Ballard High School Choir

STUDENT INFO, PAGE 1

VOCAL HYGIENE / DAILY EXERCISES

Vocal hygiene is the daily care an maintenance of the vocal apparatus. The voice is a complex structure composed of an intricate system of muscles and cartilages. It should be given the same care and treatment as is given any other part of the body before a work out.

DO NOT SPEAK UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING:

Shower in the morning
Swish with some water around in your mouth and spit (wash out your all-night mouth)
Trill an R (unvoiced) on three breaths
Trill an r (voiced) on three breaths
Massage the large muscles in the neck especially the sternocleidomastoid (the large muscle which travel from the mastoid process to the sternum) and the muscles across the larynx.
Do slow, gentle neck stretches (do not roll the neck).

Repeat number two above once during the day (usually right before a period when you need to use your voice).

Observe one extended period of silence (usually 30 to 60 minutes a day).

Repeat number two (2) at the end of each day.

AVOID ABUSIVE SOUNDS: Animal noises, Imitation of other people, or machines. FIND WAYS TO SAY THINGS WITHOUT YELLING. LEARN TO BE INTENSE!

NEVER SING:
WITHOUT WARMING UP,
WHEN OVERLY TIRED
WHEN IT HURTS TO PHONATE (WHEN MAKING SOUND)
WHEN YOU HAVE A FEVER
PERFORMANCE TIPS

To be early is to be on time - To be on time is to be LATE!!! Many of you are dependent on others for transportation. If this is the case allow extra time if the person you depend on is usually late.
Always plan to be ready for warm-ups 5 minutes before they are to begin. Performances are times when the ultimate focus is required. It is disconcerting to all participants when performers filter in during the warm-up, which in most performance situations is used to achieve mental focus.
Be sure to eat before a performance (allow at least 30 minutes in between). Learn what your body requires in order to function at its best. Some nourishment is helpful, too much, or the wrong kind can be a hindrance.
You cannot sing at your best if you don’t feel at your best. Take care of yourself.
Be clean and neat at all times - especially for performance. Wear deodorant but not to excess. Wear hair spray if necessary, but keep to a minimum. If you sweat profusely, wear sufficient undergarments to avoid perspiration marks on your clothing. (Dress shields for women and undershirts for men)

NOTE: Improper uniform will be grounds for dismissal from the performance (see section on attire).

Avoid scratching and twitching in the heat of a performance. There is nothing more amateurish than performers giving in to adverse conditions.
You are not just a singer, you are a performer - act accordingly.
Remember proper spacing on the risers (the person in front is always right.)
If you feel faint - SIT DOWN!!! If you feel like vomiting - PLEASE LEAVE!!! To avoid lightheadedness, move inside your shoes and don’t lock your knees.
Girls, keep your make-up at a bare minimum. Keep accent colors natural using flesh tones and browns as opposed to bright colors. You want to appear healthy, not made up.
If for any reason something should go wrong in a performance, always try to stay with the director. Then if things don’t work out, it is his fault, not yours.
Always give your best performance. If order to do this you must give your best in rehearsal – don’t save anything for a performance, because if you haven’t rehearsed it, it may not magically appear! What we don’t want are surprises.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

The following is a partial listing of the performance activities that the Ballard Choral Program will participate in during the 2003-2004 school year.

MIDDLE SCHOOL FESTIVAL - Middle school students from the top choral programs in Jefferson County have been invited to participate in this event. Each student will be assigned a host student from the Ballard Choir who will then serve as mentor and guide during the day. They will rehearse together, eat together and stand together during the performance. The middle school students learn a great deal from their high school mentors, while the high school students learn by modeling outstanding rehearsal habits, musical concepts and performance habits.

