A Handbook for Beginning Choral Educators

Appendix A. Forms Often Used

131 Appendix A FORMS OFTEN USED Letter to Assure Parental Support of Concert Attendance Dear Choral Parent or Guardian: Please take a moment to read this letter carefullyandgothroughitwith your son or daughter. It may represent a significant change from past practices. Each quarter of the school year we will present one concert, and all choirs will be represented. Attendance at that concert will be a big part of your son’s or daughter’s quarter grade; in fact, it is very similar to a quarter final exam in an academic course. Here are the dates of the concerts for which attendance is required: October 24 An Evening of Music in the GHS Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. December 16 A Holiday Offering in the GHS Rotunda at 3:00 p.m. March 6 Festival of Music* in the Auditorium of Juning HS at 3:00 p.m. May 12 A Night on Broadway in the GHS cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. *This festival is a combination of singers from all six schools in our district. Transportation will be provided for all students for rehearsals and performance. Please have your child sign along with your signature, showing that your family is committed to making sure your student will take part in all choral activities scheduled for this year. Student signature Parental Signature Please remember to return this form to me by September 14. Thanks a lot, Walter Lamble Choir Director, GHS 132 Appendix A Sample Audition Form To all GHS singers: The purpose of this audition is for me to get to know you and your voice as I begin my teaching here at GHS. This information will help me place you in the choir I think best suits the two of us. Please fill in the following information and have it with you when you come in to sing for me. Do not write on the back. Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Your Year in School What experience have you had in singing? (Choirs, solos, rock groups, any other) What experience have you had in other types of musical activities? (Band, orchestra, private music lessons, plays, musicals, piano lessons , any other) What was your grade point average last semester? If you’ve sung in choirs, what voice part did you sing? S A T B (Circle one) Forms Often Used 133 Judging Sheet for Choral Auditions Name What song did he or she sing? Ranges: Highest to lowest Best Sound Description of sound (light, warm, breathy, forced, etc.) Problems (pitch, carries chest voice too high, strains for {high} {low} notes, vowel peculiarities, sound problems, etc.) Other notes Urgent note to a young teacher: TAKE YOUR TIME. Be thorough in your assessment and write details. This is important for you, so you can help the student with the vocal problems you hear; for the student, so he or she can work on problems you hear; and for parents who will want to have concrete reasons why their child did or did not make whatever the audition was for. 134 Appendix A Choral Library Card File NOTE: Make three copies of each of these cards for three separate files. 1. A file arranged by song title 2. A file arranged by voicing 3. A file arranged by style/occasion Title of Song File Number Composer/Arranger/Editor Publisher Publisher Number Style/occasion: General Sacred Christmas General Secular Hanukkah Pop Graduation Jazz Funeral Spiritual Contemporary, not popular Gospel Non-traditional Difficulty level: Very easy Easy Medium difficulty Difficult Very difficult Language (if other than English) When added to library Cost at that time Address of publisher Date(s) performed Forms Often Used 135 Music Checkout Form Name of Choir Concert Choir Student Name Title Copy # Returned ...