Jacksonville State University
David L. Walters Department of Music
Choral/Vocal Area Newsletter – Spring 2011
From the desk of Dr. Patricia Corbin, JSU Director of Choral Activities
pcorbin@jsu.edu (256) 782-5544
1/01/ 2011
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! I hope that you are all having a great vacation and are getting some sleep! This is just some
information about what we will be doing in the spring semester. As usual, I am doing this in a hurry, so please
excuse typos, grammatical errors, etc.
A CAPPELLA CHOIR
Missa Dei Filii by Jan Dismas Zelenka
On Sunday, March 27, 2011 at First Presbyterian Church in Anniston, semester, A Cappella Choir will be
performing the Missa Dei Filii ZWV 20 by Czech Baroque composer, Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745).
Zelenka was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach and worked in the Dresden court of August the
Strong. You will all have to “endure” my lectures about Zelenka because this was the topic of my doctoral
document and I won’t be able to help myself! We will be performing this work with a small group of strings
and there will be some other works on the program as well. Unfortunately we ran into some delay ordering
the choral music which is coming from Germany and it may not get to us until mid January, so we may be
“vamping” for the first couple of rehearsals but it should work out fine.
We will also be doing some other performances including a concert with Mr. Bodiford and Chamber Winds.
Details are still being worked out, more information TBA.
CIVIC CHORALE
This spring the Chorale will be performing Théodore Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ along with
other smaller works of the season. We will be performing this with organ and it will be an exciting concert.
We will be using the standard G. Schirmer edition that we used when we performed this work 7 years ago.
Many churches use this edition as well so check your church’s choral libraries to see if you can borrow a
copy.
The concert is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 10, 2011 at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels
in Anniston, with a dress rehearsal on the morning of Saturday, April 9th. Our first rehearsal will be our
usual new member “Open House” on Monday, January 10th from 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 in the Performance
Center of Mason Hall where new people may come to see what the Chorale is about without further
obligation. Please get the word out about this concert and invite able bodied singers to join us. bring food &
drink items to share at this first rehearsal.
What is an “able bodied” singer?
ABLE BODIED SINGER:
1. The singer should have experience singing in a choir that uses printed music.
2. The singer should have a voice that can blend well with others
3. The singer should be able to match pitch.
4. The singer should be able to learn their individual part from written music.
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Dues for the Chorale for community members are $30 plus the cost of music which will be around $17.
College students enrolled in the class do not pay dues, but must also purchase their own music.
Just a reminder that the Chorale will not be rehearsing on Monday, January 17, 2011 due to the Martin
Luther King holiday.
CHAMBER SINGERS (and all that jazz!)
This spring JSU Chamber Singers will be joining forces with the JSU Jazz Ensemble to perform some jazz
choral arrangements. We will be performing some fun a cappella arrangements as well as some choral
arrangements. There will be also opportunities for soloist vocalists to perform with the jazz band. This will
be a fun and different type of a concert. More information to come…
CHOIR AUDITIONS
It’s not too late to participate in a choral ensemble for the spring 2011 semester. Auditions for Chamber
Singers, A Cappella Choir, and Civic Chorale will be held the week of January 3rd. A sign-up sheet will be
posted outside Dr. Corbin’s office, Room 205A Mason Hall. All students will be asked to sing a few vocal
exercises and to do some sight-reading. If you are interested in being in Chamber Singers, you must sing a solo
song from memory. Please bring the sheet music along with you, recorded accompaniments are not acceptable.
Returning community members who wish to participate in Civic Chorale need not audition; however, new
members need to sing for Dr. Corbin privately on the first night of rehearsal to be placed in the proper section.
A limited amount of choral scholarship money has become available. If you are interested in being
considered for a choral scholarship you must come and audition for me before classes begin. You must sing a
solo (classical) song from memory and do some sight-reading.
