H.B.

du Pont Middle School

Choir Handbook
2016-2017

Aimee Pearsall
Choral Director

hbdupontmusic.org
 H.B. du Pont Middle School Choral Program Handbook
Spring 2016
Ms. Aimee Pearsall, Choral Director
Aimee.pearsall@redclay.k12.de.us
hbdupontmusic.org
302-239-3420

Introduction
This handbook is designed to assist students to understand their responsibilities as choir
members and to help both parents and students know what to expect when enrolled in choir. The
handbook should give students and parents a broad overview of the choral program, including
grading policies, assignments, course objectives, and required materials.

Whats Choir All About?

Choir is meant as an entrance into lifelong musical engagement! Though all students are
welcome to participate in choir, I hold high expectations for each student in order to help him/her
reach his/her full potential. In this way, all students will work towards the goal of music literacy.
Students will also work towards independent musicianship and will learn to sing in multiple parts,
with and without accompaniment. Though we will work extremely hard, I expect that students
should have fun in choir; it is my personal belief that there is nothing more fulfilling than
working with others to create an excellent musical product!

Dont Forget to Check the Website!

The website (hbdupontmusic.org) will be updated regularly with important information, as well
as permission slips, and any other handouts. I will also use the website as a platform to post
videos/sound clips/pictures of students working in class. This is a great way for
parents/guardians to get a peek into what happens in chorus class, and how students are
progressing towards our course objectives.

Please email me at aimee.pearsall@redclay.k12.de.us if you do not want me to post video

clips/photographs of your child on our music portion of our school website.

I. Course Objectives:
Though the course objectives will differ slightly based on each choir/grade level, the following
course objectives apply to all choral ensembles, and are based on the National Core Arts
Standards:
1. Students will learn to be independent musicians by singing alone and with others,
a varied repertoire of music.
2. Students will learn to sing as a group in multiple parts with and without
accompaniment.
3. Students will work on their music literacy skills by learning to read and notate
rhythms and melodies.
4. Students will compose and improvise rhythms and melodies.
 5. Students will evaluate musical performances, and demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of musical terms and other concepts such as good choral tone,
balance, blend, and intonation.
6. Students will analyze texts of various choral pieces, understanding how they
relate to various cultures and moments in history.

II. Grading:
Sixth Grade Choir, Seventh Grade Choir, Eighth Grade Choir, and Chamber Choir each meet
every day during regular school hours, and are treated as academic courses. Students will receive
a grade that will be averaged into their GPA. Grades are based on the following areas:
Effective participation in all aspects of the rehearsal (warm-ups, musicianship, repertoire)
Completion of written assignments/quizzes involving music literacy concepts, terms,
vocal concepts, etc. (Multiple per marking period)
Attendance at rehearsals and performances

Grades will be updated regularly online. It is the student and guardians responsibility to check
his/her grades on the Home Access Center (HAC).

III. Expectations of Students:

Daily Attendance and Participation:

Daily Attendance is critical. Class participation is critical to the success of the ensemble.
Students who are unexcused for class will be unable to earn participation points for the day.
Students are expected to have their folder or binder with all handouts each day. They are
expected to also bring a pencil to class each day. Upon entering the classroom, they should
collect all musical excerpts for the day from the storage unit, and check the board for their do-
now assignment, which they should begin immediately.

Performance Attendance:
Attendance at all performances is required. Performances count as a summative grade,
and make up a large portion of the students grade for the marking period.
An excused absence is an absence due to illness or pre-approved special circumstance.
Special circumstance conflicts will be approved no less than two weeks prior to the
performance. Excused absences will be made up by completing a makeup assignment
within one week of the students return. This will determine the students performance
grade. Unforeseen H.B. du Pont Middle School conflict events (state tournament, etc.) or
unforeseen family related emergencies will be considered excused absences.
Work, extra-curricular activities, or lack of transportation are NOT acceptable
excuse to miss a performance. Advanced notice of performance dates will allow for
students/parents to rearrange schedules/communicate with the choir director about
any problems related to transportation, etc.
Unexcused absences will count as a zero for the students performance grade. This will
negatively impact the students grade for the entire marking period.

