Dear Chorus Parents & Students,
Welcome to another great year at Piney Grove Middle School! As the director, let me tell you
how excited I am to have you as a member of the PGMS Chorus Department! Many chorus students
discover that being in a choral group is like having an extended family, as there is a special bond that
is created among people who make music together. I hope that you will remain in chorus your entire
middle school career, where you will hopefully gain a lifelong interest in singing and an
appreciation of music as an art form. Singing in chorus also helps improve mental discipline and
enhance social interaction, as well as helping develop teamwork and pride. Parents are also
welcome to assist in chorus activities and events. I want to encourage each parent or guardian to be
involved with the program in some way.
Students who are involved in the chorus program should be aware that being a member of
chorus is different from being in any other class. We perform. That being the case, your work is
evaluated on two levels - the process (rehearsal or class time) and the product (performance). As we
grow together in our rehearsal process, please remember that having a safe and supportive learning
environment is our goal as we prepare the product—a wonderful performance for an appreciative
audience.
There are three ensembles that make up the PGMS Chorus Department:
6th Grade Chorus
6th grade chorus is the beginning level chorus at Piney Grove. In 6th grade, students are
introduced to the basics of reading music and music theory. The 6th grade chorus repertoire is unison
or 2 part and is chosen to help ease students into singing with a large ensemble while still providing
opportunities for solo and small group performance.
7th Grade Chorus
7th Grade Chorus picks up where 6th Grade Chorus left off. Students are introduced to
more challenging music and a greater emphasis is placed on music reading and understanding musical
theory and concepts. Students begin to listen to and analyze their own performances as well as the
performances of other choruses. Students are also expected to dissect and analyze their choral
repertoire and explain the significance of the text and its relationship to musical elements and the
cultural and historical significance of the works being performed.
8th Grade Chorus
This is the highest-level chorus at Piney Grove. Emphasis is placed on continuing to
develop music reading abilities, vocal confidence and contribution, and vocal health. This ensemble
is also instrumental in helping to prepare students to continue with music on into high school.
Students have the opportunity to earn high school credit by taking this course.
Each grade-level chorus member will be required to have a concert uniform. All chorus
members will wear their concert black dresses and tuxes with black closed-toe dress shoes.
Information regarding uniform rental is included in this packet. In May, all chorus members will
participate in our annual Spring Spectacular. For this event, we will have special t-shirts that will be
worn with blue denim jeans. Information regarding these shirts will be sent home with students in the
Spring.
While we do receive instructional monies to help purchase choral music and other classroom
supplies, it is never enough as we work to build our growing choral program here at PGMS. In short,
we need your help. I am asking for chorus parents to consider donating something of themselves to
improve their child’s chorus program. A donation of $75 per family would go a very long way to
help us purchase music, new platform risers for the chorus room, sound equipment for performances,
pay for an accompanist, pay for buses to and from events, etc. If you are able to donate more, please
do so. If you need to donate less, please do so. However, this is not a requirement in order to
participate in Chorus. Any and all donations are very much appreciated, but are by no means
required for Chorus membership.
If a donation of time suits you best, please consider donating some of your time this year.
There will be several opportunities to chaperone chorus trips/concerts and help in the chorus room
during the day. We also need parents to help apply for grants and seek corporate sponsorship. Please
fill out the attached form and return it to the school. If you write a check, please make it out to Piney
Grove Middle School.
We have a lot going on in chorus this year and I am very eager to get started! In this packet
you will find important information regarding our chorus program, including an events calendar,
uniform information, additional performance opportunities, directions on how to sign up for updates
and reminders from Mrs. Steinberg, etc. I have also included a copy of our PGMS Chorus Handbook.
All Chorus information will also be posted on our PGMS Chorus website under the Connections tab
and on ItsLearning for your convenience.
Thank you so much for all of your continued support. You are very important to the success of
our PGMS Choral Program. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Amanda N. Steinberg
Piney Grove Middle School
Choral Director
asteinberg@forsyth.k12.ga.us
678-965-5010 x. 381262