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Batavia High School Music Department

Choir Newsletter; October 30, 2015

10/30/2015

0 Comments

 
Choir students and families,
Here's this week's newsletter. Key points and new information are in bold type. 
​

A link to each post will be sent through the choir Twitter and Facebook accounts, to whatever parent emails I have on file, and to the students through Google Classroom. 

The beginning section will always be about curricular choir and the following information will pertain to the extracurricular activities, so you only need to read what applies to your student.  The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. 

Curricular Choir
  • Wow! What a fun concert! I'm so proud of the singers, and I'm so thankful for the fun, supportive crowd that joined us. See you at the next one! If you have pictures or videos of the night and are willing to share, please pass them along!
  • MusicTheory.net (MTN): Students will periodically have assignments on MusicTheory.net to work on issues like note ID, key signature ID, Intervals, ear training and more. It will all be set up through Classroom. We walked through a couple assignments this week. Those will show up in PowerSchool under the "Written Assignments" category. Here's a link if you want to give it a try! 
  • The Grade Level Expectancies (GLE's) will also use SightReadingFactory, as it is important for the test to look like what they've been practicing. On weeks when GLE assignments are due, the normal Thursday assignments will no be there. Instead, students will have two SRF drills that are matched to the difficulty level of their choir. These GLE drills will be due on certain Fridays at 5pm. The next GLE is due on November 13.  It will be available to students on Friday, November 6. 
  • The syllabus for all choirs is on the choir page of the BataviaMusic.org. Students received a hard-copy in class. You should have been shown the syllabus and signed off on it. You can see if your student has turned theirs in by checking PowerSchool for the "Syllabus Contract" assignment, due 9/4.

Help wanted! 
  • I'll need a few more people to help take leadership in specific ways and make Festival of Carols a reality. Please read the Madrigal section below. 
  • I'd love to update the website and social media with pictures from last year. If you have any you would be willing to see displayed publicly, even if it is a student who has graduated, please send me the picture or a link.
  • If you are willing to help in any way, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net or sign up directly at www.bataviamusicbuffs.org (click "Volunteer Sign-up" from the home page).


Showchoirs
  • We had a Parents' Meeting about Show Choir in the choir room on Thursday, 10/8. Here is the Powerpoint from that evening.  
  • Showchoir rehearsals will start on November 9. Please note that the $135 building fee is assessed through Powerschool. None of that money goes toward the Showchoir itself; it goes to pay for the facility, lights, heat, etc. The $300 fee is how we pay for the music, choreography, costuming, etc. To pay this, please enclose a check to Batavia High School in a labeled envelope. Have your student drop it into the black lock-box in the choir room. The fee is due by the start of rehearsals on November 9. Any show choir student who has not paid the fee by the first competition will not be allowed to compete. For information about the BPS101 fee waiver policy, please see this page. 
  • The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. Just select the groups you are interested in, and you'll see their rehearsal and performance schedule. If you find what you believe to be an error or discrepancy, please bring it to my attention!
  • Volunteer sign-ups will be set up on www.BataviaMusicBuffs.org soon. 

2015-16 Concerts
  • Thursday, December 3: Madrigal singers (Chamber & Treble) visit Storm, AGS, & Grace McWayne elementary schools. 
  • Tuesday, December 8: Kaleidoscope Concert Dress Rehearsal – During school day 
  • Wednesday, December 9: Music Department Kaleidoscope Concert 
  • Thursday, Dec 10: Festival of Carols Dress Rehearsal at Shannon Hall (TBA) 
  • Fri-­Sat. Dec 11-­12: Festival of Carols at Shannon Hall (Chamber & Treble) 
  • Tuesday, February 23: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 1 (Chorale & Alpha) 
  • Wednesday, February 24: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 2 (Treble & Varsity) 
  • Thursday, February 25: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 3 (Chamber) 
  • Thursday, May 5: Spring Choir Concert (This date is still tentative)
  • Thursday, May 12: Music Senior Awards night (This date is still tentative)
  • Other Important Dates:
Saturday, November 7: ILMEA Senior Festival               
Saturday, November 14: ILMEA Jazz Festival               
Wednesday, March 2: Showtime! 
March 7-­11 ­Curricular Choir Placement Auditions

Madrigals
  • Madrigal Season is fast approaching! Initial plans for the event are under way. This year, every student in Chamber and Treble Choirs will be performing at this magical event. 
  • We had a Parents' Meeting about the Festival of Carols in the choir room on Thursday, 10/8. Here is the Powerpoint from that evening. 
  • We still need a few parent volunteers to help with this event. More specific requests will come soon.
  • All volunteer sign-ups are on the www.BataviaMusicBuffs.org (Click Volunteer Sign-up). If you have any questions about how you might help, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net. 

