Grading System

Goals
The curriculum for the MHS choral program is designed to help you:

• Develop your voice to its fullest potential
• Develop skills as a musician that will serve you the rest of your life
• Develop skills as a team member
• Build a knowledge of choral literature in a variety of styles
• Be a part of memorable musical and social events through the choirs

Philosophy
The best and most memorable things happen when the director and the choir member have a close working relationship and work together for the advancement of the music and the choral organization. Anything that builds this relationship will be helpful and anything that destroys it will be counter-productive.

Grade Make-Up
The following factors contribute to your quarter grade:
94-100=A, 87-93=B, 80-86=C, 73-79=D

Explanations

• Attendance - Unexcused absences cost 5 points, tardies cost 2 points; please be in your seat at the bell. A student who skips more than once runs the risk of being dropped from the choir.
  Note: You must be in school the day of a concert in order to perform in and receive credit for the concert.

Lessons - We will schedule one sectional per quarter. if you can't make the scheduled time it is up to you to schedule an alternate time.

Tests - Al All testing will be done individually with no more than three in the room. We will usually have one test on the music and one solfegg test per quarter.

Practice Charts - Due at the end of each month. Use the following formula as a guide:
A = 360 minutes
B = 320 minutes
C = 280 minutes

Concerts - Concerts are the culmination of 4-6 weeks of daily work and are similar to a 9-weak test in an academic class. Hence, there is no excused absence from a concert. However, in the case of an illness we will accept a 3 page, typewritten report on the subject of your choice, turned in no later than 1 week after the concert provided you have supplied a note from your parent explaining your absence. The note is due at the end of the next class session after the concert.

Extra Credit - We will accept any of the following for extra credit:

• Private Lessons
• Membership in outside choirs
• Concert Reports
• Performing in theatre productions
• Accompanying
• Offic help

Solo Fest - We expect all freshmen and encourage all upper classmen choir members to start a solo for festival. Upper classmen may substitute duets, trios, or quartets for a solo.

Trips and Tours - We reserve the right to exclude any member from a trip or tour that we feel has been a habitual problem or who has otherwise shown themself to be untrustworthy.

Classroom Rules
We like to keep this simple. They are:

• No gum or food in rehearsal
• Use the restroom and fountain between classes
• Pleas stand when we come to the podium
• Your equipment is your folder, sight reader AND a pencil
• Be in your seat at the bell
• When it's time to make sound, give your best; when it's not time to make sound, don't.
• Choir office is off-limits except for officers by invitation only.

Concert Attire
In addition to your robe you will need the folowing:

• Women - A plain white blouse with a collar (fr. only,) nylons (flesh-colored), black shoes, preferably flat-heeled
• Men - A white shirt and a plain black tie (fr only,) black pants(not jeans,) dark socks, and black shoes (not tennis shoes)

Our Pledge to you
It is our goal that the Memorial Choirs continue to build on our tradition of excellence; that they may be credit to our school, community, and state and a source of pride for you. We will do everything in our power to provide the best possible choral experience for you as an individual. We expect only this same level of commitment from you. Together we will make it happen!

Memorial High Music Department Awards

A Four Year Accumulation System

Point Schedule
750 Points - Trophy
630 Points - Plaque
470 Points - Chevron
320 Points - Letter
220 Points - Pin
160 Points - Bar