2015-2016
Woodrow Wilson High School
Choir Handbook
Mrs. Katie Anderson
Director
Table of Contents
Letter of Welcome ..…………………………………………………………..…………... 3
Choir Course Objectives…………………………………………………………………. 4
Materials Needed for Class…………………………………………………………….. 4
Choir Grading Policy……………………………………………………………………… 5
Expectations and Guidelines………………………………………………………….. 6
Extra-Curricular Activity Rules………………………………………………………. 6
Performance Attire…………………………………………………………………………. 7
Choir Fees……………………………………………………………………………………… 8
FanCloth Fundraising …………………………………………………………………….. 8
Calendar………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Choir Awards…………………………………………………………………………………. 10
Lettering Criteria……………………………………………………………………………. 10
Charms Office ………………………………………………………………………………… 11
Choir Handbook Agreement……………………………………………………………. 12
Photo Release …………………………………………………………………………………13
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Woodrow Wilson High School
100 S. Glasgow
Dallas, TX 75214
972-502-4400
August 2015
Dear Parents and Choristers,
Welcome (back) to the Woodrow choir program! I am looking forward to getting to
know you and make music with you this school year. The WWHS choir program has a
history of excellence, and I am committed to ensuring a quality learning experience for all
of our singers.
The 2015-2016 school year is upon us and with its arrival has come another year of
exciting performances and opportunities for the WWHS Choir.
This choir handbook is designed to share essential information about the program,
expectations, extra choir opportunities, etc. Additional information will be sent home
throughout the school year, emailed, and/or posted on the choir website
(http://wwhschoir.weebly.com/). Please plan to check the website regularly, as it will
include the handbook, rehearsal schedules, special events, and other vocal music
information.
We will also be utilizing the Charms Online Office Assistant, which will help with
contacting both students and parents, as well as administrative items such as checking out
uniforms and organizing the music library. All students will have an account, and parents
are encouraged to ask me about making an account as well. The website is
www.charmsoffice.com and the school code is WoodrowChoir. Your student ID number is
your password.
Email is the easiest and quickest way to contact me. You may email me at
lkanderson@dallasisd.org or katie_lkc@yahoo.com, and I will get back to you within 24
hours (48 hours on weekends, maximum).
Please print, sign, and return the choir contract located at the end of this packet. If
you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Katie Anderson, Choir Director
Woodrow Wilson High School
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Choir Course Objectives
All choir classes at Woodrow are elective vocal music courses for high school students
desiring to perform. The goal of this course is to teach students to become better singers
and develop an appreciation for vocal music.
Our objectives for this year include (but are not limited to) each student to:
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Demonstrate the proper singing posture.
Demonstrate proper breath support and expanded rib cage breathing.
Demonstrate correct tone production.
Demonstrate vertical vowel formation.
Demonstrate correct diction and articulation of consonants.
Sight-speak rhythmic excerpts of various difficulties.
Sight-sing musical excerpts of various difficulties, using solfege syllables and Kodaly hand
signs.
Blend and balance with the choir when singing.
Demonstrate knowledge of musical terms and symbols, including tempo and dynamics.
Listen analytically to themselves and critique their performances.
Learn and demonstrate audition techniques and skills.
Demonstrate rehearsal and performance etiquette.
Materials Needed for Class
Students will need the following materials for choir class:
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Black 1 inch Binder (used only for choir)
Dividers (5)
2 pencils with erasers, to stay in the binder
Pencil pouch
Flags (post-it or other brand), to stay in the binder
There will be packages of these materials for sale from the booster club for $10. See Mrs.
Anderson or a booster member to purchase your materials.
Each student will be given music, paid for and provided by the choir department. Students
are encouraged to take music home to practice, but the music must be back in the assigned
binder slot by the beginning of the next school day. At the end of the semester, any lost or
damaged music will result in a fine as determined by the retail value of the music. (Lost
photocopies of music will be charged $1-2.) Music returned with any writing but in pencil
will be considered damaged and the student will be charged accordingly (i.e., NO PENS OR
HIGHLIGHTERS).
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Choir Grading Policy
Choir Grades will be determined with the following rubric:
Homework/Classwork = Class Participation and Binder Organization
Projects/Products AND 6-Weeks Test = Performance Participation
Tests = Sight-Reading
40%
45%
25%
Class Participation in choir class is a requirement. This includes on time attendance,
singing, paying attention, and respecting others. Students who misbehave or distract their
fellow choir members will be asked to quickly and quietly sign The Book. Each signing of The
Book deducts points from the member’s participation grade. For 3 signings in one class
period or 8 signings in one week, a parent conference will be scheduled.
