Jacksonville State University
David L. Walters Department of Music
Choral/Vocal Area Newsletter – Spring 20010
From the desk of Dr. Patricia Corbin, JSU Director of Choral Activities pcorbin@jsu.edu
(256) 782-5544
Dear Friends,
12/14/009
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 so that you may be prepared. As usual, I am doing this in a hurry before going on vacation, so please excuse typos, grammatical errors, etc. This information will also be on the JSU
Music Department website shortly.
This spring, A Cappella Choir, Calhoun County Civic Chorale, and Chamber Winds will be combining forces to perform Carl Orff’s
Carmina Burana, along with hired string players from the Birmingham area. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. and will be held at First United Methodist Church in
Anniston. The mandatory dress rehearsal will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
(this rehearsal may change to an hour later, more details TBA).
This is a huge (and expensive!) concert. Please spread the word about this concert. We are looking for as many “able bodied”. We are inviting talented experienced high school singers to join us as well, with the written recommendation of their music teachers. (Please see the “Call for Singers” information below).
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.
Rehearsals begin for A Cappella Choir on Wednesday, January 6 th and for Civic Chorale on Monday,
January 11 th
.
Carmina Burana music-
For the most part, we will be using the men’s and women’s choral scores which contain only the individual voice part, and not a piano reduction nor any of the solos. These scores will be lent to enrolled college students. Community members must purchase their music. The costs of the individual choral scores are $8-$9.
If you would prefer to have the piano vocal score that contains all of the vocal parts along with a piano reduction you will need to purchase this on your own. The list price of the piano vocal score (Schott publications) is $35; however some people have found them on the internet (Amazon.com) for as little as $23. If you order the book, make certain it is the one that has 128 pages. College section leaders will be loaned piano vocal scores.
Rehearsal Attendance Because of the enormity of this endeavor, regular rehearsal attendance is required. If you know that you have some conflicts with the rehearsals and will have to been absent a great deal, this is not the semester to be in choir.
Civic Chorale’s first rehearsal is our usual “Open House”, where people may come to see what the
Chorale is like without further obligation
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In the spring 2010 semester, A Cappella Choir will be doing two concerts; Carmina Burana with the Civic
Chorale in April and another concert at the Anniston Museum of Natural History on Saturday, February
20 th
. More details later.
Please check your schedules and make certain that you can commit to coming to rehearsal regularly. In addition to our dress rehearsal on Saturday, April 10th, we may also have an extra Saturday combined rehearsal on February 27 th
.
You may also make up missed rehearsals by attending the Civic Chorale rehearsal which meets Monday evenings from 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. Make certain to check with Dr. Corbin before doing this.
Our first rehearsal of Carmina Burana will be our usual new member “Open House” on Monday,
January 11 th from 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 where new people may come to see what the Chorale is about without further obligation. Please bring food & drink items to share at this first rehearsal. We have also issued an invitation to talented high school students to join the Chorale this semester, so rehearsals may be extra exuberant!
The dues for the Chorale will be $30, plus the cost of music (see above). Please check your schedules and make certain that you can commit to coming to rehearsal regularly. In addition to our dress rehearsal on Saturday, April 10th, we may also have an extra Saturday combined rehearsal on February 27 th
.
You may also make up missed rehearsals by attending the A Cappella Choir rehearsal which meets MWF from 3:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. Make certain to check with Dr. Corbin before doing this.
It’s not too late to participate in a choral ensemble for the spring 2010 semester. Auditions for Chamber
Singers, A Cappella Choir, and Civic Chorale will be held the week of January 4 th
. 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.
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.
There is a small part for a children’s choir in Carmina Burana . We will be assembling talented treble voices for this group. The music is very easy, and short; we just need a dedicated music teacher in the area to help organize it. If you know of anyone, please let me know.
Congratulations to Chamber Singers and A Cappella Choir for a very successful Madrigal Dinner. This has to have been one of the smoothest and well prepared Madrigal Dinners in recent memory. This was due to our very clever script writers, Gatlin Alldredge, Amber Conaway, Christina Booker, Kaylon Gilley and Meg
Griffin, , the leadership of our section leaders, Christina Booker, Meg Griffin, Michael Ervin, Gatlin Alldrege, our Registrar, Kaylon Gilley, and an extremely talented & dedicated cast that was well prepared. Thank You!!!
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Tuesday, January 5 th
, 10:30 a.m., Dr. Corbin’s Office.
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 you have not been a choir member in good standing your scholarship will be reduced or cancelled. Also, please know that we will be evaluating the academic progress of returning students when we make recommendations for scholarships for fall semester 2010. 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.
All students wishing to take Applied Voice (private voice lessons for college credit) for the first time must sing for the voice faculty on Tuesday, January 5 th
. The hearing will begin at 130 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 time in the
Music Department Office after winter break. If you do not come to the hearing you may not be allowed to register for voice this semester.
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.
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.
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MU 441Choral Literature for Teachers and MU 509 Seminar in Choral Literature will be offered together at a new time this spring, Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. This 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 is only offered in the spring .
