Mr. Hay
email: bhay@rivervalleyschools.org
Phone: 756-9541, extension 1130/1131
VOCAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT - CLASSROOM RULES
1. Be in the classroom when the bell rings. Be sure to have your folder, music and a pencil with you at your seat.
2. Be attentive to the person in front, whether it is Mr. Hay or someone else.
3. You are encouraged to lightly write in your music with a pencil. Never use a pen. However, you are responsible for erasing all of your rehearsal marks before you turn in your music. Turn in the performed music the first class following a concert.
4. Get to know the people in choir. The majority of us spend several years together.
5. Be determined. Talking during rehearsals, complaining, nonchalant behavior or poor attitudes are unacceptable. Give choir everything you have and then push yourself even farther. You will not be disappointed.
6. Be serious:
- The time immediately following a cut-off belongs to the director!
- No talking while rehearsing.
- No gum, candy or drinks during any of our class time.
- No slouching in your chair when rehearsing seated.
- Always use proper posture when standing.
- Memorize your music.
- Never, ever, deliberately miss a concert.
7. Be humane. Support each other and any other musical group that we are around. Our middle school and high school choirs are all equally important. Wish every choir (ours as well as others) success. We are all in this together. Life is not a contest, we can all be winners. However, we can only be as good as our weakest member. Everyone must know their part.
8. Leave your problems at the door.
9. Know your student handbook. We will follow all of its rules.
10. Take care of your voice (as well as yourself). Do not abuse it.
11. There is a $10.00 year-end cleaning fee due when tuxes/dresses are handed out.
12. Each student will be assigned his/her own folder and will be financially responsible for the folder and its contents. Fees will be assessed for lost or damaged music. Unreturned music or folders will result in a grade of “incomplete”.
VOCAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT - GRADING POLICY
- Students will be measured on their preparedness and performance in rehearsals and concerts.
- Students will exhibit professional conduct and decorum in both rehearsals and performance.
- Concerts represent the culmination of a rehearsal sequence and the actual creation of the art of music. Therefore, attendance is mandatory. An unexcused absence from a performance will result in failing the marking period.
60% Participation and daily class work
- Each student receives 9 points daily for participation
The points are yours to loose.
Lack of participation looses points on each occurrence.
Ways to loose points:
Tardy to class
No pencil, choir folder or music
Poor posture
Gum/food/drink
Inattentiveness/apathy/displaying disrespect
Poor focus
Talking at inappropriate times
Inability to sing your part
Actual lack of participation (example: not singing)
- Unexcused absence looses all points for the rehearsal
- Choir is a lab and it is difficult to make up missed time. You will receive credit for your first four excused absences. Upon the fifth excused absence, credit will not be earned for the missing class periods until time is made up. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange make up time with Mr. Hay. A student missing more than four class/lab sessions will need to demonstrate knowledge of all music prior to being allowed to perform with the choir. A student missing eight or more class rehearsals will need to realize that it may be impossible to make up this missed time. Time can only be made up ½ hour at a time after school with the director and some days the director will not be available. Remember that not performing with your choir may result in failing the marking period.
- Your best effort is always expected.
- Classroom rules must be followed.
- Homework completed and turned in on time.
- Demonstrate ability to sight-read (after it has been taught).
40% Performance
On time for vocalization
Proper attire
Music memorized and mastered
Focus during the performance
Maximum effort is expected
Demonstrate proper concert etiquette
- Absences do occur on emergency basis – see our policy on absences.
Back to the top
POLICY ON PERFORMANCE ABSENCES
Performances occur after an extensive rehearsal period. Performances give the students a chance to showcase all of the skills they have acquired during that rehearsal period. It is vital for a student to attend each performance but there is a realization that sickness and family emergencies do occur. You must realize that it is impossible to recreate the missed performance.
An excused absence must be known of in advance and will be up to the discretion of the choral director as to whether it will be considered excused. If a performance is going to be missed, the director must be notified in advance if it is to be considered excused. Notification after the concert will result in an unexcused absence. Please contact Mr. Hay at extension 1130 to make the necessary arrangements for the missed absence.
- Funerals or illness may be considered excused.
- Shopping, a birthday party, had to go somewhere, and work are examples of unexcused absences. Each student has our performance schedule well enough in advance to arrange his/her schedule.
- Several of our concerts have an admission cost. Parents that cannot afford to attend a concert will not be denied admission but arrangements need to be made ahead of time. Please call Mr. Hay before the concert. The family’s expense of attending a concert will not be considered as an excused absence.
In an effort to ensure that all students meet the expectations of the class, there are two options to make this missed performance up.
The excused student may either:
- Sing all pieces for the instructor upon returning to class following the absence
- The excused student may sing at a nursing home or other performance venue within two weeks of the missed performance. The person in charge of the venue will need to verify the performance.
It will always be the student’s responsibility to arrange with Mr. Hay on how the missed concert will be made up. Then the student and Mr. Hay will work out the details of the make-up assignment. Class time will not be given to make these arrangements. Plan on meeting with Mr. Hay after school immediately to make said arrangements.
Even though a student could be considered excused from a concert, it must be remembered that there was a concert, there was a hole created (both vocally and physically) because of the absent choir member and the actual performance can never be made up.
Any questions concerning this performance policy please contact Mr. Hay at extension 1130.
SPECIAL NOTE: If you miss the bus to a performance, you will need to contact the office to arrange transportation or your parent will need to take you to the concert. You may not drive yourself or ride with another student.
Back to the top
|