Class participation points will be taken away as following:
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Tardy = -5
Cell phone out = -5
Inappropriate talking = -5 to -10
Unexcused Absence = -20 (full points for the day)
No Character/Dress Shoes on Dance Days = -10
Other points at teachers discretion
Distracting others = -5
No binder or music = -10
No pencil = -5
Performance Participation is required for every student, as a requirement for the TEKS
(see Music Standards section). To be excused from a performance, the choral director must
have at least TWO weeks notice prior to the performance date (except in the case of sudden
illness or emergencies). Notification must be made by the student’s parent or guardian. For
most grading periods, there is only one performance, and therefore missing a performance
would result in automatic failure.
Sight-Reading is a skill that will be learned and used in choir nearly every day. There will
be formal and informal, written and aural assessments throughout each six weeks.
Perfection of this skill is not required to receive full marks. This grade is about improvement
and work ethic during sight-reading time.
Binder Organization will be checked four or more random times each six weeks. Included
in your choir dues will be flags and pencil holders. These items will be used in choir to help
you organize your binder. Your pencil holder may go at the front or back of your binder, and
hold the flags and two (or more) pencils that stay in your choir binder.
Dividers should be labeled as follows:
-
Administration (This section should include your choir handbook and binder log)
Vocalizes
Sight-Reading
Current Music (Use flags to label each piece of music for easy access)
Old Music
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Expectations and Guidelines
Respect should be the only necessary rule for the choir classroom – respect self, peers,
teachers, and classroom.
Students are expected to arrive on time to class and to performances, ready to learn. On time
means a student is seated when the bell rings, ready with their binder and water bottle. All
other possessions (including backpacks, cell phones, food, and gum) should be along the wall
of the room, out of reach, phones silenced (NOT IN POCKETS). Students are expected to use
the bathroom before or after class.
Because music making is a collaborative process in rehearsal/class, attendance and
participation are essential to the learning process. Every individual is significant in
contributing to the overall success and experience of the entire choir. When one person is
not present, whether physically absent or mentally absent, it affects the sound and learning
process of the entire choir.
If for some reason a student is unable to participate, such as having an illness which makes
singing imprudent or impossible, s/he must inform Mrs. Anderson at the beginning of the
class/rehearsal, but still should actively participate by taking notes and following along in
her/his music.
When Mrs. Anderson uses the pitch signal to get the attention of the class, conversations
should cease and all students are to echo the pitch until she signals the cut off. If you are still
gathering or putting away your possessions, do so quickly and quietly.
Choir students will be expected to attend the occasional before or after school rehearsals in
preparation for upcoming performances. Mrs. Anderson will announce required rehearsals
as needed, with at least one week advanced notice. Attendance at these rehearsals will be
noted. Notification of absence for these rehearsals must be made two days in advance by a
parent or guardian. More than three out-of-school absences (excused or unexcused) before
a performance will result in the student not being allowed to perform, and s/he will be given
another task to complete for the grade credit.
Extra-Curricular Activity Rules
As per UIL and TEA requirements, choir is a No Pass No Play activity. A student who receives,
at the end of any grading period, a grade below 70 in any class may not participate in
extracurricular activities for three school weeks. An ineligible student may practice or
rehearse, but may not perform. If there is a performance scheduled within the three week
period, an additional assignment will be provided for the performance grade credit.
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Performance Attire
All students will be issued a choir dress or tux jacket. There will be a $20 rental fee for dry
cleaning and any repairs necessary when returned.
There may be casual performances throughout the year. Casual performance uniform will
be choir t-shirt, khaki pants, and closed-toe shoes. The choir t-shirt will be purchased by
each student at the beginning of the year.
When at a venue (school or otherwise), choir members will remain fully dressed in uniform,
with shirts tucked in, tie on, shoes on, make-up and hair ready, etc. No perfume or cologne
should be worn to performances.
Women:
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Shoes: Capezio style 550 black character shoes with 1-2 inch heels and an ankle
strap. Label shoes with your name on the inside, as they may be left at school
throughout the year. (Sandy’s Dance Wear, 2211 Gus Thomasson Rd, Dallas 75228)
Panty hose: Leggs brand Off-Black – girls are responsible for purchasing and
maintaining their own panty hose. (Walgreens - $4.39 per pair,
www.onehanesplace.com 6 pack = $21)
Hair: Hair will be worn half-up (if possible) using a hair-colored hair tie, with bangs
and whispy’s bobby pinned back, so no hair is in the face.
Make up: All make up for choir concerts should be subtle and neutral in color to
bring out the natural features of the face – i.e., no blue, purple, or other bright
colored eye shadow. Lipstick or lip-gloss should be red.
Jewelry: No jewelry allowed except small stud earrings. (No necklaces, bracelets,
hair ties, rings, watches, etc.)
Men:
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Shirt: white tuxedo shirt with wing collar and button cuffs, labeled with your name.
