Remote Learning Handbook 2020-21 (For 100% Distance Learning)
JOHNSON CHOIRS
Armonia (harmony) Beginning Choir Melodia (melody) Freshmen Women’s Choir
Fortis (strong) JV Men’s Choir Bella Voce (beautiful voice) JV Women’s Choir
Cantare (to sing) Varsity Mixed Choir Dolce Sirena (sweet sirens) Varsity Women’s Choir
Voci (voices) Varsity Men’s Choir Encore Show Choir
PROGRAM FEE
Due to COVID-19, we have lowered this year’s program fee from $65.00 to $25.00 for each choir student to include all auditions fees, recording tracks, and a choir t-shirt. Items that are not included throughout the year include, solo and ensemble fees, concert CDs and DVDs, banquet tickets, polo shirt, choir sweatshirts, and trip expenses. This fee is due by Friday, September 18, 2020.
GRADING POLICY
A student’s choir grade is an average of the following categories:
Class Work 65%
Participation in and completion of all classroom lessons and assignments is expected each class day. Assignments will include, but are not limited to, sight reading recordings, music history evaluations, preparation of music literature (solfege, rhythms, dynamic notation, etc…), recordings of musical repertoire to check for understanding, discussion boards, google forms, and google slides. Assignments will need to be completed, turned in, and then marked as done in Google Classroom.
Quizzes 15%
Students will be evaluated in duets and/or solo performance with a numerical grade being awarded for each graded exercise. Written work may consist of ear training notation, theory exercises, vocabulary, essays, and assessments over material covered in class.
Tests 20%
Students will be evaluated in duets and/or solo performance with a numerical grade being awarded for each graded exercise. Written work may consist of ear training notation, theory exercises, vocabulary, essays, and assessments over material covered in class.
SECTIONALS AND EXTRA REHEARSALS
Sectionals and extra rehearsals will be available virtually for students who are interested in auditioning for the Region Choir. Those rehearsals will be held synchronous and asynchronous. Students are responsible for accessing those rehearsals as needed.
VOICE LESSONS
Private voice lessons are offered at Johnson High School at the rate of $20.00 per 25 minute lesson. Lessons will take place on the Johnson campus before school, after school or during a portion of the student’s choir class. Payment and scheduling are done on an individual basis with the voice teacher. Every student is encouraged to take private voice. It is a fact that students who study privately are more successful in competitive events and are leaders within the choir due to their advanced skills. Voice lessons should be seen as a year long commitment and not something you quit after region auditions or any other event you are working toward. The voice teachers make their livelihood through students’ and parents’ commitment to a year of lessons.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS ON ZOOM
CHOIR BOOSTER ASSOCIATION
Parents are invited to participate in the Choir Booster Association, a support group for the choirs. There will be several meetings throughout the year. Calendars and other information will be distributed and Booster Association committees will be formed. There are many committees, so sign up for one and get involved. Fundraising is extremely important to our organization. Everyone is strongly encouraged to participate in fundraising activities.
AWARDS AND LETTERING POLICY
Students must earn 20 cumulative points in order to letter for the first time and earn a Letter Jacket. Succeeding lettering requirement is the accumulation of 10 points within one school year to earn a Letter or Met Bar Insert. In addition to earning the required amount of points, the student must complete the year in good standing based on the director’s discretion. A point system will be decided by the Fine Arts Department of NEISD and will be published in November of 2020.
Armonia (harmony) Beginning Choir Melodia (melody) Freshmen Women’s Choir
Fortis (strong) JV Men’s Choir Bella Voce (beautiful voice) JV Women’s Choir
Cantare (to sing) Varsity Mixed Choir Dolce Sirena (sweet sirens) Varsity Women’s Choir
Voci (voices) Varsity Men’s Choir Encore Show Choir
PROGRAM FEE
Due to COVID-19, we have lowered this year’s program fee from $65.00 to $25.00 for each choir student to include all auditions fees, recording tracks, and a choir t-shirt. Items that are not included throughout the year include, solo and ensemble fees, concert CDs and DVDs, banquet tickets, polo shirt, choir sweatshirts, and trip expenses. This fee is due by Friday, September 18, 2020.