All new students must audition during this time to be placed in Chamber Singers. Former members of A
Cappella Choir who received a B or better as a final grade need not re-audition for A Cappella Choir
If you are interested in the Gospel Choir, please contact Dr. Myrtice Collins (256) 782-5545. For
information about Encore! Show Choir; please contact Dr. Renee Baptiste, (256) 782-5559.
MADRIGAL DINNER “On With the Wedding”
Congratulations to Chamber Singers and A Cappella Choir for a very successful Madrigal Dinner. Again,
this went very smoothly and I am grateful or all of the help that you offered that made this happen. Special
thanks go out to our very clever script writers, Caleb Clark, Amber Conaway, Whitney Curtis, Kaylon Gilley
and Meg Griffin, , the leadership of our section leaders, Christina Booker, Meg Griffin, Scott Johnson, Caleb
Clark, our Registrar, Kaylon Gilley, and an extremely talented & dedicated cast that was well prepared. Thank
You!!!
Section Leader meeting: Wednesday, January 5th, 10:30 a.m., Dr. Corbin’s Office.
CHORAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Choral scholarships will be loaded for eligible students properly enrolled at the completion of add/drop.
Please remember that your scholarship has a GPA requirement of 2.5. If your GPA has fallen below that, or if
you did not maintain full time student status of 12 credits through the end of the semester you choral/vocal
scholarship will not be loaded.
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Also, please know that we will be evaluating the academic progress of returning students when we make
recommendations for scholarships for fall semester 2011. Many of you are on scholarship and involved in
several ensembles. This is fine if you can handle it academically. If you cannot handle it, please consider
reducing your ensemble involvement. In extreme cases of insufficient academic progress, ensemble directors
may have to limit the number of ensembles you are involved in as a scholarship recipient.
If your choral scholarship was not awarded for the spring semester and you have questions, please make
an appointment to speak with me before the end of the first week of classes. Please bring a parent or guardian
with you to this appointment. I can meet with you in the evening if that is more convenient for your family.
APPLIED VOICE HEARING, Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
All students wishing to take Applied Voice (private voice lessons for college credit) for the first time must sing
for the voice faculty on Wednesday January 5th. The hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m. The purpose of this hearing
is for the voice faculty to evaluate your level and place you in the proper voice class. You must have a solo song
prepared from written sheet music and an accompanist will be provided for you. Please sign up for a hearing
time on the sign up sheet that will be posted outside Dr. Wight’s office.
If you are taking private voice lessons for the first time, please know that you must hire your own accompanist
to play for you at lessons. A list of available accompanists is located outside of Dr. Wendy Faughn’s office.
Concert Attire
Men (all choirs) – Classic black tuxedo, cummerbund, black tie (No vests), white shirt, black shoes, black
hosiery. I strongly recommend that male students purchase your tuxedo. It will cost you at least $50 to rent one
and you will need to use it several times each semester.
Women – A Cappella Choir & Chamber Singers – Choir dresses. $10 rental fee.
Civic Chorale – floor length solid black dresses with sleeves or solid black top with sleeves and floor length
skirts. Black hosiery and shoes.
“Choral
Literature for Teachers (MU 441)” & graduate “Seminar in Choral
in Choral Literature (MU 509)”
MU 441Choral Literature for Teachers and MU 509 Seminar in Choral Literature will be offered is a mandatory
course for all vocal music education majors. Please be aware that you do not have to be admitted into the School
of Education in order to take this class and it will only be offered every other spring. THIS CLASS WILL
NOT BE OFFERED IN SPRING 2012, THE NEXT TIME IT WILL BE OFFERED IS SPRING 2013. If
you are a music education student who plans on student teaching before Spring 2013, then you need to take the
class this semester. Please double check your academic schedule.
In this class you will learn about different genres (kinds) of choral music and what repertoire is appropriate for
various levels of school choirs. Because there are no satisfactory choral literature textbooks available at a
reasonable price, I have decided not to use a textbook for this class. Instead, I will ask the members of the class
to copy articles from appropriate periodicals and reference text in place of a book. Students will also be asked to
purchase about $25-$30 of choral music appropriate for various levels of school choirs.
