2019-2020

Austin High School

Choral Department
Student Handbook
Rules and Procedures

Kelly Wildermuth
EDUC 474
 Austin Choral
Department
Calendar
September 10th: Choral Dues DUE
October 15th: Fall Concert*
October 30th: Fundraising Deadline
December 5th: Holiday Concert*
Feb 10th: Fundraiser – Spirit Night
Mar 7th: MPA Concert*
March 10th: MPA*
May 7th: Spring Concert*
May 15th: Choral Banquet

*Required events for successful completion of the course – attendance is mandatory

and will be a portion of the final grade – 30 percent of the student’s final grade
comes from performance attendance.

If events and performances arise throughout the semester, if at least a month’s

notice is provided, the performance will also be mandatory. However, if the
performance is announced less than a month from the date, the performance will be
optional, and students will not be penalized for lack of attendance.

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 ♫ Table of Contents ♫

Letter from Director……………………………………………………………..4

Policies and Procedures……………………………………………………...5-9

Uniform Information……………………………………………………………10

Financial Obligation…………………………………………………………...11

Grading System……………………………………………………….....…12-13

Officers……………………………………………………………………..……14

Acknowledgement Page………………………………………………………15

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 ♫ Letter to Parents ♫

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to the Austin High School Choral Program! You and your student
are now an important part of the high-achieving growing program here at
Austin. I sincerely believe your experience and involvement in our program
will be rewarding for both you and your student. You will connect with music
while your student does the same, all while being part of a program which
continues to build a tradition of superior performance, musical excellence,
and vital socio-emotional development.

I am a native of Atlanta, Georgia and am a recent graduate of Stetson

University in Deland, Florida where I received a Bachelor of Music Education
degree. I am new to the Austin area and am very excited to begin this journey
as the Choral Director at Austin High School. I have high expectations for the
choir program this year and am pleased by the support for choral music
shown from the students, parents, teachers, and administration of Austin, and
the Austin County School District. I am dedicated to ensuring the students of
the Austin Choral Program have the training and tools required to succeed.

Music is an integral part of education. It awakens imagination, opens the

mind, and activates the body. Music builds bridges between logic and
emotion and helps students become independent learners. Our program’s
mission is to facilitate growth and learning of musical art forms, foster
creativity, create independent musicians, and help our students grow into
capable and respectful adults. We hope to create a healthy environment of
trust, communication, respect, and community. Students will have
opportunities to interact with and experience choral music and develop their
own unique instruments during their study within our choral program. Music
is a creative and interactive experience and our program will always foster
musical growth among all our students and hopefully parents as well.

I am looking forward to working with each of you. You and your students’
talents and hard work will make this year at Austin very exciting, successful,
and musically rewarding for all of us. Please look out for our monthly
newsletter in future emails and on our website!

Sincerely,

Kelly Wildermuth
Austin High School Choral Director
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 ♫ Rules, Policies, and Procedures ♫

♫ Rules ♫

1. Be prepared: Arrive to class, rehearsals, and performances on time,

with materials necessary: music, pencil, and a water bottle.
2. Be respectful: Allow the teacher to teach and your fellow students to
learn.

♫ Policies and Procedures ♫

When the tardy bell rings, each student will…

1. Be at their assigned seat with their music folder, sharpened
pencil, and a water bottle
2. Begin daily warm up – led by the teacher or a fellow student

Sit with singer’s posture while singing.

Your Choral Folder and water bottle should be with you at your seat.

Use cubbies for storage of other materials.

Electronic Devices
Students are expected to bring their school issued laptops to school
every day charged and ready for use. This technology can have a
positive impact on the learning environment and should be used
appropriately in the classroom. However, because of the
distractions electronic devices often cause, students should ONLY
use their personal electronic devices during class if they are told
by the teacher to do so for an educational purpose.
Students in violation of this policy will be asked to place their phone
in their cubby. If cell phone usage becomes an issue, parents will
be notified. Students may use their personal electronic devices in
the hallways during class changes, during lunch, and before and
after school.

Be on time for class rehearsals and performances.

Rehearsal begins when tardy bell rings.

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Rehearsals are a very fast-paced environment – this should help you stay
focused and engaged.

