the
  success of Lakeshore Choirs possible through
  their hard work, dedication and love of singing.

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• It has been their pride in making beautiful music
  at levels that are known throughout our lakeshore
  region and the State of Michigan. Being involved
  in choir has helped them to develop skills beyond
  music.

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• They have grown into leaders within the school
  and our community. By being a part of this
  heritage you will be encouraged to grow in the
  same way, while also striving for excellence.

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The Lakeshore Choir motto is Passion,
Dedication, Respect, Family Quality. Take a
moment to think about what each of those words
mean. These ideas put together, create an energy
and motivation to achieve something together that
is greater than ourselves. You will create
memories in Choir that will last your lifetime.
When you look back on this time you will be
reminded of friendships, laughter, hard work and
satisfaction in knowing that you were part of
something beautiful and great!
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• For those who are new to choir, thanks for
  stepping out and trying something new and
  exciting!
• Students who are returning will continue to be
  challenged and rewarded in new and thrilling ways.

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• A note to students
• It is a privilege for me as your teacher to work
  together, with you, for many years. My pleasure,
  and your parents pleasure, is gained through
  seeing you grow as a student and as an excellent
  musician.
• Were here to help you discover your strengths
  and walk with you as make progress over the
  coming years.

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• If you have any questions regarding class
  material, information, scheduling, performances
• (or anything else that comes to mind musically!)
• please dont hesitate to contact
• Mr. Wurst right away.

AdamWurst_at_LakeshoreChoirs.com
[phone], ext. 2102
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Heres to success!
• Mr. Wurst

your
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• How to succeed
• in Choir

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How to succeed in Choir

• Our concerts and performances can only be as good
  as our rehearsals. The key to a successful
  rehearsal is hard work!
• The following guidelines are used in all great
  musical organizations and will be the foundation
  of our rehearsals as well.

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How to succeed in Choir

• When the bells rings, all choir members are to be
  in the classroom going to their assigned seats
  with their choir folder, a pencil, and other
  choir materials.
• A pencil, your music, and sightreading materials
  are to be with each singer every day. A pencil is
  a valuable tool in choir and students will be
  expected to use themsorry, NO pens!

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How to succeed in Choir

• At the beginning of the year you will be assigned
  a choir number which matches your folder and
  music that will be stored in the cabinet in the
  choir room. You are responsible for the care and
  quality of these items.
• And yes, if your folder or music remains missing
  you must pay to replace them.

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How to succeed in Choir

• All choir students will be required to maintain
  an attitude of attentiveness during rehearsals.
  This is better than saying, You may NEVER talk!
  
• This only applies when your section is not asked
  to sing when Mr. Wurst is working with another
  section

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How to succeed in Choir

• Take ownership!
• Mark something in your score every day with a
  pencil. Remembering musical terms and symbols
  that are explained in class is essential.

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How to succeed in Choir

• Vocal health is essential for singers in each
  choir, especially for students in select
  ensembles. Your grade and your groups
  performance depends on you putting into practice
  the things that are taught in class.
• Great singers make these unconscious habits
  rather than something that is saved for
  performances.

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How to succeed in Choir

• Water is THE beverage to help you stay hydrated.
  Singers are encouraged to bring water bottles to
  class every day. Bottles should be filled up
  prior to the start of class rather than going
  back and forth to the drinking fountain.
• No pop or juice, please.

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How to succeed in Choir

• The Choir Room and the surrounding rooms and the
  Auditorium must be kept clean and neat at all
  times. Many of us share these spaces and it is
  each of our responsibilities to maintain them.

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How to succeed in Choir

• If you are having one of those days please
  leave it at the door when you walk into our
  room.
• A respectful attitude toward your fellow singers
  and your Director must be maintained at all
  times, even when you dont feel like it. We are a
  team and one persons bad attitude can bring the
  whole group down.

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How to succeed in Choir

• A note about online stuff
• Most of us are comfortable using online tools
  like email, blogs, Facebook, etc. Mr. Wurst
  encourages the responsible use of these tools to
  help students with communication and
  productivity.
• With that being said
• Lakeshore Choir students are expected to
  maintain an attitude of excellence and integrity
  at all times. Since students will be visiting
  your online profile, please be sure to refrain
  from using profanity, lewd pictures, or other
  similar behaviors. Mr. Wurst reserves the right
  to talk with students about their online
  behaviors when they are involved in Lakeshore
  Choir groups online.