GRADING POLICY
A student’s choir grade is an average of the following categories:
Class Work 65%
Participation in and completion of all classroom lessons and assignments is expected each class day. Assignments will include, but are not limited to, sight reading recordings, music history evaluations, preparation of music literature (solfege, rhythms, dynamic notation, etc…), recordings of musical repertoire to check for understanding, discussion boards, google forms, and google slides. Assignments will need to be completed, turned in, and then marked as done in Google Classroom.
Quizzes 15%
Students will be evaluated in duets and/or solo performance with a numerical grade being awarded for each graded exercise. Written work may consist of ear training notation, theory exercises, vocabulary, essays, and assessments over material covered in class.
Tests 20%
Students will be evaluated in duets and/or solo performance with a numerical grade being awarded for each graded exercise. Written work may consist of ear training notation, theory exercises, vocabulary, essays, and assessments over material covered in class.
SECTIONALS AND EXTRA REHEARSALS
Sectionals and extra rehearsals will be available virtually for students who are interested in auditioning for the Region Choir. Those rehearsals will be held synchronous and asynchronous. Students are responsible for accessing those rehearsals as needed.
VOICE LESSONS
Private voice lessons are offered at Johnson High School at the rate of $20.00 per 25 minute lesson. Lessons will take place on the Johnson campus before school, after school or during a portion of the student’s choir class. Payment and scheduling are done on an individual basis with the voice teacher. Every student is encouraged to take private voice. It is a fact that students who study privately are more successful in competitive events and are leaders within the choir due to their advanced skills. Voice lessons should be seen as a year long commitment and not something you quit after region auditions or any other event you are working toward. The voice teachers make their livelihood through students’ and parents’ commitment to a year of lessons.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS ON ZOOM
- Clothing
- Be properly dressed while on video, consider dress code rules.
- Background
- Be mindful of what is behind you during Zoom.
- If you choose a virtual background, be sure it is appropriate.
- Name Display
- Your first and last name must be used as your name on Zoom. No nicknames.
- Computer set-up/ Angle
- Be sure your whole face is visible.
- Try to set up at eye level to avoid awkward angles.
- Use video so that your teacher can see your smiling face.
- Microphone
- Stay muted until asked to unmute.
- Be mindful of other noise in your environment.
- Distractions
- Stay on the Zoom screen and don’t visit other tabs or documents you may have open.
- Stay off your phone unless the lesson requires it.
- Find a place to be alone so you are not distracted by other people in your house.
- Turn off TV/Netflix and other streaming apps/music.
- Punctuality
- Be on time so you don’t miss anything.
- Attitude
- Be positive and make the best out of this difficult situation.
- Apply yourself and get the most out of the instruction and content your teacher is giving you.
- Remember, this situation is not anyone’s fault so we all have to make the best of the unfortunate circumstances we are faced with.
CHOIR BOOSTER ASSOCIATION
Parents are invited to participate in the Choir Booster Association, a support group for the choirs. There will be several meetings throughout the year. Calendars and other information will be distributed and Booster Association committees will be formed. There are many committees, so sign up for one and get involved. Fundraising is extremely important to our organization. Everyone is strongly encouraged to participate in fundraising activities.
AWARDS AND LETTERING POLICY
Students must earn 20 cumulative points in order to letter for the first time and earn a Letter Jacket. Succeeding lettering requirement is the accumulation of 10 points within one school year to earn a Letter or Met Bar Insert. In addition to earning the required amount of points, the student must complete the year in good standing based on the director’s discretion. A point system will be decided by the Fine Arts Department of NEISD and will be published in November of 2020.