Materials:
It is the responsibility of each student to bring the following items to class EVERY DAY. The
failure to bring one or more of these items to class will negatively affect a students participation
grade.
Pencil with eraser (NO INK!)
Folder or Binder with handouts and completed assignments
Capped bottled water (if you choose)
Positive attitude and the readiness to sing!

All students will receive choral music that is to remain in the choral room. Students are expected
to keep the music in excellent condition. Though students should diligently mark their scores,
students are to make markings in pencil only. Students will be responsible for replacing any
missing or damaged music.

IV. Daily Procedures:

To create a wonderful product (a performance), we must focus on the process (the every day
rehearsals). I hold high expectations for students during the process of learning music, just as I
hold high expectations for students as they present the product of their every day hard work in
performances. The following procedures apply to students in all ensembles:
1. Class begins when the bell rings. Students are expected to enter the classroom, store
their personal belongings in the cubbies, and bring the following items to their seats:
Pencil with eraser (NO INK!)
Music provided by the school
Folder/binder with handouts and completed assignments
2. Students are to limit their visits to the restroom when possible. They must follow the
10 minute rule, not utilizing the restroom in the first 10 minutes or last 10 minutes of
class.
3. Students are not permitted to chew gum during the choir rehearsal. Students may
bring bottles of water with caps to their seats, but may not bring other food/beverage
items.
4. When the director works with one section of the choir at a time, it is the students
responsibility to audiate his/her part and study his/her score. This is not the time to
talk to friends. If individuals decide to converse during rehearsal, this detracts from
the overall success of the entire group, and can negatively affect ones participation
grade.

*A note on discipline procedures: If students fail to follow one of the rules that was established
in class, it is the directors prerogative to either give the student a warning, or to send the student
to the time out room (depending on the severity of the incident). The teacher will contact a
students parents if the student was sent to time out for more than 15 minutes.
V. Concert Dress:
Students must wear the following attire to each performance unless otherwise specified. A
student who reports to a performance and is inappropriately dressed will NOT be allowed to
perform, and will lose performance credit. Please contact Ms. Pearsall AS SOON AS POSSILBE
if one of the following applies to you:
1. If you have gently used items that you would like to donate to our school concert clothes
closet. These items will be lent out to students on a need-basis for our concerts.
2. If concert dress is a financial concern, please be in touch with the director, who will keep
donations of gently used concert attire on hand.

Girls:
Plain black dress pants or long black skirt (at least knee length)
Plain white dressy shirt/blouse (no exposed shoulders)
Black dress flats or low-heeled shoes (no sneakers)
Black socks, black tights, or beige pantyhose
Subtle jewelry (only earrings and necklaces allowed)

Boys:
Plain black dress pants (no denim)
Plain white collared dress shirt and necktie
Plain black non-athletic dress shoes (no sneakers) and black socks.

VI. Delaware All State Chorus & National Chorus:

These auditioned choirs give highly motivated students an opportunity to sing at a very high
caliber with other students from various backgrounds. These opportunities are highly competitive,
but are encouraged. Students will get to work with highly acclaimed clinicians who are experts in
the choral field, and these can often be once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. The first step is an
audition! Though I will provide additional information about each opportunity, more information
can be found at the following websites:

https://acda.org/Editor/assets/Conferences/Honor%20choir.pdf

http://delawaremea.org/all-state-ensembles/
VII. FESTIVALS AND FIELD TRIPS

Students may have the opportunity to attend a festival/participate in a field trip with the choir
throughout the school year. Select girls will have an opportunity to participate in a womens
choir festival at the University of Delaware, and select boys will have an opportunity to
participate in the Men Only Aloud festival, comprised of middle school boys throughout the
state of Delaware. The 6th grade choir will attend a music festival at Hershey Park, and the 7th/8th
grade chorus will attend a music festival at Six Flags Park (both opportunities will occur in the
spring). Students must meet the following requirements in order to participate:

Students must have attended all prior concerts and dress rehearsals.
Students must demonstrate a sufficient level of mastery of the music to be performed.
Students must be in good academic standing in all classes.
Students must have an acceptable school attendance record for the year.
Students must have no suspensions in their discipline record for the year.