Did you notice...
  • ...that Show Choir season is starting soon? Good! 
0 Comments

Choir Newsletter; October 23, 2015

10/23/2015

0 Comments

 
Choir students and families,
Here's this week's newsletter. Key points and new information are in bold type. 
​

A link to each post will be sent through the choir Twitter and Facebook accounts, to whatever parent emails I have on file, and to the students through Google Classroom. 

The beginning section will always be about curricular choir and the following information will pertain to the extracurricular activities, so you only need to read what applies to your student.  The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. 

Curricular Choir
  • Wow! What a fun concert! I'm so proud of the singers, and I'm so thankful for the fun, supportive crowd that joined us. See you at the next one! If you have pictures or videos of the night and are willing to share, please pass them along!
  • Support the BPS101 Music Boosters next week and treat your family to dinner!
    Batavia Music Boosters has teamed up with Enticing Cuisine for a Dining Night on Wednesday, October 28th. Mention Batavia Music Boosters when you order so Enticing Cuisine will donate a percentage your sale to Music Boosters! Orders should be placed by Monday night by calling (630) 761-0399. It's bacon wrapped meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans on the side for $22.50. All meals will be packaged for 4 servings. 
  • MusicTheory.net (MTN): Students will periodically have assignments on MusicTheory.net to work on issues like note ID, key signature ID, Intervals, ear training and more. It will all be set up through Classroom. We walked through a couple assignments this week. Those will show up in PowerSchool under the "Written Assignments" category. Here's a link if you want to give it a try! 
  • The Grade Level Expectancies (GLE's) will also use SightReadingFactory, as it is important for the test to look like what they've been practicing. On weeks when GLE assignments are due, the normal Thursday assignments will no be there. Instead, students will have two SRF drills that are matched to the difficulty level of their choir. These GLE drills will be due on certain Fridays at 5pm. The next GLE is due on November 13.  It will be available to students on Friday, November 6. 
  • Lisa Fredenburgh visited Varsity on Monday, 10/19. Dr. Fredenburgh is the Director of Choral Activities at Aurora University. I got the chance to work with her this summer at a graduate class I was taking, and I'm so excited to have her right next door! We learned a ton from working with her, and it really helped us get ready for Thursday!
  • The syllabus for all choirs is on the choir page of the BataviaMusic.org. Students received a hard-copy in class. You should have been shown the syllabus and signed off on it. You can see if your student has turned theirs in by checking PowerSchool for the "Syllabus Contract" assignment, due 9/4.


Help wanted! 
  • I'll need a few more people to help take leadership in specific ways and make Festival of Carols a reality. Please read the Madrigal section below. 
  • I'd love to update the website and social media with pictures from last year. If you have any you would be willing to see displayed publicly, even if it is a student who has graduated, please send me the picture or a link.
  • If you are willing to help in any way, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net or sign up directly at www.bataviamusicbuffs.org (click "Volunteer Sign-up" from the home page).


Showchoirs
  • We had a Parents' Meeting about Show Choir in the choir room on Thursday, 10/8. Here is the Powerpoint from that evening.  
  • Showchoir rehearsals will start on November 9, but we may have informal vocal rehearsals as our songs arrangements come in. Ideally, we'd like to be able to focus on the choreography as soon as possible once the season starts. 
  • The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. Just select the groups you are interested in, and you'll see their rehearsal and performance schedule. If you find what you believe to be an error or discrepancy, please bring it to my attention!
  • Volunteer sign-ups will be set up on www.BataviaMusicBuffs.org soon. 

