SCVA Newsletter (on-line version) – January 2006
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Message from the President – Grace Sheldon-Williams, President
Musical Offerings III:
Bits & Pieces
Wow! It’s gratifying to find
out that a few people actually read this cover article! (Look out...there might be prizes
embedded in this page sometime in the future.) Following “Musical Offerings II” in the October newsletter,
Anthony Palmer from Boston University sent these recommendations. He says, “I've used every one of these
pieces and they were all successful.”
Thanks, Tony!
Mixed Voices:
- Beethoven, Ludwig van,
Opferlied (Song), A. J. Palmer, Ed., SAT Solos, SATB Ch. (Ger./Eng. text),
winds, NMP-186.
- Blow, John, Sing Ye Muses, A. J.
Palmer, Ed., SATB Ch., 2 treble instru., cont., NMP-187.
- Mendelssohn, Felix, Neujahrslied
(New Year's Song), A. J. Palmer, Ed., SATB Ch., (Ger./Eng. text), NMP-182.
- Schubert, Franz, Glaube Hoffnumg
und Liebe (Faith, Hope and Love), A. J. Palmer, Ed., SATTBB Ch., (Ger./Eng.
text), winds, NMP-185.
- Schumann, Robert, Das Schifflein
(The Boat), A. J. Palmer, Ed., SATB Ch., (Ger./Eng. text), winds. All with National Music, 1986, CMS-130.
- Schein, Johann Hermann, O
Amarilli, A. J. Palmer, Ed., SSATB, continuo. National Music, 1994, NMP-208.
- The Hound's Serenade, A. J.
Palmer, SSATBB, Plymouth Music, l976, now available from Colla Voce, Number
55-48108 PCS-108.
- Bury Me Beneath the Willow,
Adapted A. J. Palmer, SATB, Solos, Pno, Fl., National Music, 1985, NMP-176.
- Lo Yisa Goy, arr. A. J. Palmer,
2-part Chorus, Pno., National Music, 1996, NMP-225.
- My days are gone like a shadow,
A. J. Palmer, SATB, Boosey-Hawkes, 1998, OCTB6994.
- Psalm 150 (Make We Merry), A. J.
Palmer, SATB and 3 Tpts., Fostco Music Press, 2002, MF2177.
Male Voices:
- Your Hands Lie Open, arr. A.
J. Palmer, TTBB, Plymouth Music, now available from Colla Voce, Plymouth Choral
Series, Catalog Number 55-48304 PCS-304.
- Streets of Laredo, arr. A. J.
Palmer, TBB, Pno., National Music, 1985, WHC-149.
- Timber, arr. A. J. Palmer, Bass
or Bar. Solo, TBB Chorus, Pno., National Music, 1991, WHC-172.
- Drunken Sailor, arr. A. J.
Palmer, TTBB Chorus, Pno., National Music, 1996, NMP226.
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JUNIOR HIGH HONOR CHOIR – Tony Azeltine, VP Jr. High Honor Choir
It’s time to prepare your best singers and musicians to auditions for
the Junior High Honor Choir! We
are honored to have Lori Marie Rios as our guest conductor this
year. If you have seen Lori work
with youth, you know what a treat your students will be in for.
The Honor Choir is open to all 7, 8, and 9th graders, as well as 6th graders IF they are in a middle school choral program. High school BOYS in 9th grade are especially encouraged to audition, so we may have a solid bass/baritone section. Boys with unchanged voices are also encouraged to audition. There is a $5 audition fee and a $45 participation fee for students accepted into the choir. Singers will again have a rehearsal CD to help them learn and memorize their music.
The Audition Process
Teach your students the following for a few minutes every day between
now and January. They will become
more confident musicians and will do well at the audition. They must be able to sing the
following:
- “America” (“My Country ‘Tis
of Thee”) a cappella
- Major scale (using solfege,
numbers, or any vowel, with accuracy)
- Major and minor triads
- Tonal Memory Patterns
- Rhythmic sight reading (clap,
tap, ta-ti, the correct rhythms)
- Melodic sight reading (solfege
or any syllable)
It is extremely important that directors understand that your signature on a student’s application indicates your confidence that the student will be a responsible and dedicated member of the Honor Choir. Rehearsal dates are MANDATORY and are NOT negotiable. Students who have a conflict with any of the dates on the applications should NOT apply or audition! (Directors with school conflicts must contact me right away.) If a student drops out or is dismissed from an SCVA Honor Choir, the student’s school may not be allowed to participate in Honor Choir the following school year. Please understand that these rules were made with the good of the choir in mind. Someone who misses 25% or more of the scheduled rehearsals cannot be considered a valuable member if they are not present. This is an HONOR CHOIR, and the students selected to be in it must be honorable and responsible.