This class will require a great deal of listening; online and in the listening library. Because it will only meet once
a week, class attendance is mandatory and quite strict. Also, student membership in ACDA is required; please go
to acda.org for membership information.
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Attention students planning on taking Advanced Choral Conducting in Fall
2011
All students who will be taking this class must also be in A Cappella Choir in the Fall of 2009 A Cappella Choir
will be used as your demonstration/practicum ensemble, and the documentation of the conducting opportunities
that you have with the choir will also be included in your music education live text portfolio, which is a new
mandatory requirement from the School of Education. Please plan your schedule accordingly. If you
anticipate any problems, please come and see me at your earliest convenience. Also, student membership in
ACDA is required; please go to acda.org for membership information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
NATS State Student Auditions – Friday & Saturday, February 18th & 19th at University of Alabama- Tuscaloosa.
Registration forms will be due towards the end of January. Applied voice students should check with their voice
students for details.
CONGRATULATIONS TO JACKSONVILLE OPERA THEATER!!!
Jacksonville Opera Theater Wins National Award
The Jacksonville Opera Theater production of “St. George and the Dragon” has won third place in its
division of a competition held by the National Opera Association to recognize the best opera presentations
in the United States during 2009-2010.
Dr. Nathan Wight, Artistic Director of Jacksonville Opera Theater, was recently notified of the award by
Dr. Robert Hansen, Director of the National Opera Association. The award will be formally announced and
presented at the association’s national convention in San Antonio, Texas, on 9 January 2011.
The National Opera Association was founded in 1955, under the auspices of the National Music Council.
The National Opera Association seeks to promote a greater appreciation of opera, to enhance pedagogy and
performing activities, and to increase performance opportunities by supporting projects that improve the
scope and quality of opera. Members in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia participate
in a wide array of activities in support of this mission.
Each year a competition is held by the National Opera Association in various categories based upon several
factors including production budget, size of program and level of vocal training of the singers in the cast.
This was the first year that Jacksonville Opera Theater (JOT) entered the competition.
The production “St. George and the Dragon”, by composer, Sterling Tinsley, and poet, Kate Pogue, was
presented in January 2010 as JOTs spring production. As well as presentations on campus for general
audiences, this production was presented at the Alabama Music Educators Association In-Service
Conference in Tuscaloosa, AL. It was also toured to schools throughout the northeast Alabama area.
Before closing it was seen by nearly 5,000 Alabama residents.
The 2010-2011 season of the Jacksonville Opera Theater features three productions. The fall touring
production was “Daniel and the Dream Catcher” by Sterling Tinsley and Kate Pogue. This opera was
specially revised for JOT by the composer who collaborated with Dr. Wight. This opera has been a big hit
with school children in the area.
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The second production will be two one act operas based upon stories by poet Gertrude Stein. The first will
be “In a Garden” by composer Meyer Kupferman; the second will be “Three Sisters Who are not Sisters” by
composer Ned Rorem. This production will run on 15 and 16 January 2011 in Mason Hall Performance
Center on the JSU campus.
The season’s final production will be “The Sorcerer” by Sir Arthur Sullivan with libretto by William
Gilbert. This will be presented 23, 24, 26, 27, 28 May 2011 in Stone Center Theater on the JSU campus.
Opera is one of the fastest growing art music forms in the world today. It combines dramatic stories,
stagecraft and beautiful music to produce a highly entertaining and moving emotional experience.
Jacksonville Opera Theater brings all this and more to those living in northeast Alabama in a convenient and
very affordable package. For further information concerning tickets, productions and various other
activities of Jacksonville Opera Theater, visit their website at: www.jacksonvilleopera.org
NEW CLASS TO BE OFFERED DURING MAY TERM –
“Class Recorder Techniques”
During May term I plan to teach a course on class recorder techniques. This is a class or music education
students that will substitute for class guitar. In the class you will learn how to play soprano and alto
recorders, how to teach recorders in a class situation, how to design your own method book. Class members
will also have an opportunity to play the tenor and bass recorders and play some consort (chamber) music. It
will be a fun class, so please mark your calendars. Details are still being worked out, but see me if you have
any questions.
