Ballard High School Choir

PARENT HANDBOOK, PAGE 2

GRADING POLICY

Daily Participation (60%)
Given the performance-based nature of the choral class offerings, absenteeism at rehearsals will not be allowed. Unexcused absences will not be permitted. (In order for an absence to be excused, the student must be participating in an official school-sponsored activity, a religious holiday, or a personal/family emergency, illness or death, and will require written verification from parents.) Each unexcused absence will result in a two percent (2%) deduction in the six-week grade.

In addition, daily participation credit (2 points) will be withheld for disruption of rehearsal, talking, or conduct that is detrimental to the group. This will be monitored closely and point deductions will be recorded daily. Parents will receive a record of student progress each six weeks with point totals.

Anyone receiving a grade of C or lower on a progress report or semester grade will lose the right to participate in tours, contest and concerts during the next six weeks, and will be required to re-audition for the group for the following semester.

Students failing to qualify for participation in performances who have made payments on trips will be subject to the refund policies for that particular tip. In most cases, students will be "bought-out" by students on a waiting list.

Concerts / Retreats (20%)
Attendance at all performances is mandatory. Failure to participate in a performance will result in failure (F) for that particular event, and a letter grade deduction for the grading period.

Participation in off-campus events will be entirely at the discretion of the director. Participation by any student in any choral even, concert, tour, or workshop where travel is involved is entirely predicated on the student’s performance in class. Participation of students with at-large academics and/or discipline problems will be determined with the best interest of the student in mind. In other words, "stay out trouble, or you will be asked to stay home".

Tape Exams / Quartet Test (10%)
Every six weeks, each member of the Concert and Sophomore Choirs will be assigned to a quartet. Each semester, taped exams will be given. Students will prepare a segment of music that is specified at least five rehearsals in advance and perform that segment with their quartet, a cappella, while being recorded. These exams will be graded on pitch, rhythmic accuracy, tone quality, textual unity and ensemble.
Tape exams will be scored on a 100 point scale and will be worth 10% of the six weeks grade. Tape exams will be weighted as follows:

Pitch Accuracy 25 points
Rhythmic Accuracy 25 points
Tone Quality 20 points
Textual Accuracy 25 points
Ensemble 5 points

Folders (5%)
Folders will be issued to each member of the choral program. Maintenance of folders and music is the responsibility of the individual member. Numbered folders and numbered music will be issued in good condition. Members are responsible for returning all music and folders in good condition.

Do Not Share Music!!! It is difficult enough to concentrate, use perfect posture, mark you music efficiently, and correct your own mistakes without having to share with someone else.

Folders and music will be signed out at the beginning of each semester and will be signed in at the end of that semester. During each grading period, each folder will be graded for: neatness, all markings, presence of a pencil and condition of the folder. For each area that does not pass inspection, on half of one percent (.5%) will be deducted from the final semester grade total.

Folders are not to leave the choir room without prior permission of the director. Lost or damaged folders or music must be aid for by the member. Replacement costs will be used in calculating fines.

Service (5%)
Each member of the Choral Program must participate in service projects during the school year. All Choral Program members will be required to participate in one (1) project each six-week period. These projects will be specified by the director/choir council, for selection by the students. Projects consist of sage crew for concerts, singers weekend set-up and tear-down, middle school festival set-up and tear-down, Middle School Festival mentoring, SHOWCASE, Madrigal Dinner, the musical revue, clerical help, choir room maintenance, moving equipment, and many others. All credits will be recorded by the service credit secretaries.

Students will be given opportunities to sign-up for service events in advance, or thy may volunteer as needed. Seniors will be given an opportunity to select events first, then juniors, etc.

The service event managers will provide specific instructions for students working each event. Stage crew managers will hand out service credit "tickets" with their signature to members who complete their credit. The students will then hand in their "tickets" to one of the service event managers for credit.

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. 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 (no straps), black sheer hose and a single 16" strand of pearls (imitation) necklace which falls within the neckline. Black undergarments are recommended. Watches, bracelets or other jewelry are not permitted. Stud earrings are acceptable (nothing large or flashy.)


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 closed-toed pumps with a 1" heel or less (no straps). No high heels please. Stud earrings are acceptable (nothing large or flashy.)