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Dear Parents and Students,
It is my great pleasure to be continuing with your choral program this year. We had a fantastic year last year and I look forward to accomplishing even more this year.
We have an exciting year already planned. It is filled with concerts, choral festivals, solo and ensemble festivals, a talent show and much more.
Unfortunately, all of these wonderful things cannot occur without the help of everybody involved. Students have a lot of responsibility in the classroom as well as outside. Parents– I extend the invitation to you to be involved in your son’s or daughter’s choral program. We need parents to help out with a variety of activities, from being ushers at concerts, to chaperoning field trips to helping with fundraising. This program is nothing without the support of “choir parents.” It is you who make things happen. Even if you can only help a little bit, it is greatly appreciated. Let’s do our best to see that everybody chips in to make this experience truly wonderful for our children.
As I have not had the opportunity to meet many parents yet, I would like to invite you to our Choir Boosters meeting on Wednesday, September 5th at 7:00pm. This will take place in the GHS Choir Room. This event will not only give us the opportunity to meet, but to discuss items that effect your son or daughter’s choral experience.
I look forward to meeting all of you and to a wonderful school year.
Best Regards,
Miss Julie Harman
Choral Director
Gaylord HS/MS
90 Livingston Blvd.
Gaylord, MI 49735
Choir Philosophy and Mission Statement
I GO TO CHOIR . . .
I go to math class everyday because it's something I should know and it's a credit I have to have.
I go to science class everyday because it's something I should know and it's a credit I have to have.
I go to choir everyday because making music brings me joy, because I want to be challenged physically, mentally, and spiritually, and because I want to be a part of something as ancient and eternal as music.
Studying math, science, technology, and other subjects will someday provide me with the skills I need to obtain a job and support a family.
Studying music will teach me patience, integrity, appreciation of beauty, and will help me find peace in a hectic world.
It is not something I have to do; it is something I choose to do.
Through singing I have experienced indescribable joy, overwhelming passion, intense sorrow, and great strength. My soul aches for these feelings that are rarely experienced in my daily life, but are very much a part of the music I make with these exceptional choirs. And it is these feelings that teach me how to use everything else I learn in a way that will enrich my life.
So, as the years go by, things like quadratic equations and scientific notation will eventually begin to fade from my mind, but the power of music will never will. There has been a spark ignited deep inside of me by music and the passion it brings, that grows continually into a larger and more powerful flame with every day that I am alive.
And that flame will never be extinguished. Unlike a lot of what I learn, music will never become a forgotten relic of my past education. Music is my eternal companion that will continue to teach me to live, to love, to grieve, to laugh, to cry, and finally to carry on.
And as long as I have a soul within me, it will never fall silent in my heart.
G. Walters - GHHS Class of 1998
OUR MISSION
The choral program strives to provide a place where music skills can be learned and immediately put into practice and where the individual vocal gifts can be developed and understood while developing an appreciation for the body of literature in the choral repertoire. Auxiliary benefits include learning to work as a team and insight into a history that the musical experience can uniquely provide.
GOALS
The choral program strives to:
· Perform quality choral literature at the highest possible level.
· Develop musical literacy and fluency in melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, articulation, phrasing, and tone color.
· Apply literacy and technique to musical insight, interpretation and style.
· Foster aesthetic development and appreciation of music as an art form.
· Develop a professional atmosphere through maximum time efficiency and focus in rehearsal and other settings.
· Continue the tradition of excellence that has been a part of our choirs down through the years.
· Appropriately represent our school and the community.
Course Offerings
All Ensembles
All ensembles will perform a varied repertoire from all genres including, but not limited to, renaissance, classical, modern, jazz and pop, both accompanied and unaccompanied. They meet five days a week during the school day, unless otherwise specified.
Cantus Femina
Cantus Femina is a new and permanent feature to the Gaylord Choral Program. It is designed as an intermediate step for high school women. Singers should have at least some experience with choir. It is open to all grades, 9-12. The ensemble focuses on developing general musicianship and choral singing skills at an intermediate level. Performances are presented at choral concerts and choral festivals throughout the school year. Cantus Femina will also occasionally participate in vocal workshops designed specifically for women singers. An informal audition with emphasis on music reading and large ensemble singing is required.
Men’s Chorus
Does not exist yet….but hopefully will in a couple years!
Concert Choir
Concert Choir is a mixed choir designed for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. The ensemble focuses on developing general musicianship and choral singing skills at the primary level. Performances are presented at choral concerts and choral festival throughout the school year. Concert choir will also occasionally participate in vocal workshops designed for mixed choruses. Any student may join concert choir. A voice placement assessment is required.