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.
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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.
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.
NATS State Student Auditions – Friday & Saturday, February 21 st
& 22nd, Samford University
On Friday and Saturday, May 1 st
& 2 nd
we will be hosting our 2009 Honor Choir. Dr. Patrick Freer, Assistant
Professor of Choral Music Education at Georgia State University in Atlanta will be our guest Middle School
Clinician (and he is wonderful!) Student workers will be needed
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.
ACT WorkKeys Basic Skills Assessments
More information at www.act.org/alabamapttp
(APTTP--Basic Skills Test)
ACT notified JSU that they have extended the registration deadline for the August 1, 2009, test administration of the three WorkKeys basic skills assessments required in the Alabama Prospective Teacher
Testing Program (APTTP). The deadline posted online and in the registration bulletin is July 3, 2009. Since
ACT will be closing for the July 4 holiday, they have extended the deadline to Monday, July 6, 2009.
REGISTRATION
DEADLINE
(FRIDAY)
TEST DATE
(SATURDAY)
SCORE REPORT
RECEIPT DATE
(SATURDAY)
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JULY 6, 2009
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
FEBRUARY 12, 2010
APRIL 23, 2010
AUGUST 1, 2009
OCTOBER 10, 2009
DECEMBER 19, 2009
MARCH 6, 2010
MAY 15, 2010
JULY 2, 2010 JULY 31, 2010
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.
NOVEMBER 14, 2009
FEBRUARY 6, 2010
APRIL 17, 2010
JUNE 26, 2010
SEPTEMBER 11, 2010
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 Dr. Kelly Ryan , JSU's Teacher Certification Officer at 256-
782-5574, or Dr. Barbara Larson the Alabama SDE, Teacher Testing Coordinator at 334-242-9935.
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.
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.
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Test Dates
Test Date
September
12, 2009
November
14, 2009
January 9,
2010
March 13,
2010
April 24,
2010
Registration
Deadline
August 13,
2009
October 15,
2009
Late
Registration
Deadline w/$45 late fee
Emergency
Registration Deadline
Must be received by
(web only w/$75 fee)
Scores
Report by
Phone
August 20, 2009 September 4, 2009
October 22, 2009 November 6, 2009
October 9,
2009
December
11, 2009
Approximate
Score Report
Mailing Date
October 13, 2009
December 15,
2009
February 5,
2010
February 9, 2010
December 10,
2009
December 17,
2009
February 11,
2010
March 25,
2010
February 18,
2009
April 1, 2010
January 1, 2009
March 5, 2009
April 16, 2010
April 9,
2009
May 21,
2010
April 13, 2009
May 25, 2010
June 12,
2010
July 24,
2010
May 13, 2010 May 20, 2010
June 24, 2010 July 1, 2010
June 4, 2010
July 16, 2010
July 9, 2010 July 13, 2010
August 20,
2010
August 24, 2010
January 15, 16, 2010
In January, the JOT will present an opera for children, entitled St. George & the Dragon . In addition to performances at JSU, this opera will be traveling to various schools as well as performing at the upcoming
Alabama Music Educators In Service Conference. For more information, please contact Dr. Nathan Wight at (256) 782-5876, nwight@jsu.edu. http://music.jsu.edu/OPERA/
On Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. a concert to benefit the Jacksonville Opera Theatre will be held at First United Methodist Church in Anniston. Talented students, alumni and faculty members will be performing. Donations will be gratefully accepted. If you can not attend, but would like to make a donation, please send your donation (made payable to JSU Music Department/Opera) c/o Dr. Nathan Wight, David L.
Walters Department of Music, Jacksonville State University, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, AL,
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36265.For further information, please contact Dr. Nathan Wight, (256) 782-5876, nwight@jsu.edu. First
United Methodist Church is located at 1400 Noble Street in Anniston.
Haley Arrington is the new “Miss Birmingham”
Congratulations to Haley Arrington, a senior music education/voice major at Jacksonville State University, who was crowned Miss Birmingham on November 8. The title is Ms. Arrington's fifth Miss Alabama/Miss
America open preliminary title, which seals her qualification to compete for the state crown next summer.
Haley is a student of Ms Teresa Cheatham Stricklin.
Have a great vacation!
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(
We are looking for experienced choral singers to join the choirs who:
1. Possess voices that can sing in tune and blend well with others…
2. Are able to learn their individual part from written music…
3. Can commit to regular attendance throughout the semester.
Students, Faculty & Staff: If you are interested, there are three ways for you to participate:
1. Enroll in A Cappella Choir (MU 218/418) as a JSU student. A Cappella Choir meets MWF from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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2. Enroll in Chorus (MU 196/396, also known as “Civic Chorale”) as a JSU student. Chorus meets Monday evenings from 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
3. Join Civic Chorale (“Chorus”) as a community member (pay a small fee for dues and the cost of music). Civic Chorale meets Monday evenings from 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
th
th
th
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