2015-16 Concerts
  • Tuesday, December 8: Kaleidoscope Concert Dress Rehearsal – During school day 
  • Wednesday, December 9: Music Department Kaleidoscope Concert 
  • Thursday, Dec 10: Festival of Carols Dress Rehearsal at Shannon Hall (TBA) 
  • Fri-­Sat. Dec 11-­12: Festival of Carols at Shannon Hall (Chamber & Treble) 
  • Tuesday, February 23: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 1 (Chorale & Alpha) 
  • Wednesday, February 24: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 2 (Treble & Varsity) 
  • Thursday, February 25: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 3 (Chamber) 
  • Thursday, May 5: Spring Choir Concert (This date is still tentative)
  • Thursday, May 12: Music Senior Awards night (This date is still tentative)
  • Other Important Dates:
Saturday, November 7: ILMEA Senior Festival               
Saturday, November 14: ILMEA Jazz Festival               
Wednesday, March 2: Showtime! 
March 7-­11 ­Curricular Choir Placement Auditions

Madrigals
  • Madrigal Season is fast approaching! Initial plans for the event are under way. This year, every student in Chamber and Treble Choirs will be performing at this magical event. 
  • We had a Parents' Meeting about the Festival of Carols in the choir room on Thursday, 10/8. Here is the Powerpoint from that evening. 
  • We still need a few parent volunteers to help with this event. More specific requests will come soon.
  • All volunteer sign-ups are on the www.BataviaMusicBuffs.org (Click Volunteer Sign-up). If you have any questions about how you might help, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net. 

Did you notice...
  • ...the Enticing Cuisine Dining Night on Wednesday, October 28th? Good! 
0 Comments

Choir Newsletter; October 16, 2015

10/16/2015

0 Comments

 
Choir students and families,
Here's this week's newsletter. Key points and new information are in bold type. 
​

A link to each post will be sent through the choir 
Twitter and Facebook accounts, to whatever parent emails I have on file, and to the students through Google Classroom. 

The beginning section will always be about curricular choir and the following information will pertain to the extracurricular activities, so you only need to read what applies to your student.  The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. 

Curricular Choir
  • It's Concert Week! Hard to believe our concert is almost here. We are excited to share our music with you. The concert is Thursday, 10/22 at 7pm. Call time for students is 6pm. I expect the concert to last about an hour. Of course, the concert is mandatory for students.  
  • Concert Dress code for all choirs: ​Black dress pants or skirt, black dress shirt, black socks and dress shoes, which each student must provide for themselves. Most performances will include robes, which BHS will provide.
  • MusicTheory.net (MTN): Students will periodically have assignments on MusicTheory.net to work on issues like note ID, key signature ID, Intervals, ear training and more. It will all be set up through Classroom. We walked through a couple assignments this week. Those will show up in PowerSchool under the "Written Assignments" category. Here's a link if you want to give it a try! 
  • The Grade Level Expectancies (GLE's) will also use SightReadingFactory, as it is important for the test to look like what they've been practicing. On weeks when GLE assignments are due, the normal Thursday assignments will no be there. Instead, students will have two SRF drills that are matched to the difficulty level of their choir. These GLE drills will be due on certain Fridays at 5pm. The next GLE is due tonight, October 16.  It has been available to students since Thursday, Oct 8. 
  • Lisa Fredenburgh visits Varsity on Monday, 10/19. Dr. Fredenburgh is the Director of Choral Activities at Aurora University. I got the chance to work with her this summer at a graduate class I was taking, and I'm so excited to have her right next door!
  • The syllabus for all choirs is on the choir page of the BataviaMusic.org. Students received a hard-copy in class. You should have been shown the syllabus and signed off on it. You can see if your student has turned theirs in by checking PowerSchool for the "Syllabus Contract" assignment, due 9/4.

Help wanted! 
  • I'll need a few more people to help take leadership in specific ways and make Festival of Carols a reality. Please read the Madrigal section below. 
  • We have all of our ushers for next week's concert. Thanks so much! Ushers, please meet at the BFAC Stage Door at 5:40pm.
  • I'd love to update the website and social media with pictures from last year. If you have any you would be willing to see displayed publicly, even if it is a student who has graduated, please send me the picture or a link.
  • If you are willing to help in any way, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net or sign up directly at www.bataviamusicbuffs.org (click "Volunteer Sign-up" from the home page).


