IMPORTANT NOTE: ALTHOUGH CHORUS MEETS DURING YOUR LUNCH PERIOD IT IS A CLASS LIKE ALL YOUR OTHER CLASSES. YOU EARN 2.5 CREDITS FOR THIS COURSE. REGULAR ATTENDANCE AND PROMPT ARRIVAL ARE EXPECTED. YOU WILL BE TESTED ON THE MATERIAL CONTAINED HERE TO BE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF CHORUS POLICIES. YOU MAY RE-TAKE THE TEST IF YOU FAIL IT, BUT YOU MAY NOT CONTINUE IN CHORUS WITHOUT HAVING PASSED THE TEST. YOU HAVE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER TO PASS THE TEST OR YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DROPPED FROM THE COURSE.

BCTHS Chorus

Mr. Pfaff

Welcome to Chorus.

Those of you who are returning know that the BCTHS Chorus is a group that rehearses twice a week on lunch periods (Tuesday and Friday). We work hard and have a LOT of fun along the way.

Those of you who are new are in for what I hope is a school Chorus experience like no other. If you heard us at the Induction Ceremony last June, you have an idea of what we do. Get ready to work hard and have a great time while you do it.

Please show this to your parent/guardian and return the page with the appropriate signatures and information filled in. I will be happy to answer any questions you have.

This document, and many other BCTHS Music resources, are available online at http://www.andrewpfaff.com/BCTHSmusic.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

BCTHS Chorus is an SATB choral ensemble which performs a wide variety of choral literature. Anyone who wants to enroll in chorus must be able to match pitch. We perform approximately five times each school year.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

For the best experience and results in Chorus, there are some simple things I need you to do.

Eat lunch quickly so we can get started. On the days when Chorus meets, bring your lunch to the music room at the beginning of the period and eat quickly! I don’t have much time with you so I need to get each session started no later than 10 minutes after the bell. My suggestion is to bring lunch from home on Chorus days, so that you do not have to stand in line in the cafeteria! I really appreciate your cooperation with this.

Show up even if you “can’t sing” that day. I understand that we all get colds, allergy attacks, etc., and there will be days where you know you are not up to singing in full voice. I need you to attend chorus anyway.

Having problems? SEE ME ON WEDNESDAYS. Wednesdays are set aside for extra help. If you are having problems singing a part, or you have questions too involved to ask me during Chorus time, come in on Wednesday when I can sit down with you and help. Seniors who are out on Wednesdays should make a special appointment with me if they need help.

Make Chorus your priority on rehearsal days (Tuesday and Friday). If you need extra help in a class or you need to make up a test or a project, or you have any other lunchtime obligation, I expect you to make every effort to do that on days when Chorus does not meet. If the teacher involved with any conflicting obligation insists on pulling you out of Chorus rehearsal, I need that teacher to contact me directly either in writing, in person, or by phone. If I do not have an excuse, either written or verbal, from a teacher, counselor, or administrator, you will receive an “Absent Unexcused” mark and will lose a letter grade for the marking period.

GRADING

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”

Woody Allen US movie actor, comedian, & director (1935 - )

Using this as a guideline, simply showing up every Chorus rehearsal (on time, of course) would earn you a B-. That’s already pretty good. Doing even better is up to you. Here’s how:

Show me that you have made use of my help materials (available online or from me personally) by knowing your lyrics and singing your parts better each rehearsal. I can hear when you have paid attention to problems which need fixing.

Show me that you cooperate, take direction, and take an interest in the common goal of making great music. An excellent performance comes from your professional attitude and demeanor.

Show me you are reliable by making a note of performance dates NOW and making it your business to come prepared to sing your best. Do this not just for me but for all your colleagues in Chorus – they are counting on YOU.

PERFORMANCE DRESS CODE

You will be issued a Bergen Tech Chorus shirt at nominal cost ($4-$7). If you have one from last year you may use it. See me if you wish to purchase an additional shirt. For the concerts and induction ceremony please wear nice pants or skirt as the case may be (no jeans). 

BCTHS CHORUS PERFORMANCE DATES – report ½ hour before start time.

TBA: Winter Concert 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium

TBA: Spring Concert 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium

TBA: End-Of-Year Concert/Beginning Guitar Class Recital 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium

TBA: BCTHS Chorus performs for the Freshmen Induction Ceremony

Attendance and participation in performances is MANDATORY. You must have a signed note from your parent or guardian to be excused from a performance. This note should reach me PRIOR to the performance, except in the case of an emergency. Unexcused absence from a scheduled performance will result in a two-letter drop in marking period grade.

Do not ask me when the concert is. I make this information available in many ways on a constant basis. For all BCTHS Music performance dates, please visit: http://www.andrewpfaff.com/BCTHSmusic/calendar.htm

STUDENT ABSENCES AND LATENESS

I understand that almost all chorus students must get their lunches before reporting to me. I will expect you to be ready to begin chorus rehearsal ten minutes after the late bell has rung (see “Student Expectations”). Habitual tardiness is disrespectful to your colleagues in Chorus and will negatively affect your grade. If you are absent, make a point of seeing me at least for a short time on the next Wednesday so that I can give you any new parts you may not have gotten or go over what we covered in the rehearsal you missed.

For emphasis, I will repeat the following item from the STUDENT EXPECTATIONS section:

Make Chorus your priority on rehearsal days (Tuesday and Friday).

If you need extra help in a class or you need to make up a test or a project, or you have any other lunchtime obligation, I expect you to make every effort to do that on days when Chorus does not meet. If the teacher involved with any conflicting obligation insists on pulling you out of Chorus rehearsal, I need that teacher to contact me directly either in writing, in person, or by phone. If I do not have an excuse, either written or verbal, from a teacher, counselor, or administrator, you will receive an “Absent Unexcused” mark and will lose a letter grade for the marking period.

CONTACTING ME

If you have any questions for me or there are any matters you would like to discuss, now or any time throughout the year, feel free to speak with me outside of class time or email me at andpfa@bergen.org.

This invitation also extends to your parents and/or guardians, who are encouraged to contact me at any time. They may also contact me by phone at (201) 343-6000 xt 5148.

Thanks for reading this. I am looking forward to a great year and hope you are too.

-Mr. Pfaff

Return this page

CHORUS ___S ___A ___T ___B LUNCH PERIOD ___4 ___5 ___6 ___7

BY SIGNING BELOW, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING:

I have received and read the information given to me by my teacher. This includes student expectations, the grading policy, and the materials needed. I understand the policies explained by my teacher. I have also shown this material to my parent/guardian.

STUDENT INFORMATION -- Please print legibly and return

Students name Students signature

__________________________________ __________________________________

Parent or Guardians name(s) Parent or Guardians signature

__________________________________ __________________________________

Home phone number Best Time to Call

__________________________________ __________________________________

Daytime phone number Best Time to Call

__________________________________ __________________________________

Parent / Guardians Email address(es) (Please print these as legibly as possible so that I can compile them into a mailing list – thanks!)

__________________________________ __________________________________

Mailing address

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