UPCOMING STANDARDIZED TEST SCHEDULES
There are some upcoming tests for JSU students, whose deadlines are approaching fast. I have copied this
information from the JSU School of Education website for your information, but I cannot confirm its
accuracy. Please check them thoroughly yourselves.
Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program
ACT WorkKeys Basic Skills Assessments
More information at www.act.org/alabamapttp
(APTTP--Basic Skills Test)
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REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
(FRIDAY)
TEST DATE
(SATURDAY)
September 17, 2010
October 9, 2010
November 19, 2010
December 18, 2010
February 4, 2011
March 5, 2011
April 15, 2011
May 14, 2011
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July 30, 2011
June 24, 2011
Online registration form: https://actapps.act.org/wkala/wkala
Telephone Registration: 1-800-294-2105 or 319-341-2500
Requirements: The APTT must be taken prior to admission to education.
Registration fee is $93.00.
JSU must be listed as a score recipient at the time of registration.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Counseling and Career Services at 256-782-5475, or Dr. Barbara Larson the Alabama SDE,
Teacher Testing Coordinator at 334-242-9935.
English Competency Exam (ECE)
Test Dates
Registration: English Department (Stone Center) room 215
ABSOLUTELY NO LATE REGISTRATION!
Requirements: The ECE must be taken prior to Preservice Teaching.
Successful completion of EH 101, EH 102, and 60 semester hours is required.
Students who have passed the writing section of the Georgia Regents’ Test are exempt from the ECE.
College BASE Examination (CBASE)
Test Dates
Registration Deadline: Students cannot register the day of the test being requested.
Requirements: The CBASE may be taken after completing 96 semester hours.
The Praxis II Content Exam
Test Dates (Click here for a pdf of all tests)
Test Date1
9/18/10
11/13/10
1/15/11
3/12/11
4/30/11
6/11/11
Registration Deadlines2
Scores3, 4
Regular Late Emergency Multiple Choice Constructed Response
8/19/10
10/14/10
12/16/10
2/10/11
3/31/11
5/12/11
8/26/10
10/21/10
12/23/10
2/17/11
4/7/11
5/19/11
9/10/10
11/5/10
1/7/11
3/4/11
4/22/11
6/3/11
10/12/10
12/7/10
2/8/11
4/5/11
5/24/11
7/5/11
10/19/10
12/14/10
2/15/11
4/12/11
5/31/11
7/12/11
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7/23/11
6/23/11
6/30/11
7/15/11
8/16/11
8/23/11
Note:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Not all test centers are open on all test dates.
o Accommodations for test takers whose primary language is not English are only offered on 9/18/10, 1/15/11, 4/30/11 and
6/11/11.
Registrations must be received by ETS by the deadlines listed above.
o Late Registration fee: $45.
o Emergency Registration deadline fee: $75.
o Emergency Registration is only available with online registration.
o Outside U.S. deadlines also apply to test takers in U.S. Territories (except U.S. Virgin Islands, which adheres to regular
registration deadlines).
Scores are available via phone and online.
o Test takers will access their scores online. Login to your Praxis Profile to view your score report.
o Test takers can get test scores early by utilizing the Scores by Phone service for an additional $30 fee.
Dates listed in the Multiple Choice column are for tests that contain multiple-choice questions only. Dates listed in the Constructed
Response column are for tests that include constructed-response questions only AND for tests that contain both constructed-response
and multiple-choice questions.
To get information on and to register on-line go to http://www.ets.org/praxis/register/centers_dates/praxisii_deadlines
.