KENTUCKY ACDA JUNIOR HIGH ALL-STATE - Sponsored by the Kentucky chapter of the America Choral Directors Association, the Junior High All-State is open to Ballard freshman only. Eight outstanding Freshman Men’s and Women’s choir members will be selected to participate in the Junior High All-State Choir. Held at different sites around the state, music is learned in advance, students rehearse for two days with a guest conductor and give a performance at the end of the second day. Selection from our program will be based on an audition, plus work ethic and effort, as well as the individual’s improvement during the year to that point.

KMEA ALL-STATE CHORUS -- Open only to students in grades 10-12. Each school may send 15% of their total choral enrollment to audition. Each student auditioning will receive a score on their audition from 0 to 100, with 0 being the lowest and 100 being the highest. After all districts in the state have held auditions, the scores are sent to the State Choral chairperson who then ranks them and selects the top 80 (approximately) from each vocal part (soprano, alto, etc.) Those persons may participate in All-State Chorus. The seniors in our choir will be given priority in selecting our 15%.

KMEA SOLO AND ENSEMBLE EVENTS - Similar to the KMEA Choral Performance Events, the KMEA solo and ensemble events are for any and all choral members. Solo literature must be prepared months in advance, with the approval of the sponsoring member (choral director). All entrants will be adjudicated for ratings.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY CHORUS DAY - The University of Kentucky will sponsor chorus festivals for both Mixed Choirs in November and Men’s Choirs in January. Ballard will participate in both. These are one-day festivals requiring no advance preparation. There will be a nominal cost to students for transportation and two meals.

KMEA PERFORMANCE EVENTS - Sponsored by the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the KMEA performance events are adjudicated performances for high school and junior high school choirs. The events are held regionally and at the state level. Any senior high school choir receiving a Distinguished rating at the regional level may participate at the state level. All Ballard Choirs will participate.

SHOWCASE - Sponsored by the Ballard choral program. While SHOWCASE is produced, directed and written by Choir members, all students are eligible to audition for the show. This means that both students in choir and those who are not may audition and perform (if they are selected to do so). The show is used as a chance for all students to display musical talents and abilities.

GARMENT POLICY

GARMENT POLICY

All garments issued by the choral program are the responsibility of the individual member while in that member’s possession. Any damage to, or loss of garments while in the member’s possession will result in fines equal to the replacement value of the garment. Replacement costs are as follows:

Tux jacket $95.00
Tux pants $45.00
Shirt $16.00
Tie $ 8.00
Cummerbund $12.00

ALL MEN
A tuxedo rental fee of $35.00 will be collected from all male choir members. This fee will be used to purchase, maintain, repair and replace tuxes used by the men of the choral program. Upon receipt of this garment fee, each male choir member will be fitted with a tuxedo. Men will be responsible for supplying black dress shoes and black socks. All tuxes must be returned immediately after the spring concert performance. Men should bring a change of clothes in order to return the garments after the concert.

CONCERT/SOPHOMORE CHOIR WOMEN
A dress fee of $75.00 will be assessed for all 10th, 11th, and 12th grade women who do not already own a choir gown. Gowns are stock dresses, which will allow them to be sold to the freshman choir members prior to graduation. A Dress Exchange will be set up for freshman girls. This will permit them to buy a dress from a graduating senior, or to order a new dress for the following year. Dress fees must be paid by September 7th. To complete the concert attire, each female member must provide black, closed-toed pumps with a 1?­ heel or less, and black sheer hose. A single 16?­ strand of pearls (imitation) necklace which falls within the neckline, and single pearl post earrings are included in the purchase price of the gown. Black undergarments are recommended. Watches, bracelets or other jewelry are not permitted.

WOMEN'S CHORUS (Freshman)
All members of the Women's chorus are to wear a solid-black, full-length skirt with no side slits (hemmed two inches from the floor in performance shoes), a solid white, long sleeve mock turtleneck (white-white only, no off-white please), black sheer hose (no knee highs) and solid black, flat dress shoes (flats and one-inch heels only, no straps). No high heels please. Stud earrings are acceptable (nothing large or flashy.)