HHS Choir Grading Policy and Student Expectations
Required dress for performances: Men: Black dress slacks, black socks, black shoes, choir polo, robe. Women:
Black dress slacks, black, closed-toed shoes, choir polo, robe. Any questions concerning the dress code should be
taking care of in advance, not the evening of the concert.
Each student will have a portfolio in which information that pertains to his or her grade will be kept. Students will earn
points based on the following criteria:
Class participation: 40 points
Students behavior in choir class will be evaluated and assessed a minimum of three times each marking period by the
instructor. An assessment rubric will be used to evaluate preparation, vocal participation, demonstrated musical
knowledge in the rehearsal and appropriate rehearsal behavior which includes required literature, other materials
distributed to individual students and limited distractions to the overall educational experience.
Students will be assessed at least once a marking period in written fashion. These evaluations can range from concert
listening assignments to music literacy quizzes pertinent to current course content. Students should be prepared to
demonstrate knowledge at any time when asked by the instructor.
Singing: 30 points
The instructor will formally evaluate each student’s vocal aptitude at least once a marking period. The first evaluation
will occur during their lesson time or via a video submission.
The end of marking period assessment will occur in an individual, homogeneous or heterogeneous setting depending on
the choir class. Proficient students will sing their part with correct pitch, intonation, tone, rhythm and musicality. This
assessment will occur during choir classes either live or recorded. Please refer to assessment rubrics regarding
performance expectations.
Vocal lessons: 20 points
New to our curriculum this year, HHS Choir students will attend a minimum of THREE lessons each marking period.
These lessons will occur on a rotational basis throughout different periods of the school day. Students must attend all
scheduled lessons and will be graded for each. Skill development (Vocal production, sight-singing, rhythmic counting,
etc.,) as well as solo repertoire will serve as materials for consumption. Before the conclusion of each lesson,
STUDENTS will complete and submit the checklist evaluating their individual lesson performance. A copy of this
checklist can be found on my teacher page. Students must complete this checklist to receive credit for each lesson.
It is the student’s responsibility to schedule make-up lessons, within one cycle after the missed lesson. Make-up
lessons will occur in the Music department. Students will be given materials to complete and will be required to record
and submit their work (as well as the checklist) in order to receive credit for the lesson. The grade for lessons not made
up within the allotted time will be zero. Unexcused absence or coming unprepared (no music, or not having practiced)
will detract from the points in this category.
Those students who study private voice outside of the school day may choose to fill out an exemption form. To receive
credit, this form needs to be completed by the private voice instructor and student and returned before the completion
of each marking period. Students who ask for an exemption and do not submit the paperwork in a timely fashion will
not receive credit for this portion of their marking period grade.
Sight Singing: 10 points
Each student will be asked to sight sing at least once a marking period. This can occur in the rehearsal or marking
period voice recitation. Proficient students will be able to manipulate the solfeggio language, sing the passage with
correct pitch, intonation, tone, rhythm and musicality without accompaniment. Those in need of remediation should
sign up for sight-singing tutorials, sponsored by HHS Choir officers. Additionally, the instructor is available upon
request to provide feedback to students wishing to experience a “mock” sight-singing evaluation.
Points will be subtracted for the following:
Inappropriate rehearsal/concert etiquette- up to 10 points from class participation grade.
Examples of inappropriate etiquette: Music not prepared or memorized: individual talks during rehearsal, exhibits bad
posture, forgets music, chews gum or candy, does not mark music with a pencil, is repeatedly tardy or disruptive and is
found using inappropriate, electronic devices in choir class.
Failure to pass basic music literacy assessment-5 points
After school tutorials are offered throughout the first marking period. These tutorials cover: note identification/reading,
sight-singing/solfeggio and rhythmic counting skills. Any student who does not score an 80% or higher will have 5
points subtracted from the class participation component of their first marking period grade. This announced written
assessment occurs in mid-to late September.
Absence from dress rehearsal -10 points
Absence from choir class concert -20 points
This would include all required concert dates assigned to the student’s particular choir class. Required concerts can
include campus assemblies, campus concerts and non-campus performances. The director will provide ample
notification of these performances.