Marian Singers

St. Mary's Academy

 

 

2009-2010 Syllabus & Contract

 

 

Course Title:               Marian Singers

Teacher's Name:        Kathy Briggs

 

 

1. Course Description

Marian Singers is a year long, 1.0 credit, auditioned vocal ensemble.  The course is designed to offer the student singer an opportunity to rehearse and perform a variety of choral literature.  Vocalists learn and practice vocal music skills as individuals and as members of the ensemble.  The choir performs frequently throughout the year both at school and in the community, including but not limited to: Christmas and Spring Concerts, liturgical celebrations, baccalaureate, graduation, Food for Thought Luncheon, Founder’s Day, festivals and contests.

 

 

2. Goals / Student Outcomes

a. Students will be able to sing with good vocal technique and with good breath support throughout their singing ranges, individually and in ensemble.

b. Students will be able to sing with expression and technical accuracy a large and varied repertory of vocal literature.

c. Students will sing music ranging from unison to four or more parts both accompanied and a capella.

d. Students will be able to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their own and other’s performances.

 

 

3. Units of Study

This class meets after school on Tuesdays and Thursday from 3:05-4:30 pm.  The rehearsal time will involve vocal exercises, sight-singing, musicianship training, and rehearsing music for performances throughout the year.

 

 

4. Methods

a. Students will practice correct breathing and sound production through vocalization exercises.

b. Students will sing music in unison through four parts (or more) under the direction of a conductor.

c. Students will lead the singing at liturgical celebrations under the direction of a student cantor.

d. Students will perform music of different genres and culture from memory at school and in the community.

e. Students will practice aural and sight-singing skills through learning new music as well as musical exercises.

 

 

5. Assessment / Grading

Attendance, participation, effort, and progress in choral singing in rehearsal and performance count for 100% of the grade. If rehearsals are missed due to school events/activities, they are to be made up with an extra rehearsal with Miss Briggs during an activity block, during lunch, or after school.

 

1. All Marian’s are required to attend all rehearsals, performances, and concerts.
2. If you are in school, you are required to be at rehearsal.  If you miss a rehearsal you must make it up by attending one the scheduled make-up lesson times as scheduled by Miss Briggs.  One make-up lesson time can be substituted for one missed rehearsal.  YOU ARE LIMITED TO 2 MAKE-UP LESSONS PER SEMESTER.  If you miss more than that, it will be reflected in your grade.
3. If a Marian must miss a performance (mass, Open House, Food for Thought, etc.) she must notify Miss Briggs as soon as possible.  (Ideally, a month in advance.)  Miss Briggs reserves the right to determine if the reason for the absence from the performance is acceptable.  An acceptable absence from a performance may be made up by coming in for 2 make-up lessons with Miss Briggs.  Remember – you are only allowed 2 lessons, hence this would use them all.  If the student does not inform Miss Briggs of the reason she missed the performance, or Miss Briggs deems the reason inexcusable, it will not be allowed to be made-up, and the student’s grade will suffer.
4. Missing a concert (school concert, concert at the Grotto, MHC Festival, etc.) is not acceptable for any reason other than an emergency or true illness.  A phone call from a parent is required.  If a concert is missed because of one of these two reasons, arrangements will be made to make up the grade.  If the reason for missing the concert is an inexcusable one (as determined by Miss Briggs), the student’s grade will suffer significantly, and she may possibly be expelled from Marian Singers.
5. Each rehearsal, performance, and concert is worth 100 points.  Rehearsals represent 50% of the student’s grade, masses/performances/gigs 25%, and concerts/festivals 25%.  When a student comes in for a lesson to make up a missed rehearsal or performance, her grade of 0 points will be changed to 99 points.
6. The grading scale for Marian Singers is the same as the grading scale for all St. Mary’s Academy Classes.

 

100 or above = A

92-99=A

90-91=A-

88-89=B

82-87=B

80-81=B-

78-79=C

72-77=C

70-71=C-

68-69=D

62-67=D

60-61=D-

Below 60=F