Rehearsal Dates (Location TBA): March 18, April 29, May 6, and Performance May 7, 2006
There are a myriad of details in creating a successful Honor Choir experience for all. I cannot do this without the assistance of you, the membership. Please, step forward to adjudicate, host a rehearsal, run a sectional, check-in students, assist with crowd control, tickets, etc. etc. ANY assistance you can lend, however small, will be greatly appreciated.
Junior High Honor Choir Application Form
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Show Choir Spectacular - Tammi Alderman, VP Show Choir
The date and location for are set for the 2006 SCVA Show Choir
Spectacular Competition. Mark your
calendars for Saturday, April 1st, 2006 at San Pasqual High School. I hope this
works for all those who are interested in coming. The format will be the same as it has been, starting with
the Jr. High/Middle School groups in the morning. After the completion of the
Jr. High/MS groups, the High School choirs will compete in three divisions:
Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced respectively. This competition is open to women’s, men’s, and mixed
choirs. San Pasqual High School will be the host school as well as the location
for this year’s competition.
In this newsletter you will find the guidelines for the event and the application. Please fill out the application completely and do not send it without the entry fee. One check may be written for all of your groups. Passes for your entourage will be sold at the door for $5.00. However, if you have more than 40 participants, including students, band, crew, director and choreographer, then you must include $5.00 for each additional person (think about your chaperones).
The deadline for the application is February 24th, however, the sooner I get your applications, the sooner I can let you know what your performance times will be! Please check your calendars before sending in your applications. There have been problems in the past with groups just deciding not to show up. We expect commitment from our students, so please be the example by checking all other conflicts before sending in your application. I hope you’re having a great year and happy holidays.
SCVA Show Choir Spectacular Guidelines
1. Each group will be allowed a maximum of 20 minutes including set up
and tear down. Groups exceeding this limit will take a 10 point penalty per
minute.
2. Taped accompaniment IS allowed for this competition
3. We will provide a drum set and piano. PLEASE DO NOT BRING THESE ITEMS.
4. Directors who wish to conduct may do so from a designated area of the house.
5. Any special effects must be cleared in advance of the competition.
6. General area micing as well as solo mics on stands will be provided for each
performance. We will also provide
general stage lighting. No spot will be provided. No group will be permitted to use their own sound/lighting
equipment.
7. Note to directors of women’s choirs: There may be no male participants on
stage even if they are used essentially as a “prop.”
8. Each group will have a designated area for placement of props, etc. Take all
props, etc. to busses or cars immediately following your performance.
9. Choirs are to be seated in the theater at the start of their session and
will be escorted to a warm-up area while the group immediately prior to yours
moves to the stage.
10. Directors need not provide scores for adjudicators.
11. Missed performance times will not be rescheduled.
Scoring: 240 points possible
(30 points per category)
Tone Quality Dynamics
Intonation Interpretation
Blend/Balance Visual Effect
Diction Overall
Presentation
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JUST DO IT – ATTEND A CHORAL FESTIVAL THIS YEAR!
Jennifer Stanley, VP- High School Festivals and Linda Nason, VP- Junior
High Festivals
As music educators, we are in a very unique position for assessment because of festivals. No other discipline allows teachers to have their students assessed by experts in their field and receive instant feedback. Choral directors who attend festivals have positive experiences with adjudicators who understand their teaching situations, and the adjudicators actively work to reinforce their teaching. Attending festivals is an excellent way to expose your students to great choral literature, and for them to see other students working on the same choral concepts you are teaching. Since it is a positive experience for everyone involved, make sure that you ATTEND A CHORAL FESTIVAL THIS YEAR!
Thank you to all the directors who are hosting festivals! With our festival hosts, we have been able to schedule festivals in many different locations throughout March, April, and May. We are working to make the festival process easier for everyone. The festival application follows this article. Applying early will increase your chances of being accepted to your first choice festival. As a courtesy to others, please do not bring more than two choirs to one festival. The postmark application deadline is March 1, 2006, and late applications will not be accepted. Please check your school’s testing schedule and spring break when scheduling your festival. Please be aware of the location of your festival so you can begin planning for transportation.
The SCVA website has information to assist you and your students in your festival preparation. The schedule of festivals, festival application form, PayPal payment system, festival adjudication form, adjudication scoring scale, festival code of conduct, festival listening guide, list of recommended choral literature, festival FAQs and other festival information is there for your use. If there is other information you would find helpful, please let us know and we will post it for you.
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Other Important Information
SCVA Membership Application