Mark the conductor’s instructions in your score.

Please have bottled water ONLY in the choral room – NO gum

Please notify your director before rehearsal if vocal rest is required.

When this is the case, you will follow each activity throughout
rehearsal and complete a rehearsal assessment form. This is how you
will earn daily credit for that class period.

Always help keep the choral room clean.

Have a positive attitude and SING!

Treat everyone with respect.

At the end of rehearsal, please place your choral folder back into your
assigned folder slot.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF AND YOUR PEERS!

ENJOY MUSIC!

♫ Room Maintenance ♫

Please have only water in the choral room.

Respect the choral department and others by not damaging or

destroying any property.

Keep your folder slot clean.

Keep book cubbies free from trash.

Please only enter storage/practice rooms with permission from the

director.

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 ♫ Folders and Materials ♫

Students will be issued all music materials.

Each student will provide their own 1 inch, BLACK three-ring binder for
their music.

Please only use pencil when marking your music.

Please keep your folder neat and your folder slot clean.

♫ Concert Policies and Procedures ♫

Concerts and performances are essential to the success of a music

program. The way an ensemble presents itself prior to, during, and after
concert performances contributes to the way audience members,
judges, and parents reflect on the overall ensemble and program.

There are no excused absences from performances other than severe

illnesses with a doctor’s excuse or family emergencies.

The calendar has been provided and any changes will be communicated
fully and in advance. Sporting events and other extra-curricular
activities, etc. are not considered excused absences.

The following policies will be observed during concerts:

Policies

Students are required to have the appropriate concert attire.

Please refrain from using cologne or perfume in case of student

allergies. Deodorant is perfectly acceptable and encouraged.

Music will be memorized unless the director indicates otherwise.

Students are expected to arrive on time to the call-time of each

performance.

Students are not permitted to leave the concert early. If extenuating

circumstances are present, the director must give prior approval.
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Procedures

Upon arrival at the concert, each student must check in with the
designated person in charge of attendance.

After checking in for attendance purposes, students should use the

restroom and be in their designated seats prior to the call-time.

Students are expected to demonstrate appropriate concert etiquette.

Students must have transportation home at the end of the concert.

Consequences

Consequences for breaking policies and procedures as outlined will

result in a grade or assignment adjustment.

♫ Sequence of Consequences ♫
(all result in deduction in daily grade)

Student conference with teacher to try and correct failure to meet class
expectations.

Contact parent

30-minute teacher detention

Discipline referral to assistant principal

♫ Attendance Policy ♫

By nature, the choral program is a performing art. It is necessary for all

members to be present for rehearsals and performances. Every
member is crucial to the maximum achievement of the ensemble.

Three categories of attendance issues will be considered for grading

purposes:

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Tardies: Students are expected to be punctual to the class time
rehearsal and performances. A student tardy to class or a performance
will have 2 points deducted from the daily or performance grade.

Excused Absences: Excused absences from daily class are those

deemed excused by the school. If a student is excused by the school
from their absence in class, no grade will be given for the day(s) and the
weekly grade will reflect only those days present.
ABSENCES FROM CONCERTS ARE NOT EXCUSED

Unexcused Absences: In the case where the school rules an absence as

unexcused, no points will be awarded to the student for that day. The
student will follow the outlined make-up work policy to potentially earn
the daily points lost from their absence. A student who misses a
performance with an unexcused absence will receive no points for that
performance.

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 ♫ Uniforms ♫

All students may choose one of the following two options:

Option #1:
Black Choir Dress designated
Closed-toed, black shoes no higher than a two-inch heel (flats are
highly recommended)
Black socks or hosiery
Pearls designated – no other jewelry
Please hem the dress neatly one inch from the floor.
Hair must be pulled back from your face and out of your eyes.

Option #2:
Black formal tux with white dress shirt and bow-tie
Black dress shoes and black socks
Hair must be pulled back from your face and out of your eyes.
No jewelry

In the case of a uniform violation, you will be asked to adjust your

uniform to fit the standards listed above. If the adjustment cannot or will
not be made, it may result in a student’s removal from the performance.

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 ♫ Financial Obligation ♫

Every member of the Austin Choral Department is required to pay an

$80 choral fee.

