FULL IN-SCHOOL SETTING:
How Will Classes Work?
Unless an individual class is small enough to meet in the Vocal Room while maintaining proper social distancing guidelines, all live-music learning choral ensemble classes will be held in the Auditorium. The District mandates a certain spacing for social distancing of all choral classes.
For those students who are using the District's Virtual Learning option, please refer to the Hybrid Model of the Handbook as well.
General Class Safety
Students must maintain safety at all times. Masks must be worn, as well as social distancing, as instructed by the district. Please test out your mask at home, checking to see if it stays in place when singing. Students might be interested in purchasing a ‘singers mask’, which is designed for singing, which could be used in class. For those interested, I own the RESONANCE Mask, which can be ordered from https://www.mymusicfolders.com/product-category/covid-19-supplies/ (Note: This is not a claim about the effectiveness of this mask).
PLEASE NOTE- I have also tried using the Singers Mask from The Broadway Relief Project- I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS POORLY CREATED MASK.
Materials
I: Pencil- is required for all rehearsals. The marking of music should be made only for clarification purposes or because of instructions by Mr. Sardo.
II: Music- Students will be responsible for printing out copies of music at home which will be posted on the CCP PDF Portal. Music must be brought to every class. Must be marked in PENCIL only. Erasable pen is NOT acceptable.
III: Folder- You will be required to purchase a folder (Trapper or binder-type). This folder, ONLY used for this class, must be brought to every class.
Grading
It is the policy of the Music Department to grade students for their achievement, musicianship, and participation.
Averages will be computed as follows:
Unless an individual class is small enough to meet in the Vocal Room while maintaining proper social distancing guidelines, all live-music learning choral ensemble classes will be held in the Auditorium. The District mandates a certain spacing for social distancing of all choral classes.
For those students who are using the District's Virtual Learning option, please refer to the Hybrid Model of the Handbook as well.
General Class Safety
Students must maintain safety at all times. Masks must be worn, as well as social distancing, as instructed by the district. Please test out your mask at home, checking to see if it stays in place when singing. Students might be interested in purchasing a ‘singers mask’, which is designed for singing, which could be used in class. For those interested, I own the RESONANCE Mask, which can be ordered from https://www.mymusicfolders.com/product-category/covid-19-supplies/ (Note: This is not a claim about the effectiveness of this mask).
PLEASE NOTE- I have also tried using the Singers Mask from The Broadway Relief Project- I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS POORLY CREATED MASK.
Materials
I: Pencil- is required for all rehearsals. The marking of music should be made only for clarification purposes or because of instructions by Mr. Sardo.
II: Music- Students will be responsible for printing out copies of music at home which will be posted on the CCP PDF Portal. Music must be brought to every class. Must be marked in PENCIL only. Erasable pen is NOT acceptable.
III: Folder- You will be required to purchase a folder (Trapper or binder-type). This folder, ONLY used for this class, must be brought to every class.
Grading
It is the policy of the Music Department to grade students for their achievement, musicianship, and participation.
Averages will be computed as follows:
Extra Criteria for Extra Credit...........................
(NYSSMA, NMEA, Extra-curricular involvement, Officer, Committee Chair/ Member, etc).
Illegal Absences (Cutting): Don’t do it... just don’t. In the end, it causes more trouble than it’s worth. By now, you should all be in this choir or chorale because it’s something you wanted to work to be a part of, and cutting won’t help you nor the group. Cutting will be dealt with severely on an administrative level and will be reflected in your grades. Cutting on days of performances or announced assessments will result in a grade of “0”. In this case, no makeups will be given. Simply put, if you feel you need to cut this class, you probably shouldn’t be here.
While practicing music at home is encouraged, folders taken home MUST return for the next day’s rehearsal. Remember that all music must be kept in good condition.
Sectionals: (Depending on the percentages of In-School students to At-Home students, we may follow the HYBRID Model instead.)
In addition to class time, lesson sectionals excuse you from another class on a rotating basis to allow you to work with the other students from your section only. In this way, it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to “hide in the back” and coast through the year. A sectional schedule will be created during the first few weeks. Sectionals will take place in either the Vocal Room or the Instrumental Room. Since the schedule rotates through the school day, the student would miss the same class (at the most) only once every four or five weeks (The State Education Department recommends this plan as the only effective way to schedule music sectionals). Attendance at sectionals is mandatory. Skills covered in sectional include technical studies, warm-ups, sight reading, and performance literature study. Students are expected to report to their regularly scheduled class FIRST to remind their teacher of the sectional. **Note- this counts as an excused absence from your scheduled class; work needs to be made up accordingly!
When a student misses the scheduled sectional, he/she misses a opportunity to work with the entire section. Any absence from a scheduled lesson must be made up. Tests, field trips and absence from school constitute a “legal” excuse; those students will still attend the scheduled "make up sectional".
Students studying privately are still required to attend sectionals.
Performance Requirements
This is a performing ensemble, meaning each rehearsal is preparation for a performance. Since 1993, less than 1% of the members of the Calhoun Choral Program have missed a regularly scheduled concert.
(Depending on the percentages of In-School students to At-Home students, we may follow the HYBRID Model instead.)
A reimagining of performances will be presented, most likely as a prerecorded online 'live premiere', as safety is always a priority. Details will follow. Remember, by missing the performance, you miss out on the chance to perform the finished product.
The District Administration has traditionally supported the idea of a makeup assessment for students who miss the Winter or Spring Concert:
"Since concerts are summative assessments, a student missing a performance is comparable to one missing a math final exam or a social studies state exam. Students should be held accountable for this assessment. We support the district music teachers in holding students accountable for their work so that grades are given fairly and equitably."
In many cases, this makeup assessment may take the form of a written assignment.
