Choir Newsletter; October 2, 2015

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