SHS Staff Pages: Mendyk, Stephanie

Swing Choir Syllabus

by Carol Braun

August 02, 2007

Southern Harmony, 2007-2008

Performance Dates:
October 25th , Peru Swing Festival, all day event
November 5, Fall Concert 7:00 p.m.
November 11th, Veterans Day Program 11:00 a.m.
November 27th; 7:00 p.m. POPS concert
December 9th, Christmas Concert, 2:00 p.m.
February??? NCDA swing choir festival
March 4th; March choir concert 7:00 p.m.
April 17???District Contest.....this is a MayBE
May 8th, Fine Arts Night
Graduation, May 12th
Performances at retirement home in Wymore and Beatrice, and/ or for elementary here.
Graduating seniors might be asked to judge auditions for incoming students the last day of school.

Performance Dress: Girls:Black dress; black character shoes; jewelry (ONE pair of earrings and necklace); stage makeup including lipstick, blush, etc... Flesh colored nylons....no nose rings or jewelry such as watches, extra rings etc.. All nail polish must match the other girls.....this includes District music contest. You will vote on what you want and then you must live with the vote. Hair must be pulled back off of the face and bangs must be above the eyebrows so we can see you.
Guys: White tux shirt,vest, black dress pants, black socks, black shoes(polished), black belt. Hair must be a non-distracting style. Hair must be cut above the eyebrows and not hide the face in anyway. No ponytails or buzzed heads. Common sense so that you will blend in please . No jewelry unless everyone is wearing it as part of the costume. Clean shaven for all performances.

For some more casual performances you will be asked to wear your choir T-shirt and blue jeans. It is your responsibility to keep this shirt in good shape and to have it available to wear for the performance. Just a little planning ahead will take care of this for you. Tshirts will be worn tucked in with blue jeans. No other shirts are allowed underneath for any performance. In February when it is cold, a long sleeved shirt may be worn under the Tshirt when we attend NCDA.

YOU are responsible for making up your work for any other classes you might miss to participate in a swing choir class activity. School policy says you do NOT need a pre makeup slip for our class activities, BUT YOU MUST TALK TO YOUR TEACHER AND MAKE UP WORK BEFORE WE GO IF THAT IS WHAT THE TEACHER REQUIRES. However, they CANNOT keep you from participating.!!! Most teachers are very flexible and helpful if you approach them ahead of time. I WILL give you trip information a week ahead of time;
Your grade will be docked if you do not show up in the
correct costume...how you appear impacts everyone in the class and is part of a performance....15 pts. or more
Expectations:
1. Always do your best and work to improve.
2. Serious effort and attention to memorization, vowel and consonant formation, facial expression. Dance steps learned to the best of your ability. Expected to work on
individual problem areas. 90% everyone will be able to do within a few days.
3. Teamwork: no name calling, disruptive or time-wasting behaviors. Leave your girlfiriend/boyfriend; brother/sister problems outside the classroom door please.
4. Some students will be assigned choreography to teach; others solos to sings;
others spoken lines .Assignments will be made based on individual strengths. Be prepared and be a prepared leader or the good listener and follow directions.
5. Be happy for the success of other students in your classes. Leave your personal problems with another student OUTSIDE of this class!
6. Everyone helps to move equipment , costumes , or chairs, whatever is required
in order to rehearse. This includes ALL of the girls and ALL of the boys AND SENIORS!
7. Use your music as requested until asked to sing from memory.
Grading: Based on ATTITUDE, EFFORT, IMPROVEMENT, ATTENDANCE, and
DAILY PARTICIPATION. If you are missing class due to other activities, health
problems, whatever it might be, expect to make up this time! You partner needs you;
your participation grade needs you. I will do everything I can to help you do your best
and I expect you to do the same without groaning. No one gets better missing practice
and missing class. Our goal is to be the best ensemble we can possibly be!

You must bring a signed note from a trainer who thinks you should not participate in dancing activities and you will then need to make-up the work missed according to what was learned and the time spent on the material, just as if you were missing work for any other class. I cannot give you participation points for sitting for a week doing nothing.

The number of points per performance will be adjusted to the actual number of performances that are scheduled for a given quarter. ers.
Order of Importance:

Music first, music second,music details, facial expression,hand movement, feet movement.

COOPERATION AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!