Showchoirs
  • We had a Parents' Meeting about Show Choir in the choir room on Thursday, 10/8. Here is the Powerpoint from that evening.  
  • Showchoir rehearsals will start on November 9, but we may have informal vocal rehearsals as our songs arrangements come in. Ideally, we'd like to be able to focus on the choreography as soon as possible once the season starts. 
  • The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. Just select the groups you are interested in, and you'll see their rehearsal and performance schedule. If you find what you believe to be an error or discrepancy, please bring it to my attention!
  • Volunteer sign-ups will be set up on www.BataviaMusicBuffs.org soon. 
Picture
  • NIU Choir Day Field Trip: On Wednesday, 10/14, Chamber and Treble Choirs went to Northern Illinois University for Choir Day, which brings high school choirs together to perform for fellow choir members, directors, and NIU faculty members Eric Johnson and Mary Lynn Doherty. This year's guest clinician is Dr. Sharon A. Hansen. We got helpful, useful feedback on our pieces and got a chance to see NIU's wonder Chamber and Concert Choirs perform. 

2015-16 Concerts
  • Thursday, October 22: Fall Choir Concert 
  • Tuesday, December 8: Kaleidoscope Concert Dress Rehearsal – During school day 
  • Wednesday, December 9: Music Department Kaleidoscope Concert 
  • Thursday, Dec 10: Festival of Carols Dress Rehearsal at Shannon Hall (TBA) 
  • Fri-­Sat. Dec 11-­12: Festival of Carols at Shannon Hall (Chamber & Treble) 
  • Tuesday, February 23: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 1 (Chorale & Alpha) 
  • Wednesday, February 24: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 2 (Treble & Varsity) 
  • Thursday, February 25: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 3 (Chamber) 
  • Thursday, May 5: Spring Choir Concert (This date is still tentative)
  • Thursday, May 12: Music Senior Awards night (This date is still tentative)
  • Other Important Dates:
Saturday, November 7: ILMEA Senior Festival                Saturday, November 14: ILMEA Jazz Festival                Wednesday, March 2: Showtime! 
March 7-­11 ­Curricular Choir Placement Auditions

Madrigals
  • Madrigal Season is fast approaching! Initial plans for the event are under way. This year, every student in Chamber and Treble Choirs will be performing at this magical event. 
  • We had a Parents' Meeting about the Festival of Carols in the choir room on Thursday, 10/8. Here is the Powerpoint from that evening. 
  • We still need a few parent volunteers to help with this event. More specific requests will come soon.  
  1. All volunteer sign-ups are on the www.BataviaMusicBuffs.org (Click Volunteer Sign-up). If you have any questions about how you might help, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net.
Did you notice...
  • ...we have a concert next week? 7pm start time, 6pm call for students. The concert is mandatory for students, of course. 
  • I have it on good authority that the Cubs will sweep the Mets, so there won't be a game that night!
0 Comments

Choir Newsletter; October 9, 2015

10/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Choir students and families,
Here's this week's newsletter. Key points and new information are in bold type. 
​

A link to each post will be sent through the choir 
Twitter and Facebook accounts, to whatever parent emails I have on file, and to the students through Google Classroom. 

The beginning section will always be about curricular choir and the following information will pertain to the extracurricular activities, so you only need to read what applies to your student.  The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. 