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How to succeed in Choir

• As a matter of safety as well as quality of
  sound, there is to be NO gum, candy or cough
  drops in rehearsals and performances.
• These can be significant choking hazards and
  should be avoided while in class or on stage.

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How to succeed in Choir

• It doesnt happen often, but Mr. Wurst reserves
  the right to call a sectional or other rehearsal
  for any of the choirs before, after school, or in
  the evening.
• The rehearsal will be announced in advance and
  attendance will be required.
• These rehearsals will be important times for
  building a strong foundation in each section!

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Quotable Quote
Teamwork is a true challenge! It means
coordinating our efforts with those of others,
not solely for personal glory but for team
achievement!
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Grading Policies

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Grading Policy

• Student grades will be made up of 3 main
  categories
• Musicianship
• Written Work
• Performances

• Grades are weighted in this way
• Musicianship 35
• Written Work 15
• Performances 50

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Grading Policy

• posture
• eye contact
• proper use and care of the voice
• score marking
• sightsinging
• focused concentration

• Musicianship
• is determined by the quality of participation on
  a daily basis

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Grading Policy

• Written work
• is determined by the quality of participation on
  an assigned basis

• Music theory activities
• Sightsinging skills
• Periodic written assignments such as poetry
  texts, composer background, etc.

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Grading Policy

• Performances
• are determined by the quality of participation
  and timeliness as communicated in daily
  rehearsals

• at least one performance per semester
• sponsored events by MSVMA and SWVMF
• special performances such as recording sessions
  and/or convention invitations

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Grading Policy

• Stage Deportment
• Concert Behavior
• Being on time when arriving
• Not leaving before the end of a scheduled
  performance
• Commitment to the greater good

• Quality of participation in performance is
  known in the Arts as

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Grading Policy

• Commitment to the Lakeshore Choir program and its
  activities cannot be selective commitment. The
  concerts and activities are an integral part of
  the curriculum for all choirs, and students
  participation is essential and expected.
• As Dr. Craig Arnold, conductor of Luther College
  Choirs, says, Just showing up isnt good enough!

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Grading Policy

• Students will receive a written syllabus that is
  specific to their ensemble.
• Parentsplease be sure to ask for this syllabus
  within the first week of school! (additional
  copies will be available on request ?)

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Quotable Quote
Attitudes are contagious. Make sure is
worth catching!
yours
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Attendance Policies

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Attendance Policy

• Sectionals and after school work are a normal
  part of a quality choral music program. There
  will be times when students will be asked to
  attend rehearsals that are not a part of
  scheduled calendar events.

• Students will need to communicate with Mr. Wurst
  about other events that may conflict with these
  rehearsals, such as sports practice, after school
  academic make-up work, detentions, etc.
• If there is a conflict with a rehearsal, students
  will be responsible for making up the missed work
  at another time with a Section Leader.

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Attendance Policy

• All choir students are expected and required to
  be at all concerts and auditorium rehearsals.
  Choir is a team effort and we rely on the
  responsibility of those around us. This
  attendance policy is consistent with that of the
  Performing Arts policies at the middle and high
  school.

• For extreme circumstances (such as serious
  illness, hospitalization, or death in the family)
  the director may excuse an absence. Please
  understand that work, vacations, etc. are not
  valid excuses and students will be marked down
  for these types of absences.

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Attendance Policy
Choir schedules are given very early in the
school year and students are expected to schedule
around concerts and auditorium rehearsals.
Students with schedule conflicts in sports and
other school organizations need to make the
director/coach of both events aware of the
conflict as soon as possible so that an agreeable
plan can be reached in advance.
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Attendance PolicyExcused Absences

• There are extreme occasions when it becomes
  necessary to miss a scheduled rehearsal or
  performance. These absences must be in writing
  and communicated with Mr. Wurst to be considered
  excused.

• Excused absences must be communicated at least
  one week prior to the event.
• Students whose absence has been excused by their
  director may make up the time missed through
  Musical Community Service

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Attendance PolicyUnexcused Absences

• Unexcused absences will result in a zero for the
  performance or rehearsal.