The Praxis II exam is required for all teacher education candidates scheduled to graduate spring 2005 and thereafter. This state mandated
requirement applies to all initial certifications including class B certification, Alternative 5th Year Masters, Add-on certification, and any graduate
degree program that is deemed initial certification (i.e., Education Administration, Counseling, Library Media), or an initial certification for
Collaborative Education at any level. Teacher education candidates must list ALSDE and JSU as a recipient of the test score at the time of
registration. Failure to do so may delay certification by the Alabama State Department of Education.
*JSU is now listed as a Testing Center for the Praxis II. To test at JSU, use Test Center Code 02910 when registering for the test.
Alabama Approved Praxis II Test Codes and Minimum Required Scores
NAME OF TEST
TEST CODE
Minimum Required Score
Biology: Content Knowledge
0235
143
Business Education
0100
570
Collaborative Teacher (K-6)*
0014
137
Collaborative Teacher (6-12)
No Test Required
Early Childhood Education*
0014
137
Educational Administration
0410
610
Elementary Education: Content Knowledge
0014
137
English Language, Literature and Composition: Content Knowledge
0041
151
Family and Consumer Sciences
0121
146
French: Content Knowledge
0173
148
General Science: Content Knowledge
0435
147
Geography
0920
560
Health Education
0550
580
Library Media
0310
600
Marketing Education
0561
500
Mathematics: Content Knowledge
0061
126
Middle School English Language Arts
0049
148
Middle School Mathematics
0069
149
Middle School Social Studies
0089
149
Middle School Science
0439
142
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Music: Content Knowledge
0113
150
Physical Education
0091
141
Reading Specialist
0300
530
School Counseling
0420
520
Social Studies: Content Knowledge
0081
153
Spanish: Content Knowledge
0191
147
Technical Education
No test required.
Technology Education (Career Technology)
0050
540
World and U. S. History: Content Knowledge
0941
143
* Required test for this major is code 0014, Elementary Education: Content Knowledge.
Test Date Exceptions
The Praxis II tests listed below are only administered on the specified dates. All other Praxis II tests will be administered on the dates listed in
the table above. If the test you are taking is not listed in the tables below, please refer to the first table for information on test date, registration
deadlines and score availability.
Teaching Foundations
Test Dates
11/13/10
3/12/11
6/11/11
7/23/11
0867 - Driver Education
Test Dates
9/18/10
11/15/10
3/12/11
7/23/11
The tests below are administered
four times per testing year on:
The tests below are
administered three times per
testing year on:
September 18, 2010
January 15, 2011
April 30, 2011
July 23, 2011
November 13, 2010
March 12, 2011
June 11, 2011
0700-Agriculture
0900-Agriculture (CA)
0231-Biology: Content Knowledge Part 1
0780-Agriculture (PA)
0241-Chemistry: Content Knowledge
0242-Chemistry: Content Essays
0070-Chemistry, Physics, and General
Science
0800-Communication
0910-Economics
0810-Cooperative Education
0271-Education of Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Students
0830-Environmental Education
0382-Education of Exceptional Students:
Learning Disabilities
0357-Gifted Education
0920-Geography
0023-Interdisciplinary Early
Childhood Education
0930-Government/Political Science
0600-Latin
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0561-Marketing Education
0262-Physics: Content Essays
0481-Physical Science: Content Knowledge 0390-Psychology
0483-Physical Science: Pedagogy
0860-Safety/Driver Education
0261-Physics: Content Knowledge
0211-School Social Worker:
Content Knowledge
0085-Social Studies: Interpretation and
Analysis
0951-Social Sciences: Content
Knowledge
0371-Special Education: Teaching Students
with Behavioral Disorders/Emotional
0950-Sociology
Disturbances
0381-Special Education: Teaching Students
0841-World Languages Pedagogy
with Learning Disabilities
0281-Special Education: Teaching Students
with Visual Impairments
0221-Speech Communication: Content
Knowledge
0640-Theatre
0890-Vocational General Knowledge
For more information, contact Dr. Kelly W. Ryan, Director TSC
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