Choir Notes

Written By Guest User

Dear WSMS Choir Families,

I hope that the first two weeks of Online Learning have been a success! I have absolutely loved reconnecting with your children and also meeting the many new singers that have joined our choir community this year. It makes me so happy to be back with our wonderful Willow Springs students!

For those of you who are new to the WSMS Choir Department, here is a quick rundown about Choir Notes: I will typically email our weekly Choir Notes on Thursdays. (I’m a day late this week, but I promise I’ll be as consistent as possible! 😊) The newest and most pressing information can be found at the beginning of the email, and repeated topics and reminders are towards the end. Currently, there are no urgent upcoming events due to health & safety issues, but I will keep you updated with any changes!

NEW! SIGN UP FOR PRIVATE VOICE LESSONS!

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.

  • 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!

We are in the process of updating our website (www.lovejoychoir.com) - stay tuned for its live release! In the meantime, feel free to follow Willow Springs Choir on our social media pages:

 Information about choir forms and fees for the 2020-2021 school year will be available as soon as the website goes live. Enjoy your weekend!


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Choir Notes