It is the directors prerogative to restrict attendance on a fieldtrip if a students behavior or

musical contribution is not to the standard to the H.B. du Pont Middle School Choirs.

**Students may apply any fundraiser credit that they have earned through the music department
toward their field trip/festival cost. In the past, many students have earned enough credit to cover
all of their trip costs!

VIII. FINAL THOUGHTS

The choir classroom is a special place: one in which students from many backgrounds can join
together to work at a very high level in order to create something for which we can all take pride.
It is only by combining the efforts of each individual that we can create a meaningful product.
Unlike other academic classes, the achievement of each individual directly impacts the
achievement of the group. In this way, it is essential that students bring a positive attitude to
choir each day, no matter what!

Art is special, in the way that it allows us to examine the human experience; by examining
musical texts and combining our best efforts to create excellent musical products, I am confident
that each student will learn to think deeper, work together, take initiative, and develop a lifelong
love of music and the arts. Thank you for supporting the H.B. du Pont Music Program!
 H.B. du Pont Middle School Choir Events
2016-2017 School Year
**Events and times are subject to change. Events may be added as the semester progresses.**

Check the Music Department website, hbdupontmusic.org, for a complete and current calendar.

September 1-30 Online Audition Window for National ACDA Honor Choirs
13-27 Gianni Fundraiser

October 5 H.B. du Pont Music Take Over Event at Buffalo Wild Wings
7 All-State Applications DUE
TBA Fundraiser Delivery and Pick Up

November 2 7th and 8th Grade NYC Trip
3 Choice Open House 6:00-8:00 pm
16 ACDA Womens Choir Festival
19 All-State Jr. Chorus Auditions

December 3 All-State Jr. Chorus Auditions (weather contingency)
6 Winter Choir Concert @ Dickinson HS 7:00 pm

January 27 Men Only Aloud Festival @ PS DuPont Middle School
28 All-State Jr. Chorus Reading Rehearsal 9:00am-12:00 noon

February 4 All-State Jr. Chorus Reading Rehearsal 9:00am-12:00 noon
8-14 Music Department Valentine Fundraiser
11 All-State Jr. Chorus Reading Rehearsal (weather contingency)
23-25 All-State Jr. Chorus Rehearsals and Concert

March 23 Caf of the Arts @ H.B. DuPont Middle School 6:30 pm
TBA Honor/Festival Band Workshop
TBA ACDA Childrens Honor Choir


May 5 Choir Festival Trip
9 Spring Choir Concert @Dickinson HS 7:00 pm
19 Sixth Grade Hershey Festival Trip

TBA TBA Singer/Songwriter CoffeeHouse @ H.B. duPont Middle School
 PARENT CONTACT/VOLUNTEER FORM
*THE PREFERRED METHOD OF FILLING OUT THIS FORM IS
ONLINE*
Please visit https://goo.gl/forms/FBPK6cxWvWJPRU733 to fill out this form online. The form
can also be found at hbdupontmusic.org. If you prefer, you may send in this hard copy with your
child.

Why fill out this form?

The information provided on this form will be used by Ms. Pearsall throughout the school year,
in order to send out emails and make decisions about volunteers.

NOTE: Please print legibly (or fill out the form online). Ms. Pearsall will use this information
ALL YEAR to communicate.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------tear here
Primary Contact:

First and last name: _____________________________ Relation to student: ________________

Home phone number: ___________________________ Cell phone number: ________________

Email address: _________________________________

Secondary Contact:

First and last name: _____________________________ Relation to student: ________________

Home phone number: ___________________________ Cell phone number: ________________

Email address: _________________________________

Volunteer information:

If you check that you will be willing to help in one or more capacities, you will be added to the
Choir Boosters email list that Ms. Pearsall will use to delegate tasks and ask for volunteers for
specific events. Being added to the Choir Boosters email list does not obligate you to help with
anything; it simply allows you to stay up-to-date with the choir's needs.

o Handing out programs at concerts

o Chaperoning trips
o Videotaping concerts
o Assisting with fundraiser
o Assisting with setup/cleanup at concerts