I. Curricular Choir
  • ILMEA Results! The results from Tuesday's auditions are in, and BHS had 8 students earn their place into the extremely competitive Senior Chorus. Congrats to Laura Hix, Justin Knautz, Kayla Little, Amanda Maher, Marcelo Nylund, Natalie Sweeney, Matt Skirmont, and Ben Zinser. Congrats also to Adi Alley, Alyssa Gao, and Sophia Damico for making the orchestra, Julia Lekander for making the band and John Hix for making the Jazz Band. The festival is November 7 at Glenbard East HS. 
  • 9th grade ILMEA: For the first time ever, District 9 of ILMEA will be having a 9th grade choir. After conducting auditions in class last week, Anna H (Soprano), Emily T (Alto), Robbie M (Tenor) and a Bass (to be named later) will join quartets from all of the other ILMEA District 9 schools for a festival choir. It will be held at the same festival as the Senior Chorus on November 7th at Glenbard East HS. Congratulations!
  • The syllabus for all choirs is on the choir page of the BataviaMusic.org. Students received a hard-copy in class. You should have been shown the syllabus and signed off on it. You can see if your student has turned theirs in by checking PowerSchool for the "Syllabus Contract" assignment, due 9/4.
  • Concert Dress code for all choirs: ​Black dress pants or skirt, black dress shirt, black socks and dress shoes, which each student must provide for themselves. Most performances will include robes, which BHS will provide
  • NIU Choir Day Field Trip: On Wednesday, 10/14, Chamber and Treble Choirs will go to Northern Illinois University for Choir Day, which brings high school choirs together to perform for fellow choir members, directors, and NIU faculty members Eric Johnson and Mary Lynn Doherty. This year's guest clinician is Dr. Sharon A. Hansen. Permission slips are due ASAP, and can be downloaded here. 
  • MusicTheory.net (MTN): Students will periodically have assignments on MusicTheory.net to work on issues like note ID, key signature ID, Intervals, ear training and more. It will all be set up through Classroom. We walked through a couple assignments this week. Those will show up in PowerSchool under the "Written Assignments" category. Here's a link if you want to give it a try! 
  • The Grade Level Expectancies (GLE's) will also use SightReadingFactory, as it is important for the test to look like what they've been practicing. On weeks when GLE assignments are due, the normal Thursday assignments will no be there. Instead, students will have two SRF drills that are matched to the difficulty level of their choir. These GLE drills will be due on certain Fridays at 5pm. The next GLE is due on October 16.   
II. 2015-16 Concerts
  • Thursday, October 22: Fall Choir Concert 
  • Tuesday, December 8: Kaleidoscope Concert Dress Rehearsal – During school day 
  • Wednesday, December 9: Music Department Kaleidoscope Concert 
  • Thursday, Dec 10: Festival of Carols Dress Rehearsal at Shannon Hall (TBA) 
  • Fri-­Sat. Dec 11-­12: Festival of Carols at Shannon Hall (Chamber & Treble) 
  • Tuesday, February 23: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 1 (Chorale & Alpha) 
  • Wednesday, February 24: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 2 (Treble & Varsity) 
  • Thursday, February 25: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 3 (Chamber) 
  • Thursday, May 5: Spring Choir Concert (This date is still tentative)
  • Thursday, May 12: Music Senior Awards night (This date is still tentative)
  • Other Important Dates:
                 Tuesday, October 6: ILMEA District 9 Chorus Auditions (Chamber) 
                 Thursday, October 8: Showchoir parent meeting 7pm
                 Thursday, October 8: Madrigal (Chamber & Treble Choir) parent meeting, 8pm
                 Saturday, November 7: ILMEA Senior Choir, Band, and Orchestra Festival
                 Saturday, November 14: ILMEA Vocal and Instrumental Jazz Festival
                 Wednesday, March 2: Showtime! 

                 March 7-­11 ­Curricular Choir Placement Auditions (During Class)

III. Help wanted! 
  • I'll need a few more people to help take leadership in specific ways and make Festival of Carols a reality. Please read the Madrigal section below. 
  • We need 5 more people to serve as ushers for our 10/22 choir concert. You can sign up to help here. 
  • I'd love to update the website and social media with pictures from last year. If you have any you would be willing to see displayed publicly, even if it is a student who has graduated, please send me the picture or a link.
  • If you are willing to help in any way, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net or sign up directly at www.bataviamusicbuffs.org (click "Volunteer Sign-up" from the home page).
IV. Madrigals
  • Madrigal Season is fast approaching! Initial plans for the event are under way. This year, every student in Chamber and Treble Choirs will be performing at this magical event. 
  • We had a Parents' Meeting about the Festival of Carols in the choir room on Thursday, 10/8. Here is the Powerpoint from that evening.  
  • Here are some highlights of that meeting: 
  1. Troubadours will be entirely made up of Treble Choir students this year, and we will have different students serving the food. This change is meant to give them comparable rehearsal time and a clearer role in the evening.
  2. We will be caroling at a few retirement homes, community event and elementary schools during the first week of December. 
  3. Ms. Valerie Bennington will be serving as the volunteer coordinator this year. Thank you!
  4. We need a few parent leaders to head up volunteer teams over Decorations, Food, Costumes, Publicity, etc. 
  5. We need a few parent volunteers to help those leaders do alterations, set up & take down, ticket sales, etc.
  6. All volunteer sign-ups are on the www.BataviaMusicBuffs.org (Click Volunteer Sign-up). If you have any questions about how you might help, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net.

V. Showchoirs
  • We had a Parents' Meeting about Show Choir in the choir room on Thursday, 10/8. Here is the Powerpoint from that evening.  
  • Showchoir rehearsals will start on November 9, but we may have informal vocal rehearsals as our songs arrangements come in. Ideally, we'd like to be able to focus on the choreography as soon as possible once the season starts. 
  • The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. Just select the groups you are interested in, and you'll see their rehearsal and performance schedule. If you find what you believe to be an error or discrepancy, please bring it to my attention!
  • Volunteer sign-ups will be set up on www.BataviaMusicBuffs.org soon. 

VI. Did you notice...
  • ...we need more people to usher for the concert on 10/22? Thanks for considering it!
0 Comments

Reminder: Parent meetings tonight

10/8/2015

0 Comments

 
Don't forget, there are parent meetings tonight! 
  • ShowChoir - 7pm: Meet with Ms. O'Neill and & Mr. Barsch to get any questions answered about the upcoming season. Any Legacy or Swingsingers student or parent is encouraged to attend. 
  • Festival of Carols - 8pm: Meet with Mr. Barsch to learn about what is changing, what is staying the same, and how your voice can be heard! Any Chamber Singers, Treble Choir, or Chamber Orchestra student or parent is encouraged to attend.  
Enter Door# N6 on the Wilson Street side which will be unlocked at 6:45. The meetings will be in the choir room. 
Thanks!
0 Comments

ILMEA Audition Finalized

10/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Chamber: 
Today's ILMEA audition selections have been finalized. When you arrive, take your sticker to the Tonal Skills room to reserve your time. I will keep the stickers with me, so if you arrive late, meet me at my location (Room 253) or text me (my number is on the perm slip).

Room #1: Tonal Skills
  • Be prepared to sing Major, Minor, & Diminished triads starting on D, E, or F
  • Major Scale: F for Sop/Tenor; Db for Alto/Bass
  •  Melodic Minor: D for Sop/Tenor; Bb for Alto/Bass
Room #2: Northern Lights 
  • Sop/Tenor: m46-53
  • Alto/Bass: m50-57
  • Focus on Musicianship, Dynamics, phrasing & Tone Quality
Room #3: Consecrate
  • Sop/Alto: pick up to m24 "Whilst"-end of the piece
  • Ten/Bass: Begin m24 "Whilst"-end of the piece
  • Focus on Musicianship, Dynamics, phrasing & Tone Quality
Room #4: Sight Reading
  • Judges will be provided with two exercises of 4 measures each, allowing 2 Points for each measure sung correctly. Partial credit may be given, but do not use decimals or fractions.
  • Judges will play ONLY a tonic chord and the starting note before asking the student to begin. A reasonable amount of time may be allowed so the student may survey the complete exercise before singing it. Judges DO NOT PLAY any portion of the exercise.
  • The student may use a neutral syllable, solfeggio, numbers, or letter names, but is NOT permitted to hum.

0 Comments

Choir Newsletter; October 2, 2015

10/2/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Choir students and families,
Here's this week's newsletter. Key points and new information are in bold type. 
​

A link to each post will be sent through the choir 
Twitter and Facebook accounts, to whatever parent emails I have on file, and to the students through Google Classroom. 

The beginning section will always be about curricular choir and the following information will pertain to the extracurricular activities, so you only need to read what applies to your student.  The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. 

