In this fast paced and

stressful world we live

in, one thing never

changes and that is the

power of music. What

else could create such

powerful emotions,

positive energy and

goodness in our lives?

I look forward to open-

ing your minds, ears

and hearts to the world

of choral music.

Welcome!

Greetings and welcome

to an exciting year in the

prestigious Bethesda

Chevy Chase Choral De-

partment.

You are now a member of

one of three choral classes

at BCC. As the year pro-

gresses, however, you will

begin to realize that this is

much more than just a

class. This will, for many

of you, become a team, a

sanctuary and even a fam-

ily.

WELCOME BCC CHORAL

STUDENTS!

Bethesda Chevy Chase High School

CHORAL HANDBOOK FOR 2009-2010

Inside this hand-

book you will

find!

Goals and Objec-

tives

Course Expecta-

tions, Rules and

Procedures

Choral Grading

Policy

How to Succeed

in your ensemble!

Forms/contracts

MS. AMY VANEK

BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE HIGH SCHOOL

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER: MS VANEK

Hello and Welcome to the BCC Choirs. I am thrilled to have so many

students participating in the BCC Choral Program this year. I am

Amy Vanek and this will be my fourth year teaching at Bethesda

Chevy Chase. I received my Bachelors Degree in Music Education

from The University of Maryland in 2005 where I preformed with

several nationally ranked choral ensembles. I am also the founder of

the choral professional recording ensemble, Femmes De Chanson.

Aside from choral music, I have had great experiences in musical

theater, guitar and solo classical singing. My passion is music and I

look forward to sharing this exciting and creative art form with all of

you!

Miss Vanek’s

Contact

Information

Email:

Amy_E_Vanek@ mcpsmd.org

Office: e006

# 240-497-6335

GRADING POLICY FOR CHORAL ENSEMBLES

Letter Grading System:

90%-100%- A

80%-89%- B

70%-79%- C

60%-69%- D

0%-59% E

Students are eligible to make up missed assess-

ments if they have an excused absence. Students

must come to the teacher the day returning from

an absence to retrieve any missed information

and schedule a make-up time.

Classroom Performance: 60% of Final Grade

Students will be evaluated on their performance of repertoire, warm ups and technique in

each class. Although I will not be grading you on your “effort”, classroom performance

will highly reflect what you have learned . Examples of classroom performance skills are:

- Having all music and materials required in hand once rehearsals have

started.

- Demonstrating vocal and music reading skills

- Showing proper rehearsal techniques

- Inserting markings and comments in music to demonstrate understanding

Performances and Individual Assessments: 35% of Final Grade

Students will be evaluated on their learned materials in concerts each semester. Their per-

formance grade will be highly reflected by their concert attendance. Students will need to

attend all dress rehearsals and concerts on time in order to receive full credit. Students will

loose 5% of their performance grade for being late to a concert and drop a letter grade if

they do not attend.. There are two concerts each semester and these dates are listed on their

choral calendar.

Homework: 5%

Although there are very few take-home assignments for this course, students will be ex-

pected to do several activities such as:

- Written Journal Responses

- Poetry Analysis

- Music must be reviewed at home at least 5 times per quarter

Grading Scales for Vocal Ensembles at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

Reassessment

1) Students will have opportunities to be reassessed on assessments.

2) Students will have opportunities to be reassessed after at least one re-teaching of subject

materials and will then schedule a reassessment time with the teacher.

Choral Music

Performance Schedule

2009-2010

DATE EVENT PLACE TIME COMMENT

Mon, Oct. 26

2009

MCYC Concert TBA 8:00a.m. to

1:30p.m.

