Welcome to the CHOIR! ('23-'24)
Is this going to cost anything?
Yes, I'm afraid so. Doesn't everything?
There is a $25 fee for the choir. This money goes (mostly) towards purchasing choir shirts for everybody. Anything left over is used to cover the cost of ordering music (which can cost $150 - $200 PER SONG-- yikes!).
This year, I'm trying to collect money no later than THURSDAY, August 31st. If you are having trouble financially, please contact me and I'll try to work with you.:-)
There is a $25 fee for the choir. This money goes (mostly) towards purchasing choir shirts for everybody. Anything left over is used to cover the cost of ordering music (which can cost $150 - $200 PER SONG-- yikes!).
This year, I'm trying to collect money no later than THURSDAY, August 31st. If you are having trouble financially, please contact me and I'll try to work with you.:-)
Class Materials
Choir singers are required to come prepared to class. This includes being punctual as well as having your "material". Materials are:
1) BLACK, 1-INCH WIDE, 3-ring binder
2) This binder should have quite a few clear page protectors (available in class) in it in which to place music as well as
3) loose leaf paper (I also have THIS available in class) to take notes as well as
4) a pencil --which will always live in your binder-- as well as
5) the music that is passed out in class
This binder will become more & more "valuable" as the year/season progresses. It will have more & more (expensive) music in it. Please take good care of it. If you lose/damage your music, I will have to charge you a replacement fee.
THESE ARE ALSO DUE THURSDAY, August 31st.
1) BLACK, 1-INCH WIDE, 3-ring binder
2) This binder should have quite a few clear page protectors (available in class) in it in which to place music as well as
3) loose leaf paper (I also have THIS available in class) to take notes as well as
4) a pencil --which will always live in your binder-- as well as
5) the music that is passed out in class
This binder will become more & more "valuable" as the year/season progresses. It will have more & more (expensive) music in it. Please take good care of it. If you lose/damage your music, I will have to charge you a replacement fee.
THESE ARE ALSO DUE THURSDAY, August 31st.
Choir Handbook
This is what you'll need for all kinds of info about how class works and what you may expect.
Google Classroom
Your class code for G-classroom this year is: lmbncuq
Choir Audition Information!
Click on the link above in order to download the document that went out to the 5th- and 6th-grade students about how to audition for the choir.
We will hopefully be returning to middle school choir this coming Fall 2021. So-- we are auditioning for the middle-school choirs at both Eastern and at Macy on the following dates:
Eastern: Wednesday, May 26 and Thursday, May 27
MACY: Thursday, May 20 and Monday, May 24
If you are a "fully virtual" student and you are planning to return to school in the Fall AND would like to try out for the choir, please contact Mr. Riley via email at kriley@gilesk12.net and let him know that you are interested. We will be holding auditions for fully-virtual students on Friday, May 21.
Eastern: Wednesday, May 26 and Thursday, May 27
MACY: Thursday, May 20 and Monday, May 24
If you are a "fully virtual" student and you are planning to return to school in the Fall AND would like to try out for the choir, please contact Mr. Riley via email at kriley@gilesk12.net and let him know that you are interested. We will be holding auditions for fully-virtual students on Friday, May 21.
Do I really have to try out for choir?
Yes, you do, but trying out for choir is REALLY EASY.
All you have to do is sing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" for me, along with some scales and some echoed patterns that I'll give to you. If you're not sure if you can sing "My Country...", then just use these lyrics and sing along with the video below. Please have this first verse MEMORIZED when you come to see me. If you are in 7th-grade, EVEN IF YOU WERE IN CHOIR LAST YEAR, I still want you to try out. I haven't heard you sing in a long time. Don't panic, it won't be hard:-)
Best of luck to you!
My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!
All you have to do is sing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" for me, along with some scales and some echoed patterns that I'll give to you. If you're not sure if you can sing "My Country...", then just use these lyrics and sing along with the video below. Please have this first verse MEMORIZED when you come to see me. If you are in 7th-grade, EVEN IF YOU WERE IN CHOIR LAST YEAR, I still want you to try out. I haven't heard you sing in a long time. Don't panic, it won't be hard:-)
Best of luck to you!
My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!
A few audition "tips":
1) Try not to breathe in the middle of a musical phrase. In other words, sing each line of text (above) in one breath.
For example: take a breath, sing "My country, 'tis of thee," breathe again, now sing, "sweet land of liberty".
please do NOT sing, "My country (breathe) 'tis of thee, sweet (breathe) land of lib (breathe) erty...." etc.
2) Remember what your "head voice" is? Be sure to use it on the higher notes.
3) Have the lyrics memorized.
4) The more you practice, the less nervous you will be.
5) Have fun.
1) Try not to breathe in the middle of a musical phrase. In other words, sing each line of text (above) in one breath.
For example: take a breath, sing "My country, 'tis of thee," breathe again, now sing, "sweet land of liberty".
please do NOT sing, "My country (breathe) 'tis of thee, sweet (breathe) land of lib (breathe) erty...." etc.
2) Remember what your "head voice" is? Be sure to use it on the higher notes.
3) Have the lyrics memorized.
4) The more you practice, the less nervous you will be.
5) Have fun.
