Jordan Choral Program 2016-2017
“The only thing better than singing is more singing.” - Ella Fitzgerald
Welcome to the Jordan Choirs! Mission The mission of the Jordan Choirs is to provide students with an exemplary choral and vocal music education, and to foster a love of music and singing through a safe community of learning that allows students to thrive and grow as musicians, leaders, and compassionate people. We strive to reach our mission through vocal and musicianship building, relationship building, appropriate and inspiring repertoire, fun and playful games, community building and outreach, performances, travel, and fun. We hope to bring together the Jordan community in the performance of great music shared and celebrated by all. Through this, we hope to provide fulfillment, belonging, and joy to all students through memorable, musical experiences that last a lifetime.
With any questions, please contact: Monica Covitt, Choir Director, at
[email protected]
About the Choirs The Jordan 6th Grade Choir is the beginning choir at Jordan, made up of approximately 120 young singers just beginning their choral explorations. We explore music through fun and engaging repertoire, musicianship building, lots of games, and creative and collaborative projects. 6th grade music classes meet twice per week, alternating with PE. The Jordan Mixed Choir is an advanced ensemble made up of approximately 80 young men and women in 7th and 8th grade, who sing repertoire from throughout the choral canon, representing all time eras and genres.
The Jordan Girls Choir is an advanced ensemble made up of 40 young women in 7th and 8th grade, performing advanced repertoire for treble voices from a variety of eras and musical styles. Both the Mixed and Girls Choirs meet four times per week. Students spend rehearsals working on repertoire from various periods and cultures, including classical, popular, folk, world music and jazz styles. Students learn music fundamentals through games and creative activities, and explore their musical voices in a safe and supportive community. Both choirs perform in multiple events each year, and represent some of the most advanced and dedicated singers at Jordan.
“Choir is like the first ray of sun after ten months of rain. It’s the life raft that you get after being stranded on an island. It helps you make new friends and keep them. I love choir.” - Alex, 8th grader
Performances Our Choir Performances are exciting, and a great way to demonstrate our progress. They are an important part of our school culture and something that our school and community take pride in. Perfor mances are a required and important part of Choir Grades and of musical assessment (35% of total grade). Please note the listed concert dates and times as soon as possible on your family calendar and in your binder reminder to prevent any conflicts. It is expected that you will attend every performance, arrive on time, stay for the entire performance, wear the required concert dress, participate fully, and represent our school and program with pride to receive full credit. Performance Etiquette • Arrive on time and stay for entire performance • Wear the required concert dress • Participate fully, positively support other singers and g roups, and represent our school with pride
Our 2016-2017 Season: Important Dates* Picnic, Potluck and Social / Movie Party
(All Choirs welcome!) - optional; details TBA
9/24/16
11AM 3:30 PM
Jordan Music Halloween Concert @ Jordan MPR (7th and 8th graders only)
10/31/16
during school
Winter Concert “The World in Song” @ Jordan MPR (All Choirs)
12/1/16
7-8 PM, student call time for singers 5:15
6th Grade Guest Artist Visit (6th graders only)
1/9-1/11/17
details TBA
Jordan Music So Cal Tour Benefit Concert @ Jordan MPR
(7th and 8th graders only)
1/18/17
7-8 PM, tour info meeting to follow
Elementary School Tour @ elementary schools
7th and 8th graders only)
2/3/17
during school
Artist Residency with Jim Papoulis and Middle School Choir Festival Concert (7th and 8th graders only)
2/27-3/1/17
details TBA
So Cal Performance Tour @ Disneyland (7th and 8th graders only - tentative)
3/22-3/25/17
:)
Solo Showcase and Cafe Night @ Jordan MPR (All Choirs welcome; performers by audition only; optional event)
4/28/17
7-8 PM, call time 6pm for singers
Spring Concert @ Jordan MPR (All Choirs)
5/18/17
7-8 PM, call time 5:15 for singers
8th Grade Choir Party (8th graders only)
5/23/17
details TBD
• No cell phone use or other electronics All concerts will be professionally video recorded and available for purchase in DVD format for $25.
*please check our website for more details!
Concert Dress for Girls and Mixed Choirs
Girls Choir and Mixed Choir members wear a choir performance polo shirt, black pants, black socks, and closed-toe black shoes for all concert performances.
Performance polo shirts will be available for purchase at the beginning of the school year for $25. They can be worn for both the 7th and 8th grade school years.
Concert Dress for 6th Grade Choir 6th grade choir members wear a 6th Grade Choir shirt (will be available for a $12 donation at the beginning of school) with black pants, black socks, and closed-toe black shoes. No jeans, leggings, or tennis shoes are allowed.
Pants should be dress pants. No jeans, leggings, or tennis shoes are allowed. Alternate attire for specific events will be announced in advance. If you need assistance acquiring appropriate concert dress, please contact with Ms. Covitt.
Keep Up
with the Choirs on Social Media!
