Choir Information
Farr West Choir
We are excited to announce the opportunity to have a choir at Farr West Elementary!!!!!
We are going to have so much FUN!!
This type of choir is not your regular everyday kind of childrens choir. We implement harmonies, performance technique, props, costumes, scenery, skits, instruments, solos, choreography, and even dancing for those that choose to. It’s a SHOW CHOIR! Fantastic youth appropriate music is chosen. They will learn vocal technique, rhythm, basic choreography, how to perform, how to be more confident! These skills will carry them through their whole life in all aspects whether performing or not.
This environment is for learning! So if your student doesn’t know how to sing, to play instruments, to talk in the mic, or choreography etc….then this is the right place for them! Or if they have been trained in a performing skill they can fine tune their experience with this opportunity. We work with all capacities.
This experience is to have fun with all aspects of music. The more positive interaction with the power of music will teach and support not only their musical skill, but also the art of being in front of people, leadership skills, confidence in who they are and what they have to offer the world, teamwork, and through research it has even improved academics!! From personal experience this all has, and will happen for those involved!!
TIME FRAME:
The choir has two sessions a year ….one in Winter and one in the Spring with an assembly and multiple performances each session. Performance dates are listed below. Your student can sign up for both sessions or just one. You will have to reregister for every session. August is when registration opens for the winter session and January is when the registration opens for spring.
WHO CAN JOIN:
Choir is only for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students with some exceptions. If a parent or guardian is available to help with choir, behind the scenes, or at home or otherwise, then their 3rd grade student can join…or if the registered 4th,5th, or 6th grade choir student sibling has a 3rd grade sibling, then they can register as well. Please contact me with questions about volunteering! We would love to have you on the team!
COMMINICATION:
THE REMIND APP- I will primarily give information to the parents through THE REMIND APP for choir if there are any changes or important info. Each parent MUST sign up for it or they wont know whats going on. It is required !! This should be in the registration so don’t forget!! You may also email me if you have questions or concerns.
FARR WEST CHOIR FACEBOOK PAGE- I also post videos and other instructions, ideas, thoughts etc on the FARR WEST CHOIR facebook page. This is a really good idea to sign up for this so you are able to have your student practice with the videos, recordings, lyrics etc so they don't get behind. The children who have used this method have a noticeable ability to remember what has been taught because of their review.
REGISTRATION:
Registration will open for winter session in August. Registration for spring will open in January. To register go to FARR WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL website. Under STUDENT pull down tab you will see the CHOIR pull down tab. Under the choir tab you will see all choir info, schedule, registration, and forms. Read through all of the info. If you have any questions you are welcome to contact me via email
SCHEDULE FOR PRACTICES and PERFORMANCES::
All practices for regular choir usually take place Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Practices take place in the big gym beginning at 7:35 am till first school bell. There are other practices that take place on different days for special groups the children choose to be in that are extra if they want a broader experience with choir. They usually take place on Wednesday or Friday and include instruments, or dance. or speaking parts or extra vocal experiences. There will be tryouts for those special parts. Please be on time! We go through material quickly. Please email with ANY absences.
SPRING CHOIR PRACTICE SCHEDULE 7:35am Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Feb 6,8,13,15,20,22,27,29
March 5,7,12,14,19,21,26,28
April 9,11,16,18,23,25,30
May 2,7,9,14
SPECIAL PART PRACTICES…..
Dance tryouts Feb 14th with practices….
Feb 23
March 1, 8, 15, 22
April 12, 19, 26
May 3
Instruments tryouts (Ukulele) Feb 21st with practices….
Feb 28th
March 6, 13th
Speaking part tryouts March 20th with practices….
March 27th
April 10, 17,
Solo tryouts April 24th with practices….
May 1, 8th
PERFORMANCES:
May 10 assemblies for school, parents not invited. Wear red tshirts
May 15th at Fremont High school around 6pm TBD. Wear fancy clothes. Students need to be there an hour early to rehearse.
May Performance at the Ogden Veterans home TBD.beginning of May at about 4pm.
There are no tryouts for regular choir… but there are some basic tryouts for those that choose to participate in the extra parts. There is also a commitment made when doing extra parts to come to those additional days for the practices. 3rd graders cannot tryout for the special parts unfortunately . We will put the child where they will grow and be successful. EVERYONE gets a special part that tries out unless its the few solos positions….there are only so many vocal solos and duet spots to fill, but they still will get a special part to work on outside of regular choir. These tryouts will be announced via THE REMIND APP. These will happen shortly after choir begins, usually in the morning before school..refer to the schedule.
PAYMENT AND DONATIONS::
Payment will need to be made through the Farr West Elementary School Office via credit card, check or cash. EACH seasonal session costs 25$ and the tshirt if needed is 6$. There is a winter session and a spring session. You will need to re-register for each session. Registration begins in August for winter, and January for spring.
The money gets spent on items for the performance, treats and party for choir, sound system repairs, videos made, supplies and other music opportunities to add to the experience for the children. That’s a little over a dollar per voice/performance lesson!!! Please write your child's name on the check. If you would like to say thank you to the volunteers via a donation, please
If you are in need of a scholarship, please contact the office, they are really good to work with. If you volunteer in a significant capacity, you will not need to pay the choir fee but you will still need to register your child.
