Eighth - Twelfth Grade Chorus

Learning Goals:

1.       Proper posture and breathing for healthy singing.

2.       Proper pronunciation, or diction, for understandable singing.

3.       Musical style.

4.       Beginning music literacy.

5.       Exploration of various types and styles of music.

6.       Beginning music vocabulary.

Materials:   1. Pencil with an eraser (can be kept in chorus folder.)

                        2. Music and folder.

Grading:   Once a six day cycle your student will receive a grade based on the

 following criteria.

1. Better Singing (60%)

                                    Posture- the proper stance for healthy singing

 Proper Breathing- how to take and use a breath properly

Releasing Tension- how to relax the body to sing without harmful

 tension in the throat area

 Diction- how to sing with clear pronunciation

Musical Expression- how to use the previous listed focus areas to

 make singing an expressive art

Sightreading- how to read music quickly and accurately before

 hearing it played or sung

2. Participation (40%)

       This includes whether the student is singing, whether the student is paying attention,

whether the student has needed materials, and whether the student is actively and

positively contributing.

*Rubrics will be provided so students know exactly how they will be graded.

3. Singing Tests

      Students will be asked to sing their part for mid-term and final grades. Singing tests may be given at other times to check progress.

Classroom rules:

            1. Be respectful, polite and cooperative (follow directions).

2. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.

3. Be on time and prepared.

4. Use good language.

5. Enter with an open mind and a positive attitude.

6. Begin tasks immediately and work diligently.

7. No food or drink except water in a closed bottle.

Discipline Policy:

1.   If students arrive without needed materials it will affect their grade.

2.       Students that arrive late without a late pass will be required to serve detention

time. They will owe me double the amount of minutes that they were late. Excessive tardiness will result in a trip to the office.

3.       Students will first be given a verbal reminder when found to be breaking rules or expectations.

4.       If behavior does not stop after reminder, the student will be required to serve some time during lunch or detention period. The amount of time will depend on severity of misbehavior.

5.       Students that talk excessively during class will also be required to serve a full period of detention.

6.       Use of foul language or violence will result in an immediate trip to the office.

7.       If none of these steps ends the problem I will contact a parent or guardian.

Concert Information:

Concert Dates:  TBA

Concert Attire: