BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY–IDAHO
Course Syllabus for Women’s Choir
W inter Semester 2003
M316 Section 1 or M100L Section 6 – 1:00 p.m. Class meets daily, usually in 4th W ard Cultural Hall
Prerequisites: An audition is required. This class requires singing ability and a reasonable amount of prior choral
experience or training, including the ability to hold one’s own part alone. Concurrent enrollment in applied
study
at BYU-I is recommended, but not required.
Faculty Name: Eda Ashby (choral music D.M.A., U.S.C.): Office: Snow 247, ashbye@byui.edu or 496-1276.
Course Description: A select auditioned choir of approximately 100 voices designed to perform a variety of
musical styles. Women’s Choir combines with Men’s Choir on occasion to prepare mixed-choir works and
large works to be performed with BYU-I instrumental ensembles. Membership in Women’s Choir is a
tacet commitment to participate in ALL rehearsals and concerts.
Course Objectives: To SING–to sing great choral music at a high level, while growing musically, vocally,
spiritually, and socially. A high level of concentration is required. Beyond perfecting the musical notes and
rhythms, choir members are expected to deal with issues of vocal production, musicality, tone color, articulation,
vowel matching, historical style, resonance, pronunciation, blend, dynamics, intonation, rhythm, phrasing,
communication, and expressiveness in the selections learned. The choir also provides an opportunity to build a
sense of community and commitment, coupled with individual self-discipline, personal motivation, and
responsibility to the group, which will greatly contribute to their success in other areas of life & church service.
Diligent students grow in vocal ability. Singers are encouraged to contribute willingly in church music
capacities.
Text: Text will be choral music–some passed out in class, and some that students will check out from the BYU-I
Library Circulation Desk. A personal hymn book is encouraged. You will need your I.D. card to check out the
music from the library. You will also be assessed a $2 non-refundable music rental fee for the library music.
You
will be responsible for both the music bag and the music, including music passed out in class. Return the library
music to the library at the end of the semester. There is a $4.00 charge for each piece of music that is not
returned. Return the class music in class. You must keep a PENCIL in your music packet and bring packet,
music, and pencil to each rehearsal.
Materials needed: Bring to each class all the music: the BYU-I Library music, music passed out in class, and a
PENCIL to mark the music. Some may need to make a rehearsal tape to assist them in learning their part.
Choir Uniform: Each member will be required to wear the official Women’s Choir uniform at concerts and other
similar events throughout the semester. The cost of these outfits is about $70. It is imperative that we measure
choir members once the membership is set and order these outfits for new members as soon as possible.
Choir Officers: Those interested in serving as choir officers (who have the time), please write your name and
areas where you might like to serve on a note and give it to Sister Ashby or the choir president. Offices include
President (organizational/leadership), vice-president, general secretary, attendance secretary, section secretary,
section leader, section pianist, dress chair, devotional chairman, social coordinators, food committees, service
coordinator, music librarian, quartet chairman, assistant pianists & instrumentalists...
ATTENDANCE: Choir members are required to attend scheduled classes, rehearsals, and performances. It is
imperative that you be present in class, CONCENTRATING on your music! At least 2/3 of your grade
depends on your faithful and punctual attendance. Some “outside” practice will be necessary! You are
expected
to securely learn your notes outside of class. Within a week of the introduction of a new piece or section, you
should have the notes learned (on your own), and soon after, it should be memorized. Students who fail to learn
their music, or do not attend choir/quartet rehearsals, will not be able to continue in the choir.
Quartets: When quartets are assigned, you will be expected to spend one school hour(50 minutes) per week with
your quartet in quartet practice. Quartet activities may count for as much as 1/3 of your grade.
Attitude: Members must attend rehearsals and quartet practices with a good learning attitude and make every effort
to work together as a team to make the choir a great experience for every member. Participation in all
scheduled performances is required.
Class Rules:
1. No disruption of others’ class experience. Resp onsible adult behavior is required. When singing stops, only one person
speaks at a time. Do not talk during rehearsal except about things directly related to the music (“fix-its”).
2. No eating, gum chew ing, or non-choir studies during class. No deliberate distractions.
3. Maintain a positive, pleasant attitude and treat all people with respect and patience.
4. Be patient with others’ ability levels in rehearsals. Appreciate their efforts and help them wherever possible.
5. Sing (rather than talk) as much of the time as possible in rehearsal. Respect the music! Mentally study the music in “off”
time before class or when another section is rehearsing. Stay focused! Concentrate!!! W e will accomplish 2X as much!
6. Keep your life in order spiritually, so that you can receive the spiritual gift of singing and powerful expression.
7. Concentrate! Be present in mind and spirit as well as body. Leave thoughts of other subjects and problems outside the
choir ro om. S trive alwa ys to give your b est. Cho ir time is “reserved ” and held sacred/inviolate for cho ir work (like Sunday)
8. M EM OR IZE the music. A week after the section of music is introduced, it should be memorized.
9. Perfect the music as nearly as possible, including vocal production, tone color, musicality, pronunciation, blend, phrasing,
dynam ics, intona tion, rhythm , communication, expressiveness. Ponder the wo rds/ message s of songs in ord er to
understand them fully.
10. Attend punctually all scheduled classes, rehearsals, and performances. That means being in your assigned place on the
hour or one minute before, not flitting about & talking. If you happen to be late, sit in your assigned seat, not in the back.
11. Be present in rehearsals unless you are hospitalized or unable to walk. If you are contagious, sit in back or very front and
follow along in your music, making notes. It is often possible to learn more about singing when you don’t feel well than
from singing when your voice is in top shape. It is not acceptable to do non-choir homework in choir.
12. P ractice with your quartet for 50 minutes once a week; and 15 m inutes per day on your own if need ed for mastery.
“Almost” is not good enough. Seek for perfection. Be sensitive to how you fit with the sound & vo ices around you.
13. W e are together for a purpose. Part of that divine purpose is to spread light and truth. Opposition is to be expected, but
we must be strong, disciplined, and wholeheartedly committed to carrying out our purpose. W e must be grateful for our
opportunities, pray for the power to carry out our purpose, and seek in every way to offer our best, with humility. The
Lord need s strong, dependable, willing servants in these winding-up scenes o f the world’s history.
14. Have a good time! Enjoy the music and the musical-journey experience.
Grading, Evaluation, Performance, and Attendance: Your grade is decided by your effort & regularity during
rehearsals, performances, and outside-of-class practice. Since the vast majority of ensemble progress will take place
during rehearsals, it is mandatory that you attend each class session. Most of your grade will be determined by your
attendance, punctuality, and concentration/effort. Every minute of our time together is very important. If you arrive late
for class or rehearsal you will miss a great deal and we will all miss you.
At least two-thirds of your grade in Women’s Chorus is based on your attendance and punctuality. Your
attendance grade will be determined by an accumulation of points–the more points you receive, the lower your grade will
be.  Each absence is equal to three points and each tardy is equal to one point. Attendance at predetermined
performances and dress rehearsals is essential. Missing a performance or dress rehearsal may count up to nine points on
the accumulation scale. Arriving late for call before a performance may count up to three points. Attendance will be
recorded at classes, rehearsals, and concerts. YOU NEED TO BE PRESENT, AND ON TIME.
The following scale will help you understand how the accumulation of points will affect your grade:
0-9 points = A
12 points = B
15 points =C
18 points =D
10 points = A13 points = B16 points =C19 points =D11 points = B+
14 points = C+
17 points =D+
20 points =F
All absences count towards the three allowed, and must be made up, whether for colds, weddings, funerals,
dates, General conference, appointments with faculty members, etc. Save [even hoard] them wisely! Do not use these
absences early in the semester for frivolous reasons. WARNING: If you use your three absences early in the semester,
there will be no sympathy when you get sick at the end of the semester from lack of sleep due to procrastination. If these
three absences are not made up, they will count against your grade. Absences beyond the three “make-up-able” absences
will count against your grade. There is no way to adequately make up for absences!!!!! *** The rehearsal is not just for
your personal learning of notes and words, but for you to help your neighbor learn, and for balancing of parts,
achievement of musicality, blend, & unity of expression. These things cannot be accomplished unless you are present. [If
you are sick but not in bed, sit in the back and follow along.]
The only exceptions to the above policy are for required “College Academic Excused Absences,” for eternally
weighty matters (family funerals), and for severe prolonged illness/disability. You may miss up to six days for official
college academic activities without it affecting your grade provided that you have brought the director or attendance
secretary the appropriate form signed by your teacher at least one day in advance and you make up the work. In the case
of severe illness, you must notify “Student Life” and they will then send me a form excusing you from your classes.
Making up absences: All absences must be made up. Students: To have any absence “justified” (including
academic absences and severe-circumstance absences), the absence must be approved by Sister Ashby and a written
note turned in listing your name, the date of absence, reasons for absence, and completion of make-up or penance work .
A mercy clause may apply only in dire circumstances, and make-up work is expected in case of all absences,
academically excused or not. Only after that note is received is the absence “excused.” Speaking with me about noncollege-excused absences does not erase them; they must be for a solidly legitimate, non-frivolous, eternal reasons, and
you still must do penance!! Frivolous absences are not redeemable.
The final third of your grade is determined by your attitude and contribution to the group. This is decided by
instructor observations in rehearsals, sectionals, quartets, quartet roulette, performances, etc. In this area of grading, you
will not be graded against anyone else in the ensemble, but according to your own talent, experience, progress, and
potential. As memorization deadlines are given, you may be asked to sing your memorized part in quartet, for the
director. You must be able to hold your part on your own. Your grade can be lowered for lack of preparation. After
quartets are organized, one hour per week of quartet practice will be required, in addition to any necessary personal
practice on the choir music. There may be periodic quartet evaluations, where individual quartets will sing from
memory, each quartet member receiving a score.
CHOIR THEME: Choir affords many opportunities to gain spiritual insights, and principles of good singing often have
a spiritual parallel. I invite you to look for spiritual meaning in our songs & experiences. Learning the notes & rhythms
only scratches the surface. Music is much more than that. The choir theme this year is “WALK IN THE LIGHT.”
How can we put ourselves in the light? Are you now in the light? What things work to get you back into the light? How
do you know when you are in the light? Where do your answers come from when you are in the light? when you are in
the darkness? How do you choose to be in the light? What thoughts must you think to get into the light? How do get
those thoughts to register in your heart? Please ponder deeply, individually and in relation to our music and your life,
what is meant by light, and what you must do in every different moment, situation, and aspect of your life to walk in the
light. You are invited to share your insights with the choir by contacting the “devotional vice-president” and
volunteering to do devotionals.
Additional Course Policies: There is expected to be a tour fee of approximately $110 this winter semester. A class fee
of approx. $7.50 is assessed to your account to provide for periodic social activities, choir folders, and other choir
expenses not covered by the college. Choir members are required to spend additional time out of class on their
own as necessary to learn and perfect the music. As we get the website running, we will post announcements there.
Disability Clause: In compliance with app licable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to
“reasonable accommod ation.” It is the student’s responsibility to disclose to the instructor any special need she/he may have
before the end of the first week of class.
Course Outline/Calendar: In addition to the regularly scheduled class times posted in the class schedule, there will be
outside performances. Please be careful to note that some performances and rehearsals may conflict with weekend and
holiday plans. DO NOT EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT OF TOWN WHEN A CONCERT IS
SCHEDULED. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO BE PRESENT FOR PERFORMANCES. Carefully check
even the end-of-semester performance schedule. The following are the projected concert & dress rehearsal dates:
Sat.
1-11
Retreat at Teton Lodge, 9:15 a.m. -6:00 p.m. (Load buses at 9:15 a.m.)
Wed.
1-15
Dress Rehearsal for Barbershop Festival, Kirkham 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 1-17
Barbershop Festival Concert, Barrus Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. concert, expected call 6:00 p.m.
Sat
1-18
Barbershop Festival Concert, Barrus Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. concert, call 6:30 p.m.
Tues.
1-21 Devotional performance (probably not for choir but for soloist)
Fri
3-7
Dress Rehearsal for Oratorio, Barrus Concert Hall, 6:00-10:00 p.m.
Sun
3-9
Oratorio performance Fireside, Hart Gym, 7:00 p.m., call 6:00 p.m. (May be earlier)
Mon-Sat 3-10 thru 3-15 Oratorio tour for balanced 40 of the choir to AZ, NV, UT
Wed-Sat 3-12 thru 3-15 Oratorio tour for balanced 50 of the choir to NV & UT
Wed
3-19
Oratorio Recording, Barrus Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m., call 6:30 p.m.
Thur
3-20
Oratorio Recording Performances, Barrus Concert Hall, 6:00 and 8:30 p.m., call is 5:00 p.m.
Sun.
3-23
Mother’s Weekend Fireside performance, 5:00 p.m. Hart Gym (call at 4:20?)
Fri
3-28
Recommended concert attendance at Dale Warland Singers concert, 7:30 p.m.
Tues
Fri
Fri
4-15
4-18
4-25
Devotional performance, Hart Gym, section A, call 1:00
Men’s & Women’s Choir Concert, Barrus Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m., call 6:30 p.m.
Graduation Oratorio Performance, Hart Gym, 8:00 p.m., call 7:30 p.m.
Caveat: This syllabus is for the guidance of students only. It does not constitute a contract or agreement of any sort between the instructor
or BYU-I and the student. Teacher reserves the sole and exclusive right to change any and all aspects of this course or performances at any
time for any reason, at my sole discretion. Any and all corrections, alterations, deletions or additions of any kind may be announced in class
only once. You will need to attend regularly, and find out from section leaders what you missed when absent.*