Performance Dress
Unless otherwise announced, the following requirements will be followed for all performances:
Chorale-
Sopranos/ Altos: Black Skirt (knee length or lower), or Black Pants (NO leggings). Black Top (no imprints/ no ‘baby-t’s’/ no bare midriffs/ no spaghetti-straps). Black Tights/ Stockings/ Socks. Black Shoes.(NO high spike heels/ NO open heel for safety).
Baritones: Black Pants. Black Collared Shirt (long sleeve or short sleeve. Black Shoes. Black Socks.
Concert Choir (Under Robes) - (Depending on the percentages of In-School students to At-Home students, we may follow the HYBRID Model instead.)
Sopranos/ Altos: Clothing that cannot be seen w/ robe on. Tan Color Tights/ Stockings (NO bare legs). Black Shoes with NO WHITE or OTHER COLOR ANYWHERE (NO sneakers/ NO high spike heels/ NO open heel for safety)
Tenors/ Basses: Black Slacks. White Dress Shirt (long sleeve). Black Socks and Shoes with NO WHITE or OTHER COLOR ANYWHERE (NO sneakers). Any Color Long Tie.
PULSE- Concert Dress is discussed in rehearsal.
A uniform look is essential to the professionally of the group. Therefore I will NOT allow a member of any group to perform if he or she is dressed inappropriately. In many cases, as in footwear, this is a safety precaution; in other cases, this decision is made to be fair to the rest of the group. If you have a question about clothing, please bring it in and ask. Your attention to detail will be greatly appreciated.
(NYSSMA, NMEA, Extra-curricular involvement, Officer, Committee Chair/ Member, etc).
Illegal Absences (Cutting): Don’t do it... just don’t. In the end, it causes more trouble than it’s worth. By now, you should all be in this choir or chorale because it’s something you wanted to work to be a part of, and cutting won’t help you nor the group. Cutting will be dealt with severely on an administrative level and will be reflected in your grades. Cutting on days of performances or announced assessments will result in a grade of “0”. In this case, no makeups will be given. Simply put, if you feel you need to cut this class, you probably shouldn’t be here.
While practicing music at home is encouraged, folders taken home MUST return for the next day’s rehearsal. Remember that all music must be kept in good condition.
Sectionals: (Depending on the percentages of In-School students to At-Home students, we may follow the HYBRID Model instead.)
In addition to class time, lesson sectionals excuse you from another class on a rotating basis to allow you to work with the other students from your section only. In this way, it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to “hide in the back” and coast through the year. A sectional schedule will be created during the first few weeks. Sectionals will take place in either the Vocal Room or the Instrumental Room. Since the schedule rotates through the school day, the student would miss the same class (at the most) only once every four or five weeks (The State Education Department recommends this plan as the only effective way to schedule music sectionals). Attendance at sectionals is mandatory. Skills covered in sectional include technical studies, warm-ups, sight reading, and performance literature study. Students are expected to report to their regularly scheduled class FIRST to remind their teacher of the sectional. **Note- this counts as an excused absence from your scheduled class; work needs to be made up accordingly!
When a student misses the scheduled sectional, he/she misses a opportunity to work with the entire section. Any absence from a scheduled lesson must be made up. Tests, field trips and absence from school constitute a “legal” excuse; those students will still attend the scheduled "make up sectional".
Students studying privately are still required to attend sectionals.
Performance Requirements
This is a performing ensemble, meaning each rehearsal is preparation for a performance. Since 1993, less than 1% of the members of the Calhoun Choral Program have missed a regularly scheduled concert.
(Depending on the percentages of In-School students to At-Home students, we may follow the HYBRID Model instead.)
A reimagining of performances will be presented, most likely as a prerecorded online 'live premiere', as safety is always a priority. Details will follow. Remember, by missing the performance, you miss out on the chance to perform the finished product.
The District Administration has traditionally supported the idea of a makeup assessment for students who miss the Winter or Spring Concert:
"Since concerts are summative assessments, a student missing a performance is comparable to one missing a math final exam or a social studies state exam. Students should be held accountable for this assessment. We support the district music teachers in holding students accountable for their work so that grades are given fairly and equitably."
In many cases, this makeup assessment may take the form of a written assignment.
Performance Dress
Unless otherwise announced, the following requirements will be followed for all performances:
Chorale-
Sopranos/ Altos: Black Skirt (knee length or lower), or Black Pants (NO leggings). Black Top (no imprints/ no ‘baby-t’s’/ no bare midriffs/ no spaghetti-straps). Black Tights/ Stockings/ Socks. Black Shoes.(NO high spike heels/ NO open heel for safety).
Baritones: Black Pants. Black Collared Shirt (long sleeve or short sleeve. Black Shoes. Black Socks.
Concert Choir (Under Robes) - (Depending on the percentages of In-School students to At-Home students, we may follow the HYBRID Model instead.)
Sopranos/ Altos: Clothing that cannot be seen w/ robe on. Tan Color Tights/ Stockings (NO bare legs). Black Shoes with NO WHITE or OTHER COLOR ANYWHERE (NO sneakers/ NO high spike heels/ NO open heel for safety)
Tenors/ Basses: Black Slacks. White Dress Shirt (long sleeve). Black Socks and Shoes with NO WHITE or OTHER COLOR ANYWHERE (NO sneakers). Any Color Long Tie.
PULSE- Concert Dress is discussed in rehearsal.
A uniform look is essential to the professionally of the group. Therefore I will NOT allow a member of any group to perform if he or she is dressed inappropriately. In many cases, as in footwear, this is a safety precaution; in other cases, this decision is made to be fair to the rest of the group. If you have a question about clothing, please bring it in and ask. Your attention to detail will be greatly appreciated.