Monday, 27 June 2005

That's MR. RACEY to YOU, BUCKO!

Here we go, everyone! A SERIOUS entry! Becky wrote an entry (actually, two entries) in her blog about how she'd like to run her classroom. The wheels have turned in my head for awhile how I'd like to run my own, and in discussing it with Becky what I'D like to do, I present the following...

Tyler M. Racey, High School Choir Director Extraordinaire! *tah-dah!*

Singing in my choirs will NOT be a slacker's haven. Ideally, I'd like a large men's-women's choir, a women-only choir, a men-only choir, and possibly a smaller madrigals-style ensemble similar to Lake Effect, my men's-women's small ensemble from sophomore year.

Let's get singing! First off, there will be little things here and there. Don't be surprised if I quiz you on a few key points emphasized at a massed festival, ensemble testing, or a translation of a text that isn't in English. This is useful stuff to know and COULD be on the exam...

When we're holding a major concert, you better be there unless you're excused by a doctor (NOT by a parent) or if there's an unbelievably extenuating circumstance in your family. If it's not legit, you will fail my class. Don't try and argue with me because that will only annoy me, and I don't like to be annoyed. Choose your priorities if you're in other activities like sports, too. Don't try and slack off on me.

District and State Choral Festivals are IMPORTANT! They require many hours of memorization and fine-tuning for success. I'd expect my students to work hard in class and outside if necessary and I'd be willing to offer extra help if needed. But you need to come to me. Oh yes, and do plan on going to Festival if you'd like to earn a passing grade, same rules as concert attendance applying. They offer not only the chance to showcase your talents to the judges and other schools, you get to see the other schools also showcase their work.

I'd take Festival one step further. I'd make every effort to keep the judges' ratings hidden from my choirs during the festival for an important reason. Every choir gets a CD recording of its performance at both District and State Choral Festivals. What I would do is first instruct my choirs in how the judges rate choirs, not only to familiarize them in how to best prepare for Festival, but also for a major assignment. I would bring the CD into class and then ask the students to rate themselves the same way the judges do. Using the same criteria and rating materials, the students would listen to the performance one time with a copy of the score from each piece on hand for reference if necessary. They then would assign a rating with constructive (and realistic) comments on the rating sheet. Once the in-class portion is finished and I have all the ratings sheets (remember, the judges don't have much time to decide how they rate choirs), I will THEN tell my choirs how we did. I would grade my students based on how realistic/helpful their own comments were, against what the judges' comments were, and based on my own opinions as an instructor after listening to the CD. And as a bonus, I would offer any student who can match the mean or median rating in each of the five areas exactly with extra credit. If you can match ALL of them (and thus, the overall rating), extra credit would definitely come your way plus a nice prize. What more incentive do you need-a critical grade, extra credit, something good, and most importantly, an understanding of how to make good choral music!

Exam time! My exams would be two-fold. First, I'd give you a written exam based on a sample piece we've performed, covering the basic stuff like phrasing, dynamics, technicalities, etc. THEN it's time to sing two things. I'd ask you to sing a piece we've studied in a representative ensemble, i.e. an SSAATTBB piece in an octet, an SATB in a quartet, etc. Then for the tricky part: sight-reading! You have to learn sight-reading for Festival, and it's an important skill to have when you sing, so I'd test your sight-reading abilities. Never fear, we would do plenty of practice in class and I'd do my best to have sight-read at an appropriate skill level. But don't be caught unprepared!

I want us to have fun! I'd love to see my students successful and learn to appreciate music! Be the leaders at a massed-festival! Impress everyone by making it into All-State Honors Choir! Most importantly, if I can teach you to love music, I've done my job.

Currently Reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe By C.S. Lewis see related

Comments(6)

You eval ideas are so creative (especially the singing in SSAATTBB and all that). I think the withholding scores will be tough, unless you can make a deal with the ppl who report scores so that only you will know. Very tricky. You are tuning up to be a fine teacher-in-training.

For my first offical act now that I am offically 21, I think I shall officially sleep.

dorothygale27

I think that sounds perhaps really strict for highschool level. Sounds more like a college class; in fact it sounds exactly like the Bio Lab prof I had last fall. I wonder if I still have that syllabus... You were only excused from a lab by your own death; if that was not the case then you had to sit in with one of the other labs that week. Failure to do so resulted in no credit for that whole week. Frankly, you were better off dead then crossing this crazy woman. Over all post is interesting but I still prefer comedy.

chickenlittle27

I need to expand into other genres, and I've found my Xanga to be a wonderful places for my own thoughts. Wait, isn't that kinda what a Xanga is for in the first place?

Major_General_Music

I suppose. You mean its not solely to humor me? For my personal amusement?

chickenlittle27

Nope.

Major_General_Music

Hmm... Are you absolutely certain? Maybe it is at least partially for my personal amusement?

chickenlittle27