Rosemead High School

Course Outline: Chamber Choir

Ruth Gray, Instructor

Course Description

Entrance into Chamber Singers is by audition only. Chamber Singers is a two-semester course designed to help students with some degree of vocal training further develop their voices, learn advanced choral singing techniques, become familiar with some of the basic standard choral literature, and improve their musicianship skills. In addition, students will more fully understand and become aurally aware of the elements of music (such as rhythm, melody and harmony). Finally, students will develop a deeper appreciation of music from the various Western Music style periods, folk music from around the world, jazz, Broadway Musicals, popular music, and music for film and video.

Course Objectives - The student will be able to:

• Sing in tune with proper breathing technique, good diction, a range of two octaves, a pleasing tone quality and a volume level suitable for their age.
• Read more complex melodic notation.
• Define and demonstrate an understanding of the elements of music.
• Aurally recognize and qualify the elements of music and their subcategories.
• Demonstrate an understanding and aurally identify music from the various Western Music style periods, folk music from around the world, jazz, Broadway Musicals, popular music, and music for film and video. 

Basic Skills - The student will use:

• Vocal skills in singing pieces of music.
• Listening skills in blending in with the rest of the choir and in recognizing the elements of music and identifying styles of music.
• Reading comprehension skills to read music notation and to obtain information from worksheets and other written sources.
• Writing skills in presenting an analysis of aural observations.

Classroom Policies

In addition to the standard rules for RHS, the following rules apply to the music room. Students who do not observe these classroom rules may be asked to perform choir service hours or detention or they may receive a lowered grade.

1. BE ON TIME: in your seat with music when the bell rings.
2. SHOW RESPECT: no talking during instruction.
3. BE FOCUSED: no cell phones or electronic devices allowed.
4. BE PROFESSIONAL: no food, drinks, candy, or gum allowed once class has begun (water ok).
5. RESTROOM ETIQUETTE: one-at-a-time with a classroom pass after warm-ups and announcements are completed. 

Note - Please reserve Wednesdays from 3-5 pm for weekly rehearsals.

Parents – make doctor’s appointments on weekdays other than Wednesday.

Students will receive points for performances, after-school rehearsals, classroom participation, and any music tests. Grading is done on a standard A – F basis based on percentage of points.

STUDENT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:

A - 90-100

B - 80-89

C - 70-79

D - 60-69

F - below 60

Grading Policy

Chamber Singers is a performance-based ensemble. All performances are mandatory – major dates listed above. Additional dates may be added during the year. Students will receive points for performances, after-school rehearsals, classroom participation, and any music tests. Grading is done on a standard A – F basis based on percentage of points. Here are the dates we have confirmed:

All performances:                75 - 150 points

Sectional rehearsals:          15-30 points (depending on length of rehearsal)

Tests/Quizzes:                     10 – 25 points

Partial credit:

• Students may be excused from a performance or rehearsal because of serious illness or family emergency, but points assigned or make-up work due are at Mrs. Gray’s discretion.
• There are two exceptions to this partial credit rule: students will receive full points if the absence is approved by Mrs. Gray at least a week prior to the absence and the absence is the result of a conflict with another RHS school-sponsored activity (such as sports and drama) or the absence is the result of a death in the immediate family.

Probation

Students may be placed on probation for one of three reasons:

• More than three tardies in a semester
• One unexcused absence from a performance or rehearsal
• If the student receives less than 80% on their classroom participation grade at the end of a six-week period.
• If a student is placed on probation, he or she will be counseled by Mrs. Gray, parents will be contacted, and the student may be asked not to participate in a performance. 

Homework

Normally, there are very few specific homework assignments. However, students are expected to learn all their music in a timely manner and participate in all rehearsals and performances.

Choir Tour

Admission into Chamber Singers is by audition only. Students are required to participate in a spring choir tour. We cannot go on tour without significant donations from students or parents. The students will also be provided with opportunities for fund-raising. Fund-raising monies earned by participating students go directly to students’ tour accounts. All concert ticket sales go to support the choral music program.

Choir Costume

In order for us to perform at competitions, singers need matching costumes.

We ask that students donate $75 to cover the cost of a choir gown for the girls or $60 for a vest and tie for the guys. You may also purchase used attire from choir alumni. The Choir Executive Board maintains a Facebook page where costumes are posted for sale.

 In addition:

• Girls should obtain 1 – 1 ½ inch character shoes on their own.
• Guys should obtain black dress pants (no jeans), black belt, black dress shoes & socks, and black long-sleeved dress shirt on their own.
• Please contact Mrs. Gray if you have difficulty obtaining costumes. Limited assistance with costumes if available. 

Contacting Mrs. Gray

If you have any questions regarding your child’s work in class, feel free to call me at school: 626-286-3141 x 2081 or contact me through school loop/email - ruth.gray@emuhsd.org

Thank you,

Ruth Gray