• Unexcused tardies and absences to scheduled
  rehearsals and performances will result in a
  lowered grade for the semester.
• Please be advised that work conflicts are not
  considered an excused absence.

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Quotable Quote
To be good is not good enough when you of
being great!
dream
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Choir Uniforms

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Choir Uniforms
The word uniform means that everyone will look
the same. Its not the time to show your unique
personality, so prepare yourself for this!
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Choir Uniforms
Singers must have all uniform parts clean and
presentable at all times. This includes formal
and informal performance uniforms. If you
appear with wrinkled, soiled, or an incomplete
uniform, you may not be able to perform and your
grade will be affected.
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Choir Uniforms

• Jewelry

One ring on a finger per hand are okay. Nose,
tongue, or eyebrow piercings are NOT okay for
performance and must be removed.
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Choir Uniforms

• Hair accessories

Girls must pull hair back with a plain black hair
band or barrette. No headbands or other hair
ornaments will be allowed. These guidelines apply
to boys who wear longer hair styles, too. Your
eyes are key to musical expression so plan ahead
how you will take care of your hair.
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Choir Uniforms

• Hair color

Singers hair color must fall within the
traditional rainbow of blonde, brunette, black,
or redhead. Blue and other dyes is a pretty color
but is inappropriate for our stage performances.
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Choir Uniforms

• What Lakeshore Choirs will provide

• For men
• You will be provided a tuxedo jacket and pants.
  Additionally
• Concert Choir men will receive a bow tie, and
  cummerbund.
• Chorale men will receive two full vests.
• All men will need to purchase a tux shirt, studs,
  cuff links, black socks, and character shoes. All
  but the socks must be purchased from the
  Lakeshore Choirs website.

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Choir Uniforms

• What Lakeshore Choirs will provide

• For women
• Concert Choir women will receive a black skirt
  and red satin blouse.
• Chorale women will receive two dresses, one for
  traditional and one for KnightLife performances.
• All women will need to purchase jewelry as
  assigned for their ensemble, character shoes, and
  appropriate black hosiery. All but the hosiery
  must be purchased from the Lakeshore Choirs
  website.

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Choir Uniforms

• Informal uniforms
• There are occasional performance opportunities
  where formal uniforms are not appropriate. For
  these performances, students must wear black
  shoes, black socks, black dress pants, and the
  Lakeshore Choirs t-shirt (HS design only!)
• T-shirts must be in a wrinkle-free, non-faded
  condition for performance! A replacement may need
  to be ordered for students whose shirts show
  excessive wear.

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Choir Uniforms

• Uniform accessories

As of 2008-09, students are being asked to
purchase accessories as outlined in the previous
slides. All accessories must be purchased through
Lakeshore Choirs for uniformity and may be used
for all 4 years in Choir. Students will have the
opportunity to sell their accessories at the end
of their choir participation.
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Choir Uniforms

• Uniform accessories

The cost for these items may be paid for with
cash, personal check, or by credit card
(available on the Lakeshore Choirs website under
Choir Gear) Assistance may be available
through the Choir Boosters for families needing
assistance. Any questions or concerns may be
directed to Mr. Wurst through email or by phone.
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Choir Uniforms

• A word about paying for things

Students and their families who may have
difficulty paying for items such as accessories
or field trips will never be excluded from
participating. Your needs will always remain
confidential, too. Please contact Mr. Wurst or
Jen Branham, our Booster President, if you have a
need.
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• MSVMA
• Michigan School Vocal Music Association

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MSVMA

• Lakeshore High School is a member of MSVMA, which
  is a non-profit professional organization of
  vocal music educators whose purposes are
  improving, promoting, and assisting vocal music
  education.
• The Lakeshore Choirs participate in many MSVMA
  activities, some of which are included

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MSVMA

• State Honors Choir

Participation in the 9 12 Honors Choir is
different than the Middle School division. There
are two rounds, with students first auditioning
for the Regional Honors Choir. On a Saturday in
October, individuals travel to a centralized site
where each auditions privately for an adjudicator
by 1) singing a pre-memorized piece a cappella
and 2) sight-singing a short exercise. Students
are assigned a point score in the categories of
tone, memorization, intonation, phrasing,
diction, and vocal technique. The top scoring
students are selected for the Regional Honors
Choir. Audition results are mailed to the school.
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MSVMA