Chamber Singers
Chamber Singers is a select mixed choir designed primarily for those who have extensive choral experience. The ensemble focuses on continuing development of general musicianship and choral singing skills at an advanced level. Performances are presented at choral concerts and festivals as well a community and abroad performances. The choir will also participate in occasional workshops designed for mixed voices. A formal audition with emphasis on music reading and small ensemble singing is required.
Bel Canto
This group is a select female ensemble designed primarily for all grades. This ensemble focuses on developing small ensemble musicianship and choral singing skills at an advanced level. Performances are presented at choral concerts as well as solo and ensemble festivals and many community and abroad performances. The ensemble may also participate in workshops designed for female voices. This ensemble will be meeting after school for rehearsals. Only those committed to being at every rehearsal should audition. Rehearsal times: Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30 at the GHS Choir Room. A formal audition is required with emphasis on music reading and small ensemble singing.
Music with a Sacred Text
1. Choral music educators recognize that choral music may fulfill diverse objectives. At one end of the spectrum it is aesthetic education and artistic performance which can insure development of musicality and sensitivity. At the opposite end of the spectrum it is pure entertainment. Between these two poles may be found opportunities to enhance knowledge and understanding through a growing awareness and perspective of history and art as reflected in great music. To achieve any selected educational objective, the quality of repertoire is of paramount importance.
2. An assessment of the quality of repertoire which can fulfill the highest objectives of aesthetic education necessitates careful examination of the relationship of text and musical setting. The wealth of choral literature which represents and reflects peoples, cultures and traditions of all lands and compositional styles of all eras includes much music in which the composer has utilized a sacred text. The term "sacred" refers to all manner of religious belief and not only to the practices of Judeo-Christian teachings. It is important to recognize that almost all of the significant choral music composed before the 17th century was associated with a sacred text.
3. To study and perform music in which the musical setting of a text is artistically accomplished is a highly commendable objective. While public school teaching objectives and criteria for repertoire selection should not include religious indoctrination, the selection of quality repertoire will invariably include music with a sacred text.
4. To exclude from a public school curriculum all choral music which has religious meaning associated with the text is to severely limit the possibilities of teaching for artistic understanding and responsiveness. Such an exclusion has as its parallel the study of art without any paintings related to the various religions of the world, the study of literature without mention of the Bible, or the study of architecture without reference to the great temples and cathedrals of the world.
5. Since choral music with a sacred text comprises such a substantial portion of the artistic repertoire representative of the choral medium and the history of music, it should have an important place in music education. Its study and artistic performance have nothing to do with the First Amendment to the Constitution and the doctrine which advocates separation of Church and State.
This statement has been endorsed by the
National Board of Directors of the American Choral Directors Association.
It represents the concerns of over 13,000 American Choral Directors.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT SACRED MUSIC IN THE OUR CHOIRS PLEASE CONTACT ME. I WOULD ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS
IMPORTANT TOPIC. THANKS.
harmanj@gaylord.k12.mi.us
Conduct Expectations
Four Requirements:
1. Singers are required to show respect for their fellow choir members, the music which they perform, the directors, and the work which must be done to make our choirs perform at their highest possible level of achievement.
2. Singers are also required to show responsibility for their individual contribution by trying their best at all rehearsal and performances. You and I will not tolerate a student infringing on another's right to learn.
3. You and I will not tolerate a student infringing upon my responsibility to teach.
4. Students who do not meet these requirements may be removed from our program.
Students who DO meet our success requirements will be rewarded with an experience unlike any other that they may have while in high school - fun, joy, excitement, team working skills, self-discipline and a lifelong passion for life.
If you have questions, please feel free to talk to me about your concerns. I am usually available before and after school as well as during my prep period. Also, email is a great way to communicate with me, rather than by phone. Since I don't have a secretary to help me out with office tasks, often my getting back to phone messages just takes longer. So, if possible, try emailing me with your questions. Thanks for your patience.
Julie Harman
EMAIL: harmanj@gaylord.k12.mi.us
CHOIR OFFICE PHONE: 989.731.0969 ext. 1253
Rehearsal Expectations
Our concerts and performances can only be as good as our rehearsals. The key to a successful rehearsal is plain, old-fashioned hard work! The following rules are used in all great musical organizations and will be the foundation of our rehearsal procedure. Read these rules carefully and be prepared to live by them each day in choir. Remember that it takes self-discipline to be a musician!
1. When the last bell rings, all choir members are to be in the choir room at their assigned seats with their choir folder and other materials. Walking in the door during the bell means you are tardy.