All MCYC singers

Weds, Nov 11

2009

UMD Choral Invitational University of

Maryland

8:00 am to

10:00 pm

Chamber Singers Only

Sat. Nov 14

2009

Junior All State Chorus

Auditions

TBA Scheduled

times

9th

grade singers

Sat. Nov 21

2009

All State Senior Choir

Auditions

TBA Scheduled

times

10-12 grade singers

Fri. Dec

4,5,6,11,12

2009

Moby Dick The Musical B-CC

Auditorium

Scheduled

Performance

Times

All crew, performers and

instrumentalists

Tue. Dec 15

2009

Winter Concert - Choral BCC

Auditorium

7:00p.m. All Choral groups

Fri., Dec. 18,

2009

In-School Holiday Concert BCC

Auditorium

Morning

time TBA

All ensembles

Fri., Jan. 29,

2010

TENTATIVE

Jazz/String/Drumline/Chamber

Singers Performance

Westland

M. S.

12:30p.m. to

2:25p.m.

Recruitment/Articulation

( Chamber Singers only)

Fri, Jan 29 –

Saturday Jan

30th

2010

Opera Performance:

Dido and Aeneas

B-CC

Auditorium

TBA All Musicians, Crew and

IB Music students

Sat., Feb. 20,

2010

(Snow date –

Sat., March

6)

Cabaret BCC

Cafeteria

7 – 11p.m. Jazz, Sym. Orch.,

chamber singers,

women’s choir

Tue., Feb. 23,

2010

Festival Rehearsal for

Women’s Choir

Band Room

E008

6:30 –

8:30p.m.

Concert/Advanced

Orchestra

Mon., Mar. 1,

2010

Festival Rehearsal Concert

Choir

Band Room

E008

6:30 –

8:30p.m.

Symphonic Band

Tue., Mar. 2,

2010

Festival Rehearsal for

Chamber Singers

Band Room

E008

6:30 –

8:30p.m.

Advanced Band

Sat. Mar. 6,

2010

Celebration of Women’s

Voices - Rehearsal

University of

Maryland

12:00- 4:00

pm

Women’s Choir Only

Sun. Mar. 7,

2010

Celebration of Women’s

Voices- Concert

University of

Maryland

Chapel

2:00pm-

5:00 pm

Women’s Choir Only

Thu. Mar. 25,

2010

Chamber Choir Festival Bethesda

Presbyterian

Church

TBA Chamber Singers Only

Thu. April 2,

2010

Chorus and Women’s Choir

Festival

Wooton

High School

TBA Chorus and Women’s

Choir

Weds. April 8

– 11, 2010

Music Trip TBA TBA All groups

Tue., May 4,

2010

Spring Concert - Choral BCC

Auditorium

7:00p.m. All choral groups

Thu., May 6,

2010

Spring Concert - Instrumental BCC

Auditorium

7:00p.m. All instrumental groups

June, 2010 Graduation DAR

Constitution

Hall

TBA Chamber Singers Only

Any performances listed in bold font are mandatory

Classroom Procedures,

Rules and expectations

Expectations of all Choral Students at B-CC:

1) Students will have all materials ready within one minute of the

bell.

2) Students will not be permitted to have cell phones, ipods, or other

electronic devices inside the classroom.

3) Students will treat each other, school materials and all faculty

with respect! Respect is the key to success in this class!

4) Students will throw out any gum or candy before rehearsal has

started. One warning will be followed by detention! It is not safe

or productive to chew gum when singing!

5) NO FOOD OR DRINKS (Aside from bottled water) in this class-

room.

6) Students will put all materials away before exiting the room.

Please keep this room clean for yourselves and others!

7) Students will ask for permission to leave the room

8) Students will stand and sit when asked and must discuss any

special accommodations with me beforehand! 9) Respect yourself and others. Disrespect will not be tolerated by

any means. This is a safe environment where no one is more

important than anyone else. All opinions matter and are

appreciated.

Music: Students will have numbered folders and mu-

sic that is assigned to a cubby. If these materi-

als are not returned or become damaged the

student will compensate the music department

for replacement.