Families with more than one student in the Choral Department will pay
less per student. The director will reach out to those families
individually.

If your family is unable to pay dues, please contact the director privately
and we will discuss possible remedies!

Also, students are responsible for buying their uniforms. However, the
Choral Department does keep an inventory of used dresses and tuxes
that will be available for purchase or rent at a discounted rate.

All fundraisers within the program are optional, but highly

recommended. Any funds raised by individual students will be applied
to their individual accounts to help fund future dues and trips. Group
fundraisers will support the Choral Boosters funds.

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 ♫ Grading System ♫

You earn your grade through showing growth of musical skills and
knowledge, active participation in choral activities, and adherence to
the daily expectations listed in this handbook. Each grading period, the
student's grades will be calculated from three weighted categories:

Vocal Assessments - 30%

Performance Attendance & Evaluation – 30%
Quizzes/Activities - 30%
Attendance/Participation – 10%

Vocal Assessments
This will come in the form of formative assessments throughout
rehearsal. These may include singing posture, breathing techniques,
accurate pitches and rhythms, diction, vowel formation, etc. This grade
will also include part-checks completed through our virtual classroom
throughout the semester. This grade will show that students are making
improvements and in their vocal and musical abilities and achieving
instructional goals set by the director.

Performances
The performance grade will be determined by attendance, punctuality,
appropriate attire, and demonstration of vocal skills. A performance
grade will be assigned for each performance.

Quizzes/Activities
The quizzes/activities grade will consist of sight-singing quizzes, written
quizzes/activities, ear-training quizzes, and other graded assignments.

Make-up Work: The nature of a performance-based class is that a

student must be present to academically and individually benefit from
the course.

A student who is absent from daily rehearsal cannot truly “make up” the
missed rehearsal. For this reason, to make up a rehearsal, the student
should spend extra time working on their part making use of virtual
practice files when available. It is the responsibility of the student to
speak with their section leader or the director to determine the music
rehearsed during their absence and spend an appropriate amount of
time working with the website practice files.

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A student with an unexcused absence from a calendared after school
rehearsal will receive no points for that rehearsal.

A student who is absent from a concert cannot effectively recreate the

environment of the concert and all the many components of a live
performance. For details regarding an absence from a concert see
“Concert Policies and Procedures.”

A student whose daily absence is excused or unexcused will be allowed

to make up any written assignments or vocal assessments. All make-up
work must be completed within five school days of an excused absence
or within two school days of an unexcused absence. It is the student's
responsibility to access what was missed and to set up a time with the
director to make up the work.

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 ♫ Officers ♫

Each class within the Choral Program will elect the following officers to
serve the members of the class:

President
The President is a model chorus member and serves as a leader in the
class.
The President will be the lesion between the performance ensemble
and the director.

Secretary
The Secretary assists the Choral Boosters Publicity Committee,
distributes programs at concerts, and helps with administrative tasks.
The Secretary takes attendance at every performance/event.

Librarian
The Librarians keep the choral library clean and orderly.
The Librarians are responsible for music filing, making folder
assignments, inspecting music when it is returned, and passing out new
music.

The Director will select the following leaders:

Student Conductor
The Student Conductor sets an example for other students.
The Student Conductor conducts rehearsal in the absence of the
director.
The Student Conductor runs sectionals and may conduct a piece on the
spring concert.

Section Leaders
Section Leaders will be designated by the director to assist in
rehearsals.
Section Leaders will lead their respective sections in break-away
(sectional) rehearsals.
They will mark their music accurately and learn their parts thoroughly
enough to help others.
The will inform a singer of missed material in the case of an absence.

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 ♫ Parent/Student Acknowledgment Page ♫

Please read, sign, and return to Ms. Wildermuth NO LATER than August
15th.

“I have received, read, and understand the 2019-2020 Choral Handbook

and agree to the guidelines established.”

Student Name (please print) .

Student Signature .

Date Signed .

“I have received, read, and understand the 2019-2020 Choral Handbook

and will refer to it in regard to all related topics and encourage my child
to observe the guidelines established.”

Parent/Guardian Name (please print) .

Parent/Guardian Signature .

Date Signed .

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