I. Curricular Choir
  • The syllabus for all choirs is on the choir page of the BataviaMusic.org. Students received a hard-copy in class. You should have been shown the syllabus and signed off on it. 
  • Concert Dress code for all choirs: ​Black dress pants or skirt, black dress shirt, black socks and dress shoes, which each student must provide for themselves. Most performances will include robes, which BHS will provide
  • MusicTheory.net (MTN): Students will periodically have assignments on MusicTheory.net to work on issues like note ID, key signature ID, Intervals, ear training and more. It will all be set up through Classroom. We walked through a couple assignments this week. Those will show up in PowerSchool under the "Written Assignments" category. Here's a link if you want to give it a try! 
  • The Grade Level Expectancies (GLE's) will also use SightReadingFactory, as it is important for the test to look like what they've been practicing. On weeks when GLE assignments are due, the normal Thursday assignments will no be there. Instead, students will have two SRF drills that are matched to the difficulty level of their choir. These GLE drills will be due on certain Fridays at 5pm. The next GLE is due on October 16.   
  • Chamber only: The ILMEA auditions (10/6) are coming up quickly! We have been working hard in class to master the songs and skills to be tested there. Students can choose to 1). Ride the bus to Addison Trail HS and get picked up by a parent or carpool or 2). Drive themselves there and back or ride with a friend. Students must document their choice by filling out the correct permission slip and having parents verify their knowledge of their choice. Both permission slips are available from Mr. Barsch. The audition costs $8. If students are not able to audition, they must make that known to Mr. Barsch ASAP. The Festival itself will be held November 7th at Glenbard East HS. 
  • 9th grade ILMEA: For the first time ever, District 9 of ILMEA will be having a 9th grade choir. After conducting auditions in class last week, Anna H (Soprano), Emily T (Alto), Robbie M (Tenor) and a Bass (to be named later) will join quartets from all of the other ILMEA District 9 schools for a festival choir. It will be held at the same festival as the Senior Chorus on November 7th at Glenbard East HS. Congratulations!
II. 2015-16 Concerts
  • Thursday, October 22: Fall Choir Concert 
  • Tuesday, December 8: Kaleidoscope Concert Dress Rehearsal – During school day 
  • Wednesday, December 9: Music Department Kaleidoscope Concert 
  • Thursday, Dec 10: Festival of Carols Dress Rehearsal at Shannon Hall (TBA) 
  • Fri-­Sat. Dec 11-­12: Festival of Carols at Shannon Hall (Chamber & Treble) 
  • Tuesday, February 23: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 1 (Chorale & Alpha) 
  • Wednesday, February 24: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 2 (Treble & Varsity) 
  • Thursday, February 25: BHS Music Festival­ Concert 3 (Chamber) 
  • Thursday, May 5: Spring Choir Concert (Please note this change) 
  • Thursday, May 12: Music Senior Awards night (Please note this change)
  • Other Important Dates:
                 Tuesday, October 6: ILMEA District 9 Chorus Auditions (Chamber) 
                 Thursday, October 8: Showchoir parent meeting 7pm
                 Thursday, October 8: Madrigal (Chamber & Treble Choir) parent meeting, 8pm
                 Saturday, November 7: ILMEA Senior Choir, Band, and Orchestra Festival
                 Saturday, November 14: ILMEA Vocal and Instrumental Jazz Festival
                 Wednesday, March 2: Showtime! 

                 March 7-­11 ­Curricular Choir Placement Auditions (During Class)

III. Help wanted! 
  • I'll need a few more people to help take leadership in specific ways and make Festival of Carols a reality. Please read the Madrigal section below. 
  • We need at least 5 people to serve as ushers for our 10/22 choir concert. 
  • I'd love to update the website and social media with pictures from last year. If you have any you would be willing to see displayed publicly, even if it is a student who has graduated, please send me the picture or a link.
  • If you are willing to help in any way, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net.  ​
IV. Madrigals
  • Madrigal Season is fast approaching! Initial plans for the event are under way. This year, every student in Chamber and Treble Choirs will be performing at this magical event. 
  • We will have a parents' meeting in the choir room on Thursday, October 8 at 8-8:45pm, at which I'll be able to share how we are revising the process. I'm thrilled to get started! 
  • We will need a few parents to help supervise a particular area of the event (Decorations, Costumes, Programs, T-Shirts, Tickets, Serving) and a few more to help those people with specific tasks (simple alterations, baking cookies, decorating Shannon Hall, ticket sales, etc.). If you are willing to help in any way, please contact Mr. Barsch at peter.barsch@bps101.net.  ​

V. Showchoirs
  • We'll have a parents' meeting on Thursday, October 8 from 7-7:45 for anyone whose student is in SwingSingers or Legacy. At this meeting we'll answer any questions you may have and share more information about what's in store for this season. 
  • Showchoir rehearsals will start on November 9, but we may have informal vocal rehearsals as our songs arrangements come in. Ideally, we'd like to be able to focus on the choreography as soon as possible once the season starts. 
  • The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. Just select the groups you are interested in, and you'll see their rehearsal and performance schedule. If you find what you believe to be an error or discrepancy, please bring it to my attention!

VI. Did you notice...
  • The Showchoir and Madrigal parent meetings on Thursday, October 8th?  Good!

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