Keep your numbered music and folder in the

correct slot. It is also required that you have a

pencil for making appropriate markings. Keep

one in your folder for daily use and it is al-

ways good to bring one extra!

You must have your music for rehearsals and

concerts. Coming to class without music or

leaving it in your cubby will affect your class-

room performance grade for that day!

Attire for Concert Chorus:

Women: Black shoes, black stockings or socks, black

pants or skirt, black blouse. All skirts must be past the

knee to be acceptable

Men: black shoes, black socks, black pants, black button

up shirt, solid black tie.

Attire for Treble and Chamber Choir:

Women: will be required to purchase a long black dress

from the BCC website link http://

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/bcchs/

academics/music/concertdress.aspx. The cost is approxi-

mately $60.00. This is a one-time purchase that can be

used throughout high school for all performances. Black

shoes and dark or clear stockings are the responsibility of

each individual student.

Men: will be required to purchase a tuxedo outfit which

will include a notch lapel coat, pleated tux pants, wing

tux shirt, and a cummerbund and bow tie. The informa-

tion is located from the BCC website link http://

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/bcchs/

academics/music/concertdress.aspx. $100.00. Black

shoes (no tennis shoes) and black socks.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR ALL VOCAL

ENSEMBLES AT BETHESDA-Chevy Chase

All performing ensembles in the choral department will have the following general outcomes. Special goals within each area will vary

according to the nature of the group. 1. The main objective, toward which all others merely contribute, is to

become a unified vehicle in mind and spirit through which the com-poser’s conception/intention is most perfectly brought to life through sound. We refer to this goal as artistic, sensitive and expres-sive performance, full musical realization, or the aesthetic experience. Our overall aim is to “make music” in the fullest sense of the words.

2. To better achieve this goal, we will consistently strive for better vocal

sound production as we are developing. Through improved technique, expression is better realized. Our aim is to sing with proficiency and to use our voices more expertly.

3. To more fully realize the composer’s intention, we aim to improve Music reading ability. We need to understand the symbols, notations,

and nuances of the written score. 4. To better understand the style and performance intended by the com-

poser, we need to be aware of music through history. We will explore the time periods in which these composers wrote and what events may have affected those works.

5. To build a more perfect group instrument, we will work on fostering a

sense of unity and cooperation not unlike a team spirit. The whole must be greater than the sum of its parts. Every member of the group contributes to this “family-like” atmosphere.

“ Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives,

thinks and invents!”

-Ludwig Van Beethoven

1. Ask Questions!

In a class as large as

ours it is easy to get a

little behind. Always ask

for help and be honest

about your progress.

2. Be Assertive!

The key to moving

ahead is self motivation

and determination. Take

charge of your own pro-

gress and assert yourself

inside and out of the

classroom

3. Organize your time:

Map out how much

time you will need on

materials and don’t

waste time being con-

fused. Ask for help right

away!

4. Help Each other

Many of you may have

prior knowledge with

guitar. Help each other

and make connections.

You may need some help

in return one day!

“can I borrow a pencil?”

5. Practice

Free period? Lunch? Af-

ter School? Couldn’t

hurt!

6. LISTEN!

I will never expect you to

do anything you haven’t

been prepared for. The

key to learning is listen-

ing. Open communica-

tion between students

and teachers is so impor-

tant!

How can I stay on track? 8survival tips:

7 .Try something new!

If you haven’t tried it

before, now is your

chance. Don’t make

judgments to quickly!

Keep an open mind

8. HAVE FUN!

How fortunate are we to

have the opportunity to

take music classes in

school!? Many counties

don’t offer music

courses or don’t have

the funds. Soak up this

time, let this class build

your character and tal-

ents. Most of

all….HAVE FUN!

BETHESDA CHEVY CHASE CHORAL PROGRAMS

If music be the food of love, PLAY

ON!

- William Shakespeare

Music expresses that which cannot be

said and on what is impossible to be silent

- Victor Hugo