(JC Penney, tux shops, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc)
T-shirt: white v-neck worn as an undershirt.
Pants: black tuxedo pants without belt loops, satin stripe down legs. (Thrift stores,
tux shops, JC Penney, etc.)
Shoes: black dress shoes (not tennis shoes), labeled with your name.
Socks: black dress socks.
Hair: should be out of eyes. If it’s in your eyes or distracting, Mrs. Anderson will
bring out the hair spray and gel. You’ve been warned.
Please see Mrs. Anderson if you are having trouble finding any of these dress requirements.
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Choir Fees
A yearly choir fee of $40 per student is required for all students enrolled in a choir class. This
fee mainly covers accompaniment fees, but also includes sheet music (about $2 per student
copy per piece), transportation fees to and from concerts and contests, venue fees, and other
concert/instructional costs that may arise, not covered by district funds. Part of this fee also
secures two parent/guardian memberships in the Choir and Theater Booster Club.
As seen on the previous page, each student will also have a $20 rental fee for the year for dry
cleaning and repairs necessary on their choir uniform.
Checks should be made out to “Friends of Woodrow Choir”, put into the choir financial
envelopes, and placed in the box by the choir room door by Friday, September 11.
Once a check is received by the choir, a confirmation receipt will be put on Charms.
Please contact Mrs. Anderson if there are any questions or complications with this fee, or if
you would like to see a Financial Aid Packet. Financial Aid Packets are also due on September
11.
Variations choir members may have additional fees, and will be notified separately.
FanCloth Fundraising
Every member of the choir will receive a FanCloth catalogue for fundraising. In this
catalogue will be this year’s choir t-shirt, as well as many other choir, theater, and Woodrow
accessories.
Based upon which choir class you are enrolled in, you will be expected to sell a certain
number of items from the catalogue to help with fundraising.
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Calendar
Please mark these dates on your calendar now. There are no excuses for not knowing these
dates. See Choir Grading Policy about missing performances.
Any changes of dates will be announced as soon as possible.
August 28 – Bella Voce Retreat
August 29 – Variations Retreat
September 26 – District Choir Tryouts @ Waxahachie High School (HOMECOMING
WEEKEND)
October 9-11 – Fall Play and Freshman Play
October 12 – Dessert Theater Run Through @ East Dallas Christian Church
October 13 – Dessert Theater @ East Dallas Christian Church
October 16 – Fair Day
October 24 – Region Choir Auditions @ Coppell High School
November 7 – Musical Auditions
November 9 – Region Choir Rehearsal @ Irving High School
November 14 – Region Choir Concert @ Red Oak High School
November 15-16 – Musical Call Backs
November 17 – Pre Area Auditions @ Highland Park High School
November 19-22 – Fall Play
November 24 – Post Musical List
December 1-15 – Variations Holiday Shows – TBD time and dates
December 3-6 – Fall Play
December 6 – Winter Concert Run Through
December 7 – Winter Concert @ East Dallas Christian Church
January 9 – Area Auditions @ Waco Midway HS
January 23 – Pre-UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest @ TBD
January 24 – Musical Read Through
February 6 – UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest @ Townview High School
February 10-13 – Texas Music Educator’s Association Convention – All State Concert
February 20 – Variations Gala
February 26-27 – One Act Play in Black Box
March 9-11 – Pre-UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest @ TBD
March 5-6 – UIL Non-Varsity Concert & Sight-Reading Contest @ Duncanville High School
March 7-8 – UIL Varsity Concert & Sight-Reading Contest @ Duncanville High School
April 21-24 – Woodrow Musical!
May 17 – Spring Concert and Choir Banquet @ TBD
May 28-30 – Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest @ UT Austin
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Choir Awards
There are many awards given at the choir and theater banquet in the spring. Student
behavior through the entire school year will be taken into account when these awards are
given.
Some of the awards given are a choir award (or more than one), “Coke Bottle” awards, and
vocal music letters, as seen below.
Lettering Criteria
TO EARN A LETTER (PATCH) IN CHOIR:
(NOTE: Jacket purchased by student separately)
A choir student must participate in both semesters of choir during an academic school year
and participate in all Woodrow choir performances that year.
A student must earn a total of 100 points to receive each level of lettering.
POINTS AWARDED:
1. Audition for All-District Choir…………………………………………………………… 5 pts
2. Audition for All-Region Choir……………………………………………………………. 10 pts
3. Audition for Pre-Area Choir……………………………………………………………… 15 pts
4. Audition for Area Choir …………………………………………………………………… 20 pts
5. Perform in All-State Choir……………………………………………………………….... 25 pts
6. Earn and perform a solo for a choir performance………………………………. 15 pts
7. Perform a solo or ensemble at Solo and Ensemble Contest………………….15 pts
8. Receiving 1’s for solo or ensemble at Solo and Ensemble Contest ……… 20 pts
9. Help with a feeder school program (elementary or middle school)…….. 20 pts
10. 1 hour of volunteer time with Mrs. Anderson (max 5 hrs/year)…..……... 5 pts
Note that the Choir Letter is not an automatic “given” to each student enrolled in the choir
program, but is an honor to be earned by students through active and exceptional
participation in the choir program.
