SUNCOAST ELEMENTARY CHILDREN’S CHORUS 

CHORISTER / PARENT HANDBOOK

Mrs. Yolanda Martinez, Music Specialist and Chorus Director

11135 Quality Drive Spring Hill, FL 34609

Tel (352) 797-7085 ext. 221

email:martinez_y@hcsb.k12.fl.us 

REQUIREMENTS

**Membership requirements are designed to ensure high quality and standards for SESCC. Choristers will take pride in developing a tradition of musical excellence and commitment to good citizenship. Each individual is an important part of the whole group. **

RULES OF CONDUCT

1. Go directly to your seat and stay there.
2. Socializing

Singing together is a social event. Talking during rehearsals is a natural outgrowth of participating in that event. However, uncontrolled talking is deadly to the effectiveness of the choral rehearsal. It is mainly singers who are not well trained or serious about the outcome that give in to excessive talking and socializing during rehearsal time. SESCC choristers are not this type of singer. Therefore, once rehearsal has begun, socializing must end.

1. Why?
   1. Talking interrupts the rehearsal.
   2. Talking interferes with the conductor's work.
   3. Talking may bother others and labels you as a nuisance.
   4. Talking interferes with your concentration.
   5. The more talking there is, the less singing there is. You are here to sing.
2. Opportunities not to talk:
   1. Between songs
   2. When you stop singing
   3. After an activity
3. What to do if you forget and begin talking:
   1. Stop immediately when the conductor taps the music stand.
   2. Stop when the person you are talking to doesn't respond.
   3. Stop as soon as you realize what you are doing.
4. Benefits of not talking:
   1. Music is learned more quickly and becomes more fun to sing.
   2. The conductor is happy.
   3. You earn merit credit.
5. Consequences of talking:
   1. It wastes time.
   2. It takes longer to learn the music.
   3. The conductor is not happy.
   4. You run the risk of being dismissed from SESCC.
      
      
2. Questions and comments

Questions and comments related to the music or the rehearsal are good. Anything you don't understand needs to be made clear. Ask your question as soon as it comes to you.

What to do if you want to ask a question or say something related to the rehearsal:

1. Raise your hand.
2. Raise your hand.
3. Raise your hand.

What to do if you are not called on:

4. Understand that sometimes the conductor must stop the questions or comments if they delay the rehearsal too much.
5. Ask your question or make your comment to the conductor after class.
   
   
3. Other stuff:
   1. Leaving the room during rehearsal interrupts the activity and may cause you to miss something important. Therefore, please use the bathroom before or after class. If you absolutely have to go during class, get up, leave quietly and return to your seat the same way. Explain to the conductor privately after class why you had to leave.
   2. Keep your hands to yourself.
   3. Respect other's right NOT to be touched unless they give you permission. If they ask you to stop,  do so immediately.
   4. If someone is bothering you, make sure you didn't bother him or her first. If you did, apologize. Otherwise, ask them to stop.

("I really don't like it when you do that. Please stop.") If they don't stop bothering you and become nuisance, let the conductor know what is going on.

5. If you need to move around, raise your hand and ask. Otherwise, stay seated.
6. Notice if you are showing off or acting silly. This behavior is not appreciated in SESCC. Stop immediately.
7. Be attentive.
8. Let others finish their comments without interruption.
9. Don't criticize, blame or try to embarrass others.
10. Help others to succeed, and be happy for them when they do.
11. Discuss problems or concerns with the conductor.
12. Remember that you are responsible for your own behavior. Your parents love you and want to know if you are behaving inappropriately. If so, we will tell them and work together with them to help you learn how to act during rehearsals if you seem unable to control yourself.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance policies must be strictly and equitably enforced. Attending regular rehearsals encourages each chorister to develop a sense of commitment and responsibility. Regular attendance is expected and necessary for all choristers.

Any questions about attendance should be directed to the Music Director, who reserves the right to make final decisions regarding extenuating circumstances.

Attendance at Grand Rehearsals is mandatory without exception. Choristers who are unable to attend a Grand Rehearsal for any reason whatsoever will not be allowed to sing in the related concert and charged with a "concert absence." This is not to penalize the chorister but rather to preserve the integrity of the performance.

There are only three acceptable excuses for absence from PERFORMANCES. They are:

• Illness
• Death in the family
• Mandatory school performance

THE MUSIC DIRECTOR MUST BE INFORMED OF YOUR PENDING ABSENCE FROM A PERFORMANCE.

NUMBER OF ABSENCES ALLOWED

There will be a total of two (2) excused absences and two (2) unexcused absences per season. 

No more than two of the total absences may occur before any Formal Concert.

Emergency absences such as those due to illness or death in the family will be considered "excused." Please notify the teacher prior to the absence if at all possible and follow up with a note of explanation at the earliest possible convenience. Notes of explanation may be given to the Music Director.

A general guideline for typical Excused absences:

1. Planned family events/outings/vacations
2. Scheduled school events/trips/breaks
3. Religious observations
4. Exam preparation

LATENESS

1. Choristers who arrive after classes or warm-ups begin will be considered late. 
2. In the event that punctuality is not possible due to work or other schedule conflicts, the situation must be discussed with the Music Director.

CONSEQUENCES

In the case of excessive absences, we will assume that participation in SESCC is not of interest to the student. The student will receive a written explanation containing the withdrawal from Chorus.

PERFORMANCES

Holiday Performances

Formal Concerts

Other Concerts (Talent Show, Winter Wonderland, PTA Carnival, etc.)

            Early Release Shows

CONCERNING ABOUT EARLY RELEASE DAY SHOWS:

            ***DUE TO BUILDING ACCOMMODATIONS AND OUR LIMITED SEATING, EARLY RELEASE SHOWS ARE FOR STUDENTS ONLY. WE APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT THIS MAY CAUSE***.

PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES

Before the concert:

Choristers

• Get plenty of sleep the night before and lots of quiet rest on the day of the concert.
• A week before the performance: rest your voice, drink plenty of water or juice and avoid beverages with caffeine.
• Be sure to eat a full meal; avoid dairy products if possible. DO NOT come on an empty stomach!
• Allow adequate time to get dressed and drive to the concert site in a relaxed manner.

Parents please go over the following information with your child before each concert:

Chorister, if you do not feel well while performing (faint, nauseated), please do one of the following:

• Walk off the stage; a concert parent will meet you backstage.
• Sit down on the risers; a concert parent will come to help you.
• Please do one of the above immediately if you feel ill, have a problem and need help. Do not wait to finish the song or a group of songs. Leave the stage right away. It is perfectly acceptable to need help and appropriate to seek it.

In case of an emergency, assistant personnel will be in attendance at all Concerts.

UNIFORMS

Uniforms are REQUIRED for performances.

They consist of black or dark "quiet" (rubber soled) shoes; black slacks and long sleeve white shirt for boys, black or dark "quiet" (rubber soled) shoes, long black pants and white (long sleeve) blouse for girls.

**Accessories (earrings, jewelry, headbands/ribbons) should be minimal and tasteful. Boys' belts and socks should be dark. No makeup is permitted. **

COMMUNICATIONS

Choristers and their parents/guardians are equally responsible for seeing that all notes, newsletters, etc. are read. Please ask for them after each rehearsal. The SESCC newsletter will be sent home with the choristers at regular intervals. This communication will highlight all the events of the SESCC and report on the members and what they do for the community, etc. Any concerns or communications must be placed by phone (BETWEEN 3:00 TO 4:30 PM) at 352-797-7085 ext. 221.