Choir parents 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:
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:
- Assignments: We had a large number of assignments recently, but most students are current. If your student's grade has fallen this week, ask about their GLE 6A & 6B, or contact me for details.
- Difficulty level progress in SRF (Updated 3/11): Our average difficulty level keeps climbing! The average level for all 125 students moved from 1.26 in the first week up to 3.16 on the most recent assignment. Very few students are at level 1 (though, I'm happy they are if it is the appropriate challenge for them!), and many students are regularly working at level 4 or even 5. SRF has 6 possible levels, so there's plenty of room to grow, even for our most advanced singers. Here are some breakdowns: All 9th graders are averaging 2.73, Varsity is 2.50, Treble is 3.53, and Chamber is 4.70.
- We are currently in the middle of the process of assigning students into next year's choirs. For more details on the process, check the next section.
A Message from our Winterguard Friends:
Got Chips? Got Time? Help out the BHS Winter Guard for the Homeshow on Sunday, March 13th!
There is no easier way to help than by donating items. We'll even pick up your donation this evening or tomorrow morning (if you'd like pick up service, simply text your address to 16302531928and let us know what we'll be picking up).
Bake sale items (pure profit) may also be contributed and dropped off at an east or west side location, or at BHS (Main Street entrance) Sunday morning between 8-10 am.
All money raised will benefit Batavia Music Buffs, a Booster Organization.
Will you help?
Thank you,
Batavia High School Winter Guard families
Got Chips? Got Time? Help out the BHS Winter Guard for the Homeshow on Sunday, March 13th!
- You can still donate concessions items today and tomorrow!
You can still sign up to volunteer on Sunday for a two-hour shift selling concessions in the BHS Cafeteria.
There is no easier way to help than by donating items. We'll even pick up your donation this evening or tomorrow morning (if you'd like pick up service, simply text your address to 16302531928and let us know what we'll be picking up).
Bake sale items (pure profit) may also be contributed and dropped off at an east or west side location, or at BHS (Main Street entrance) Sunday morning between 8-10 am.
All money raised will benefit Batavia Music Buffs, a Booster Organization.
Will you help?
Thank you,
Batavia High School Winter Guard families
Audition info for 2016-2017!
Over the course of this year, one of the things that I heard about most was the disappointment over last year's curricular choir audition process. Of course, many people won't be happy with the results of an audition. It is clear though that many students didn't feel like the last year's audition process gave a clear picture of who they are or what they could do. With that in mind, here are some changes to the process:
Over the course of this year, one of the things that I heard about most was the disappointment over last year's curricular choir audition process. Of course, many people won't be happy with the results of an audition. It is clear though that many students didn't feel like the last year's audition process gave a clear picture of who they are or what they could do. With that in mind, here are some changes to the process:
- I will be the one making decisions. Since I'm the one who has worked with your student all year, I'll be the one making decisions about what is best for each student and for the overall program.
- We will not have a one-on-one "Audition". All of the factors under consideration will be things that the students can prepare at home, or have been working on over time.
- I have discussed this with students individually and in class. I didn't want this to be a surprise to anyone, and I wanted the students to have as much of a say as possible. Several of the factors listed below are based on student suggestions.
- Here are the factors I'll be including in my decision-making process:
- Screencastify videos: We will record several "takes" of music that we performed. The recordings were made in class, with everyone singing together. The idea is that since students sing together in class daily, the assessment should be done similarly. Students then took home the recordings they made, assessed themselves using this rubric, and submitted the one video they feel is their best. This will allow me to assess not only their pitch and rhythm accuracy, but also their tone quality, consonant energy, and attention to expressive elements.
- SightReadingFactory: Not only will I pay attention to how they have scored on their SRF assignments, I'll also take into consideration the difficulty levels they've chosen for themselves. Are they challenging themselves to improve? Or are they just trying to get by without really trying to get better? Obviously a perfect score on very easy lines won't be as attractive as an attempt at lines with an appropriately challenging difficulty level.
- The overall voicing and structure of the groups: Not only do I have to find the best fit educationally for all of my students, I also have to create a course structure where we have the right voice parts covered so we can perform music of appropriate difficulty and educational content. I need to make five viable choirs; that means I need to determine the number of kids in each class and each voice part accordingly.
- Rehearsal technique: I reserve the right to consider a student's rehearsal technique. This will be a secondary consideration because of the qualitative nature. Essentially this will help serve as a tie-breaker between two equally capable kids.
- I will be happy to discuss any student's audition after the list is posted, but I won't discuss how any other student did. I'd be happy to review any student's video or SRF materials with them to help them see what helped or hurt them. I will not tell them about how any other student did, however. Many excellent students will get beat by others and not move to the advanced choirs. All students can trust that their videos and scores will remain confidential.
- I'd be happy to take any questions about the process, especially before the audition process begins.. Please contact me with questions.
- I expect to release next year's lists before Spring Break in conjunction with the Band and Orchestra lists.
Remaining 2015-16 Concerts
- Tuesday, May 3: Spring Choir Concert (Please note this change)
- Tuesday, May 17: Music Senior Awards night (Please note this change)
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