You can keep up to date with the Jordan Choirs through all of our Social Media! Website/Blog: www.jord anmschoirs.com #jordanmschoirs Schoology updates Email and Infinite Camp us updates YouTube Channel under Monica Covitt
Remind via cell phones at
home
Other Opportunities A Cappella and Song Club
The Jordan A Cappella and Song Club, the Jordan ROCKapellaS, meets once a week on Thursdays at lunch, and offers extra opportunities for students to explore their voices in a solo, popular music and an a cappella ensemble setting. This club is geared towards but not limited to popular music and singer/songwriter performances. Students learn how to use their pop voices in healthy and beautiful ways. There are about 35 singers in the club, and members are either already a part of the choir program or are looking for an extra opportunity to sing around Jordan. The A Cappella Club performs at both our winter and spring concerts. PAUSD 6th Grade Honor Choir
The All-District 6th Grade Honor Band, Choir, and Orchestras are available to advanced-level 6th grade students who wish to have more challenging musical opportunities in addition to their regular school music class. Each group meets once a week after school during the second semester of the year. Auditions and recommendations will take place in December, and groups will rehearse January through May.
“No matter what is going on in the outside world, it is not going on in the choir room. Choir is a place where I always feel loved. I love choir, and choir loves me.” - Tyler, 7th grader
Participation and Grading
and more.
Performances (35% of Grade):
See above on Page 2.
Practicing is an essential part of your success in choir and is expected.
Participation (35% of Grade):
Students will get Daily Participation Grades for:
Positive participation in Class, Bringing sheet music, pencils, and all materials to every class, and showing respect to teachers, other students, and materials.
Late work, for any assignment, will not be accepted for full credit.
State and National Honor Choirs
7th and 8th graders in our choir program will have the opportunity to audition for three Honor Choirs this year outside of school: the CMEA Bay Section Honor Choir in the Bay Area in January, the CASMEC AllState Honor Choir in San Jose in February, and the ACDA National Honor Choir in Minneapolis, MN in March. More details about each event and the application/audition process will be available at the beginning of the school year. Ms. Covitt is available to help with all auditions.
Students will get Weekly Participation Grades for:
Posture, Expression, and Vowel Shapes while singing
Students will get Bi-weekly Grades for:
Rhythm and Sight-reading skills, Repertoire Excerpts, and Diction
Students will get Monthly Grades for:
Pitch-matching, tone quality, and intonation Practice (10% of Grade): Various assignments will be assigned to guide your practice: practice journals, audio and video recordings, audio and video call-ins,
Other Expectations Showing Respect at all events towards peers, teachers, instruments, parents, and space is expected at all times. As a Jordan Choir member, you represent our school and community in its best form. No food or gum are allowed during rehearsals, performances, or events. When absent, it is your responsibility to make up any missed work. If you are at school but cannot sing, please bring a note from your parent or doctor. If you are late you will be marked tardy unless you have a late pass. Be on time and in your seat with materials out when the bell rings. Bathroom use is expected to be done before or after class.
A Note from Ms. Covitt Dear Families of the Jordan Choral Program,
Grading Scale
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 2016-2017 school year and another season with the Jordan Choirs. It has been an immense joy to watch the choir program grow over the last few years into something that has quickly become a pillar of our school and our community. I am honored to have you and your children as a part of it!
Performances
35%
Participation
35%
Practice
10%
Materials
15%
I first began my musical journey when I was in middle school, and I will never forget the moments that inspired me down a lifelong path of music making. I think that the middle school years are some of the most special and formative years of childhood, and I will strive to make your child’s experience in choir one full of happy memories, friendships, positive experiences, growth, and support in our special community that fosters a safe space for your child during an important time in their lives.
Other work and assignments
Students empowering themselves through the beauty and strength of their voices remains my inspiration each day. I only hope that I can inspire them this year as much as they inspire me.
5%
Be the Best You Can Be! Private lessons can be valuable for any student on any instrument. Conside r voice or piano lessons to help you reach your full pote ntial as a choir member. You can get a list of private voice teachers in the area from Ms. Covitt.
Required Materials - choir sheet music - any hand-outs - any assignments (when due) - pencil w/eraser - binder reminder Students will have daily checks to be sure they are bringing their materials! (15% of Grade)
Here’s to a great year! - Ms. Covitt
About the Director
Monica Covitt is beginning her seventh year as a choir director in the PAUSD and her fifth year at Jordan. During her time at Jordan, the choir program has nearly quadrupled and is a core part of the school’s culture, nearing almost 250 students! Ms. Covitt loves everything about teaching choir, from hearing her students’ beautiful voices grow each day to seeing the fun, imaginative, and creative discoveries that her students make during games, music learning, and singing with each other. Before coming to Palo Alto, Ms. Covitt lived and worked in Washington, D.C., where she worked on arts education outreach and policy with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Ms. Covitt is a graduate of UCLA where she studied vocal and choral music education, and is also a graduate of the San Francisco International Orff Course, where she completed her certification in Orff-Schulwerk music education and jazz instruction. Ms. Covitt takes singing and conducting lessons and sings in choirs throughout the Bay Area regularly, and always strives to keep learning for her students and her community.
Outside of teaching, Ms. Covitt loves traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time in her home of San Francisco. She spent her summer traveling to Cuba, Mexico, Chicago and New York City.
