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SYLLABUS: US SINGERS (VOCAL MUSIC I and II)
SCHOOL YEAR 2009 – 2010
INSTRUCTOR: DR. BORDEN -- ROOM: MATHES 18A
I. Course Description: US Singers (Vocal
Music I and II) is the premiere choral group at University School. It
is designed to provide beginning choristers the opportunity to develop
singing and choral skills and advanced choristers an opportunity to
further develop singing and choral skills in a performing organization.
Being a member of the US Singers is an honor and a privilege that also
carries certain responsibilities enumerated below and elsewhere.
II. Prerequisites: Audition with Dr.
Borden during initial weeks of class.
III. Course Requirements:
A. Students, alone and together, will
be required to sing correctly and enthusiastically on a daily basis in
class.
B. The
US Singers will present a number of performances throughout the school
year. Many will occur during non-school hours and off campus. Since
little homework is required for US Singers, these performances are
considered as homework time equivalents. Students missing a performance
with an excused absence must make up the missed performance within the
time prescribed in the student handbook. Students are responsible for
making arrangements with Dr. Borden to complete make up assignments.
Unexcused misses will earn a zero. An unexcused absence or an excused
absence that is not made up from a major performance will result in a
failing grade in chorus for that nine weeks.
C. Please note that excused does
not mean exempt.
D. Choristers are required to have a
usable pencil at all times during class and other rehearsals.
E. Choristers will keep a music
notebook for class notes, vocabulary, performance dates, and other
pertinent information.
F. Choristers are responsible for
notifying parents or guardians of performance dates and other
requirements.
G. Choristers are responsible for
maintaining the music, books, and equipment assigned to them during the
year. The student will be responsible for replacing or paying for lost
or damaged materials.
H. The US Singers represent
University School and East Tennessee State University in many public
appearances. It is imperative that each US Singer exhibits responsible
citizenship as a chorister, as a student, and as a member of our
community. Choristers demonstrating poor citizenship or behavior may be
subject to disciplinary action, suspension or dismal from the US
Singers.
IV. GRADING:
A. The nine weeks grade will be based
on the following categories
1. Daily class
participation, cooperation, quizzes: 40%
2. Tests (written and
oral), solo songs, music reading: 30%
3. Performances: 30%
B. The semester grade will be an
average, 50/50 of the two nine week’s grades.
C. The yearly grade will be an
average, 50/50 of the two semester grades.
D. Daily grade: Students are
expected to give significant effort in singing during rehearsals each
day. Grades will be reduced if students do not comply.
E. Performances: The US Singers
is a performance organization. Therefore, each singer is expected
and required to participate in all performances. Excused or unexcused
misses must be made up in a timely fashion. Make up work may include but
is not limited to singing the performance music solo for Dr. Borden
during class, writing a research paper on an assigned related topic, or
performing service for the chorus such as library work or class room
cleaning. If allowed, make up work for an unexcused missed performance
will receive a maximum grade of 70. A grade of zero will be given to an
excused or unexcused absence if the make-up work is not completed in
accordance with the student handbook.
1. Performances are a
significant part of the US singers experience. The number of
performances during a nine-week grading period and the importance of
each performance will determine the grade for each performance.
Students can count on several performances each nine weeks. During the
holiday season and toward the end of the school year, there will be many
extra requests for performances. Students will be notified as soon as
possible of performance dates to allow for adequate planning and
personal arrangements to be made.
a. Excused
misses for extra rehearsals and out of school performances will include
personal illness, death in the immediate family, or regularly scheduled
religious services.
b. Non-excused events include but are not limited to birthdays, work,
parties, vacations, sporting events, packing and so on. If you are in
doubt, consult with Dr. Borden at least two weeks prior to the concert.
2. Wardrobe for concerts
will be described in class. Students may be required to provide certain
items as part of concert attire such as shirt, shoes and so on.
3. There is a $20.00
music participation fee due by the end of the first nine weeks. Dr.
Borden will send detailed information home concerning this fee. No
student will be denied participation due to inability to pay this fee.
See Dr. Borden if you have a question concerning this fee.
G. Inappropriate or disruptive
behavior will not be tolerated. Students will be warned to stop such
actions. If a student continues with inappropriate or disruptive
behavior or demonstrates new but still inappropriate behavior, the
instructor may, depending upon the situation and the severity of the
disruption do one or more of the following. He may ask the student to
desist again, reduce the student’s grade, or send the student to the
office for administrative assistance. Continued or significant
misbehavior can result in the suspension or expulsion of the student
from the US Singers. An F will be given to students suspended or
expelled from the US Singers.
H. Classroom policies include but are not
limited to:
1. No food, gum, candy,
or drinks will be permitted in the classroom during rehearsal. Dr.
Borden will announce exceptions.
2. No hats or other head
coverings are to be worn in class.
3. An unexcused absence
from class is minus one on the final grade.
4. Three unexcused tardy
marks equal one unexcused absence and minus one on the final grade.
5. Each excused absence
is minus one on the final grade unless made up.
6. Students will not use
or otherwise tamper with equipment, material, or other items located in
the choral room.
7. Students will treat
one another with the utmost respect. This is a team effort.
V. Schedule
A. The Singers will participate in a
number of concerts, trips and festivals. Students are expected to
participate in all of these events if possible.
B. Students will need to raise money
to pay for many of these events. Details and dates will be forth
coming. The sponsors will not announce many of these dates and events
until fall when most schools are beginning their school year. However,
we will notify of these events as soon as possible.
VI. Singing:
A. Students are expected to sing
each day in class. This may be alone, in small groups or with the large
group.
B. Students will be required to
learn at least one song, decided by Dr. Borden, each nine weeks. This
will be sung aloud in class at the end of each nine weeks for an
evaluation and grade. The grade will be based on the student’s progress
during the quarter.
VII. Scope: This document does not contain
every detail of the course. It is subject to change to adapt to
situations that may arise. We will notify you of any changes that may
occur. Specific questions and problems will be handled on a case-by-case
basis as fairly as possible.
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