If you would like to donate more to the music department, please contact me. We are always trying to add to the music program at the school. Helping the school have any music opportunity for all students is crucial to each child's development.
ATTENDANCE:
Please consider only signing your student up if they can attend all practices and performances. We cover material quickly. If you have events that will take your student out of choir, they will be behind and it makes the group confused when there are those who don't know what they are doing. The children also get confused and frustrated which can make them not want to be in the choir.. Illness is understood but please email me indicating ANY absence or if you have questions. If you know you will miss some practices, sometimes through email I will give material to practice and review so they are not behind….but rarely do i have time to do this, please email when your student will miss. THIS IS CRUCIAL.. Farr west choir facebook page will have some material on there so they can practice.
We support school sponsored leadership groups. The students can be in choir and other school groups, just email me with those dates they will be participating in those organizations and if it will be during choir time..
RULES:
ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST REGISTER THEIR CHILD AND SIGN UP FOR THE “REMIND” APP FOR THE CHOIR. WE WILL NOT BEABLE TO COMMUNICATE UNLESS THIS IS FINISHED. THIS IS A MUST!!!!! EMAIL ME WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE EXCELLENT BEHAVIOR DURING REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES OR THEY MAY BE EXCUSED FROM CHOIR. THEY MUST BE ON TASK. NO BULLYING, NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR, SAFETY CONCERNS, OR ADVERSE ATTITUDES ALLOWED. I WILL CONTACT PARENT OR GUARDIAN WITH ANY APPLICABLE INCIDENCES. I REALLY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED HARDLY ANY IN THE MANY YEARS I HAVE TAUGHT. THE CHILDREN USUALLY ARE WELL BEHAVED. THEY ARE TOO BUSY HAVING FUN!!
ATTEND ALL PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCES. BE ON TIME. ALWAYS EMAIL WITH ANY ABSENCES.
CHILDREN NEED TO CHECK OUT IF LEAVING CHOIR FOR ANY REASON. PLEASE EAT BREAKFAST BEFORE COMING IF POSSIBLE AND EMAIL WITH ANY LEADERSHIP GROUP SCHEDULES THEY ARE IN SO I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE LEAVING TO. Also email with any absences. if they leave without checking out this is a safety concern. I will be taking role!
AND OF COURSE……HAVE LOTS OF FUN!!!
COSTUME/APPAREL AND T-SHIRT:
TSHIRT- Indicate in the registration if you need a t-shirt with students size or mark if you already have one.. You will need to pay for the t-shirt in the office. The cost is 6$. Usually we use the t-shirt during assemblies and other performances. Dark pants/jeans with dark shoes are worn with the t-shirt. It’s the same t-shirt we used last school year… red with blue writing and microphone picture.
-FANCY CLOTHES- We are encouraging the student to wear very nice clothing for our big parent performances. This is not required but highly suggested. Please look in the stores and their closet now if you can. If you do not have access to something that is adequate please notify us. We might have some options. You are welcome to contact with questions.
SUGGESTED NICE APPAREL FOR BOYS: BLACK/DARK SLACKS PANTS, DARK SOCKS, DARK SHOES. WHITE COLLARED BUTTON-UP SHIRT, SUSPENDERS, BOW TIE OR TIE.
SUGGESTED NICE APPAREL FOR GIRLS: THEIR PRETTIEST PARTY DRESS FOR SPRING. PLEASE HAVE IT COVER THEIR SHOULDERS AND BACK AND AT LEAST GO TO KNEES, LEGGINGS OR TIGHTS TO COVER LEGS (BECAUSE BARE LEGS DON'T LOOK AS GOOD ON STAGE), DRESS SHOES THEY CAN MOVE AROUND EASILY IN. HAIR PULLED BACK AWAY OR UP FROM FACE, CURLED IF YOU CAN.
GETTING TO KNOW THE DIRECTORS:
Hello! My Name is Connie Starks the Farr West Choir Director. I have taught music in many capacities for many years. I have a lifelong experience on the stage and creating shows and events of all kinds.. My co-director Christa Larsen is very helpful and makes the choir run smoothly. She teaches at Farr West Elementary! The students love her! My creative director Cammie Yorgeson has been incredible and is great at putting shows together! Very talented and creative! I’m looking forward to working with them both! There are many on the crew that have helped all the craziness happen and I thank them for their time and talents! What a gift they are giving to the children!
VOLUNTEER!!
If you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact me. No music experience required! You don't have to attend practice, can work from home with prop or costume creation, secretarial, set up, videography etc! Email with questions!
We are so excited to have your student in the Farr West Elementary Choir! We ALWAYS have such a blast! We are really looking forward to it! Please contact me with any questions pt concerns through email.
DIRECTOR: CONNIE BENSON STARKS CO-DIRECTOR: CHRISTA LARSEN
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: CAMMIE YORGESON
Registration and other info is on Farr West Elementary School website under
STUDENT TAB,,, THEN CHOIR TAB.