Students are required to keep up with documentation of their earned points, and turn them
in once they have earned all 100 points so that the letter may be awarded.
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Charms Office Online System
www.CharmsOffice.com
Charms Office isn’t always compatible with Internet Explorer, so please use another
program such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
If you don’t have a Charms account yet, create one here:
https://www.charmsoffice.com/charms/selfregister.asp?s=WoodrowChoir
If you have a Charms account:
Log on to Charms and UPDATE PERSONAL INFORMATION for both student and
parent/guardians. This includes, but is not limited to, email addresses and phone
numbers. Charms will be our way of communication this year, and therefore we need your
email and phone number in the system. If you wish to get text reminders as well, you must
enter your cell phone carrier. Text messages will not go through if the carrier isn’t chosen.
Please have personal information in the system by Friday, August 29.
Log on to the website, and click the “ENTER/LOG IN” link at upper right. Locate the
“PARENT/STUDENT/MEMBERS LOGIN” section and log in using the School Code:
WoodrowChoir.
On the main page that follows is the public calendar for Woodrow Choir, the event list,
handouts, and other files. Clicking on an event on the calendar brings up the details for that
event, such as times, attendance requirements, volunteer opportunities, and other event
details.
When you enter the student’s ID NUMBER as a Student Area Password, another more
detailed screen appears with even more options to view the uniform assignments, financial
records, forms, and inventory.
If you would like Charms Office on your mobile device, just search for the Charms
Parent/Student Portal app and download it.
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Choir Handbook Agreement
I have read and understand the requirements and expectations for this course. I have reviewed the
choir calendar and understand that rehearsals and performances are an integral part of the choral
experience, are mandatory for all students, and count as state-approved standards based
assessments. This form and fees are due September 11.
____________________________________________
Student’s printed name
__________________________________________________
Student’s signature
______________
Date
____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s printed name
__________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian’s signature
______________
Date
I am attaching a check (made out to “Friends of Woodrow Choir”) in the envelope provided.
I have created a Charms account and updated my information, including class schedule, email
address, and phone number.
Student Initials ________________
Parent/Guardian Initials _______________
Parent/Guardian Initials _______________
PARENTS: Please tell us how you are able to volunteer in our program by checking all areas where
you have an interest in helping. Thank you in advance!!!
____ Fundraisers
____ Data Entry (using Charms Office Online)
____ Publicity
____ Recording concerts
____ Ushering
____ Programs and/or posters (printing, designing)
____ Serving as chaperone
____ Set up/tear down risers for concerts
____ Finding/writing grants
____ Uniforms (measuring, hemming, ordering, etc)
____ Recruiting (feeder school liaisons)
____ Concert/Program chair
____Language pronunciation (please specify fluently-spoken language):_________________________________
____Accompany choir on an instrument (please specify instrument):_____________________________________
____ Other (please specify) ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Consent and Release of Liability - Photo Release
I do hereby give the Dallas Independent School District and its employees, agents,
representatives or employees of legitimate news organizations my full permission to
photograph, videotape, copyright, broadcast, reproduce, telecast or cablecast, use on the
internet or intranet, publish or otherwise use my child's works or my child’s photo or
likeness for educational, broadcast or news purposes. This is with the understanding that
neither the Dallas Independent School District nor its representatives will reproduce said
photograph or likeness for any commercial value or receive monetary gain for use of any
reproduction/broadcast of said photograph or likeness.
I am fully aware that I will not receive monetary compensation for me or my child’s
participation. It is understood that Dallas Independent School District, its agents,
representatives or legitimate news organizations may use this material with or without my
name or my child's name at its discretion. I further release and relieve the Dallas
Independent School District, its Board of Trustees, agents, employees or other
representatives from any liabilities, known or unknown, arising out of the use of this
material.
I certify that I have read the Consent and Release of Liability statement and fully understand
its terms and conditions. I understand that the opportunity to participate is given by the
Dallas Independent School District and I have full legal capacity to sign this Consent and
Release for myself and/or my child.
Student’s Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________
I DO give permission to use my child’s photo or likeness as described above.
Signature of Parent/Guardian: _____________________________________________________________________
Printed Name of Parent/Guardian: ________________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________
I DO NOT give permission to use my child’s photo or likeness as described above.
Signature of Parent/Guardian: _____________________________________________________________________
Printed Name of Parent/Guardian: ________________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________
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