Choir Notes
Dear WSMS Choir Families,
It has been an exciting week of classroom preparation as we get ready to welcome our Face-to-Face learners on campus next Tuesday! It was so fun and re-energizing to see our students at Walk the Springs yesterday. While some of our singers will be in-person and others will be virtually live-streaming our choir class next week, please know that we are dedicated to providing the same standard of music education that you are used to receiving in Lovejoy ISD!
VIRTUAL LEARNERS-PARTICIPATION IN CHOIR UPDATE
Choir is an activity that performs together and is sanctioned by UIL, so all students who have chosen virtual learning are allowed to attend choir classes in person. We understand that it may not be possible for all families, but we want to make sure you understand your options. We would LOVE to see as many students as possible in person - choir isn’t choir without an ensemble - but please understand that we value your choices, responsibilities, and family decisions, and we will make choir great for everyone, whether at home or in person.
If you are a virtual learner, please click this link and complete this questionnaire. Please note:
Parents must provide transportation to and from campus.
If you come in-person to class, enter the front office and sign in. Then report directly to choir.
Students will be dismissed 15 minutes early from choir to make it home in time for their next online class.
Students must sign out in the front office and leave.
PRIVATE VOICE LESSONS DURING CLASS
Students have the opportunity to take private voice lessons during school hours as an enrichment of classroom instruction. These lessons are designed to utilize the characteristic literature of the voice rather than to rehearse the music a student will be performing in choir. Please consider this incredible, important, and fun opportunity to develop your individual talent! This is a year-long commitment by both parent (finances) and student (practice time). In private lessons students receive individualized coaching on vocal techniques taught during choral rehearsal. The lessons will take place during the student's choir class and will be conducted virtually. The cost is $20 per 22-minute lesson. If your child is interested in taking private voice lessons this year, please fill out this form.
LISD CHOIR UPDATES FOR SAFE SINGING
You may have read that singing is one of the best ways to spread COVID-19. Because we care about the health of our students, staff, and community, we are working diligently to make the choir room a safe space for everyone. There have been several studies that have been done this summer specifically for the fine arts. The most recent Performing Arts Aerosol Study can be found HERE. Many colleges and universities are releasing their own protocols for their choral and instrumental ensembles. We have been very busy reading and watching all the latest research, and here is what we have formulated for the WSMS Choir when we return to school face-to-face.
LISD requires all students to be masked on school property. This is especially true at all times in the choir room.
In addition to masks, students will be required to wear face shields in the choir room. We will roll a nominal cost into our choir fees this year to cover a basic plastic face shield for every choir student.
These will be non-adjustable face shields. You are welcome to purchase your own if you would prefer, but the cost will remain bundled within the choir fees.
All students are responsible for the transportation, care, and sterilization of their face shields. We will make sure students sterilize their face masks before putting them away in their backpacks.
Students will be distanced by 6’ during singing.
Students will sing in straight lines in the same direction - no singing circles or arches.
Students will sing in groups of no more than 10 at a time.
This means that students will sing in small groups: sections, quartets, octets, etc.
While one group is singing, the others will complete assignments for choir while remaining socially distant.
While inside, we will sing for 30 minutes, clear the room to allow the air to filter for 30-40 minutes, and return to sing if there is time. Back-to-back classes may have to wait for the air in the room to clear before entering the choir room.
We will try to sing outside when possible. Remember that singing outside still requires social distancing. In addition, it is more difficult to hear your teammates when singing outside.
WHAT WILL CHOIR LOOK LIKE THIS FALL?!
As you know, this is new to all of us, and things are constantly changing. As of today, this is our plan for both our face-to-face and remote learners…
Students will sing every day. Sometimes it will be synchronously, sometimes asynchronously.
Students will spend time every day developing their music literacy skills. This will be a combination of music theory, sight-reading, and aural skills.
Goals for the semester will include advanced ensemble skill building, recording projects, as well as preparing additional performance repertoire for the spring semester.
Accommodations for the semester will include a smaller choir size and shorter rehearsal periods as listed in our safety guidelines.
When not in rehearsal, students will participate in individual practice or online/collaborative learning.
Performances may include virtual choir experiences, group projects, and individual projects. As we receive more information about the safety of group performances, we will continue to update our plans!
It has been so fun to reconnect and spend time with your children over the past three weeks! I am so thankful for each and every one of them and am so excited for what lies ahead. I hope you have a wonderful and restful holiday weekend!