2. A pencil, music and sight-reading materials are to be with each singer every day. You must always have a pencil and you must use it. NO PENS ARE ALLOWED! (If you mark your music in pen, you will have to pay double the cost to replace it.)
3. At the beginning of the year you will be assigned a choir number. Your choir folder and all of your music will have that number on it. All students will have a numbered folder slot in a music cabinet so that the folder and materials may be stored in the room.
4. If for any reason your folder, pencil and/or music is missing, you are responsible for it. We can't guard the cabinets during the day while we are teaching. If your folder is missing, check with the people above and below you to see if they grabbed yours by mistake (we also suggest you check the bottom of your locker and under you bed at home!). If the folder remains missing, you must pay for it. Our department policy is that you pay double the replacement cost. This covers the cost of the materials plus postage and handling fees. Remember that your stuff is your responsibility!!
5. Rather than saying you can never talk while in choir class, we would like to say that you must have an attitude of attentiveness during the entire rehearsal. We cannot be productive and become our best if we don't all pay attention and work hard. Inattentive students who talk during rehearsal when it is supposed to be silent will loose up to all of their day's grade. Phone calls home will follow if needed.
7. Vocal health is stressed in choir by teaching good singing habits. Your grade depends upon you putting into practice the things that you are taught. Make these things, especially good posture, unconscious habits rather than something you save for performances.
8. A cold should not prohibit you from singing, but a sore throat might. If you need a cough drop during class, tell the director before class begins. If you have a sore throat, try singing lightly. If you are feeling so badly that you cannot sing, you will be expected to still participate in class by following along in the music, making notes with your pencil, etc. Students who cannot do this will be given a written report assignment from a vocal music magazine that will be due at the end of the hour. This is a participatory class. Only in very extreme cases should you be sitting out.
9. Chewing gum, eating and drinking pop/juice/etc. will not be permitted during rehearsal. Only water may be consumed during the choir rehearsal at your seat. There may be rare occasions, which you will know of in advance, where snacks or non-water beverages may be consumed in class.
10. The choir rooms, practice room, music library and auditorium must be kept clean and neat at all times. This is each choir members' responsibility. Vandals will be dealt harsh penalties.
11. Choir members are to stay in their assigned place during class time. If you need to get a drink, throw something away or use the restroom, you must do so before class begins. Emergencies will be handled at the discretion of the director as they arise. Bathroom passes will not be given out. If you have a unique physical need, please contact your director ahead of time.
12. A respectful attitude toward your fellow singers and your director must be maintained at all times, even when you don't feel like it. This is a team, and one person's bad attitude can bring the whole group down.
13. Of course, you cannot do homework during rehearsals. Unless told ahead of time that you may do homework, don't bother asking.
14. In the event of a music emergency, the director 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. Each extra rehearsal will be worth 100 points (A). If you are unable to attend, a note from your parents must be given to the director two days prior. These rehearsals will still be important times for building a strong foundation in each section!
Discipline Policy:
Verbal Warning/Written Warning
Detention
Call to Parents/In-School Suspension/Referral
Conference with student and Parent
In extreme cases, a student may be removed from the choral program.
A disciplinary action will be taken for each offense, the first offense receiving a verbal warning, second offense receiving a written warning and so on. In most cases, students will not go past the second level, but these disciplinary actions will be enforced to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn in a safe environment. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss this policy further.
Performance Expectations
Performances are a fact of life when it comes to being in choir. All students are expected to participate.
· If a student misses a dress rehearsal, he or she may not perform. (Except in extreme cases decided by the director.)
· If a student does not perform in a concert, he or she may not receive a grade high than a C.
· During performances, students are expected to remain in their designated spot until it is time to perform. Students who do not remain take the risk of missing the line-up and entrance onto stage. In this case, the student will not perform and receive a zero for their performance grade.
· Choir students will always support each other by being attentive during performances. Every effort will be made to have a live feed in the designated holding area.
· Sickness: While it is the students responsibility to maintain their vocal health, extreme cases may occur where a student does not have the ability to sing. In this case, the student may make-up the performance grade by attending a local choir concert and typing up a five page description/evaluation of the concert. This decision will be made on an individual basis by the director. Student must notify director by the end of the school day on the day of performance to qualify for the make-up option.
· Even though performances take place outside of the school day, students will be held to the school and choir codes of conduct. Disciplinary action will be taken as designated by the school and choral program.
· During performances, the director must be on stage with the choirs. As a result, parent chaperones will be placed in holding rooms. They will be responsible for reporting any misbehavior to the director for disciplinary action. Their reports will not be disputed, so do not give them a reason to report you. Misbehavior will not be tolerated.
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