• State Honors Choir

Once a student has gained membership in the
Regional Honors Choir, the singer must prepare
four other selections, two of them by memory. On
the first Saturday in December, students
rehearse, audition for the State Honors Choir and
perform all prepared numbers in a concert
(parents and friends are invited to this
concert!). After the performance, results of the
auditions will be posted.
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MSVMA

• Solo and Ensemble Festival

Students who are taking voice lessons, or who
demonstrate excellent singing skills, are invited
to enter as soloists in the District S E
Festival held every year 4 5 weeks after
Christmas. Working in conjunction with their
voice teachers or Director, the students prepare
2 songs of contrasting nature and perform them
for an adjudicator. One is to be from the MSVMA
solo required list. Selections from the pop,
jazz, musical theater, and novelty genres are not
to be used. There is no sight singing required at
the District level (but there is at State).
Soloists may elect to perform for a rating or for
comments only.
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MSVMA

• Solo and Ensemble Festival

Students are responsible to pay the entry fee,
secure and pay an accompanist, and designate any
needed performance time arrangements by a
predetermined date. Under normal circumstances,
students should plan to arrange their own
transportation to and from this event. Ensembles
that participate in this event are typically from
the Chorale, but other ensemble entries are
possible, depending upon interest and
preparation.
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MSVMA

• Solo and Ensemble Festival

State Solo and Ensemble Festival is open to any
soloist or ensemble receiving a First Division at
the District level. The format is similar to the
District level, with the addition of the
sight-reading requirement. Additionally, three or
four soloists and ensembles judged to be the most
outstanding will be designated finalist, with
possible performance at the Michigan Youth Arts
Festival (MYAF) in May.
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MSVMA

• Choral Festivals

All members of Lakeshore Choirs larger than
sixteen voices will participate in District
Choral Festival held every year in the month of
March. Participating choirs must sing two
selections of contrasting nature, one from the
MSVMA required list. Groups will also sight-read
in unison and parts at one of three levels of
difficulty Primary, Intermediate, or Advanced.
Specific details will follow, but please plan to
keep the daylight hours open, as we will be
assigned a time closer to the Festival date.
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MSVMA

• Choral Festivals

State Choral Festival is open to any group
receiving an overall First Division rating at the
District level. Groups will sing three
contrasting selections, one of them a cappella.
There is no sight-reading at the State level for
large choral groups.
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Choir Boosters

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Lakeshore Choir Boosters
Our Choir Boosters are an important and vital
part of students success. There are ways to be
involved that require all levels of commitment,
from small to a little more significant. If you
would like to be involved in any way, please
contact our Booster President, Jen Branham, or
our Vice President, Clint Mettler,
at JenBranham_at_LakeshoreChoirs.com
ClintMettler_at_LakeshoreChoirs.com
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• A word about fundraisers

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Fundraising
Raising money is an essential part of maintaining
an excellent choral program. Funds raised by It
is important to note that the money is spent to
help students in the Lakeshore Choir program. A
very active program such as ours takes
considerable funding each year to meet growing
needs and desires. It is understood by all
concerned, however, that a students primary
purpose is to sing and not to fund raise.
Therefore, fundraisers will be kept to a minimum,
with students also benefiting according to their
individual efforts (more about this below).
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Fundraising
Individual accounts are established to help
students offset costs of trips and other choir
activities such as MSVMA Solo Ensemble fees and
uniform cleaning/maintenance costs. Depending on
the fundraiser, for each item a student sells, an
amount of money will be credited to his or her
account. The profits are shared between
participating individual students and the choral
program. Student account information will be
available on the Lakeshore Choirs website under
Choir Forms
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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Thanks for taking the time to read through this
  very important information!
• It will be the foundation to a fun and exciting
  year in Choir

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Keep reading to receive your password to fill
  out the required forms for
• Medical Consent
• Choir Handbook and Code of Conduct

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Please enter the following password to fill out
  your required student forms
• lchoirs08

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Lakeshore Choirs Handbook

• Be sure to visit
• www.LakeshoreChoirs.com
• often for more great news
• throughout the year!

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