Choir Information
Choir Information
TIME FRAME:
The choir has two sessions a year – Winter and Spring. Each session has multiple performance opportunities, including a school assembly. Your student can sign up for both sessions, or just one. You will need to re-register for each session. Dates for the current semester are listed below. We also offer a choir camp the first two weeks of summer. Summer camp registration opens in May and is a separate fee.
WHO CAN JOIN:
Choir is only for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students, with two exceptions: (1) If a parent or guardian is available to help with choir in some capacity – whether at school, behind the scenes, at home, or otherwise – their 3rd grade student can join. (2) If a registered 4th, 5th, or 6th grade choir student has a 3rd grade sibling, the 3rd grader can also register. (3) Junior high students and 3rd graders may all register for summer camp. Please contact us with questions about volunteering! We would love to have you on the team! 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.
COMMUNICATION:
THE REMIND APP – We will primarily communicate changes and other important information to parents through THE REMIND APP for choir. Each parent MUST sign up or they will not know what’s going on. It is required!! Instructions are laid out in the registration, so don’t forget!! You may also email us with questions or concerns at
FARR WEST CHOIR FACEBOOK PAGE- We also post videos, lyrics, pictures, ideas, thoughts, etc., on the FARR WEST CHOIR Facebook page. It is a really good idea to sign up for this so that your student can have help to practice and so they don't get behind if they are absent. The children who use this method have a noticeable ability to remember what has been taught because of their review.
REGISTRATION:
Winter Session: August 19 - Sept 5
Spring session: January 27 - Feb 6
Choir camp: May 1-23
To register:
Go to the FARR WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL website > STUDENT pull down tab > CHOIR pull down tab > Choir info, schedule, registration, and forms.
Please read through all of the information. If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact us via email at
PRACTICE INFO:
Practices for regular choir are held Tuesday and Thursday mornings, usually in the big gym, from 7:35 - 8:20 am. There are no tryouts to participate in the regular choir.
On other days of the week, there are practices for special groups the children can choose to participate in if they would like a broader experience with choir. These extra parts include dance, instruments, speaking, and additional vocal experiences. Basic auditions will be held for these special parts, and unfortunately, 3rd graders are not able to audition. 4th, 5th, and 6th graders may choose up to two special areas in which to participate.
We will put each child where they will grow and be successful. EVERYONE who auditions will get a special part, with the exception of tryouts for the few solo positions. There are only so many vocal solo and duet spots to fill, but students trying out for an additional vocal experience will still get a special choral part to work on outside of regular choir.
We will send out reminders for these auditions via THE REMIND APP, but please note them today in your family calendar. If your student is unable to attend auditions but still wants to participate in an area, we need an email sent before those auditions begin, and please make sure your email actually goes through! We finalize spots during these audition times. Auditioning implies commitment from your student to come to the extra rehearsals. If your student will be missing any rehearsals due to a scheduling conflict, we need to be emailed about this PRIOR to their audition time so that we can schedule our rehearsal time effectively. Additionally, If they get sick, we need an email before rehearsal starts. Unfortunately, missing several special part rehearsals for any reason can be grounds for not being able to perform, because absences affect the entire group.
The schedule for the current semester is posted on the Choir Schedule page of the Choir drop down menu. Please be on time! We go through material quickly. Again, please email with ANY absences.
PAYMENT AND DONATIONS:
Payment is $25 for the school year, whether your child is in choir for one or both semesters, and will need to be made through the Farr West Elementary School Office via credit card, check, or cash. Choir camp is a separate fee.
This money goes towards the students’ t-shirts, performance fees and items, treats and a party for the choir, sound system repairs, videos made, instructional supplies, and other music opportunities to add to the experience for the children. That’s less than a dollar per voice/performance lesson!!! Please write your child's name on your check.
If you are in need of a scholarship, please contact the office – they are really good to work with. Also, 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, and when there are bodies that are not consistently next to them. 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, please email us and let us know. THIS IS CRUCIAL. Sometimes through email, we can give material to practice and review so they are not behind – but unfortunately, with 140 kids, rarely do we actually have time to do this! We try our best to keep the Facebook page updated – this is the best place to have your student check and see what they have missed.
We support school-sponsored leadership groups! Students can be both in choir and other school groups, but please send us an email asap with the dates and times they will be participating in these organizations, if any are during choir time so we can adjust our rehearsal schedules to accommodate. Thank you!
RULES:
ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND VOLUNTEERS MUST REGISTER THEIR CHILD AND SIGN UP FOR THE “REMIND” APP FOR THE CHOIR. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE 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. WE WILL CONTACT PARENTS OR GUARDIANS WITH ANY APPLICABLE INCIDENCES. I REALLY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED MUCH OF THIS – 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. IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE EAT BREAKFAST BEFORE COMING AND EMAIL ANY LEADERSHIP GROUP SCHEDULES THEY ARE IN SO I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING. IF THEY LEAVE WITHOUT CHECKING OUT, THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WE WILL BE TAKING ROLL!
AND OF COURSE……HAVE LOTS OF FUN!!!
COSTUME/APPAREL AND T-SHIRT:
T-SHIRT: Indicate in the registration if you need a t-shirt with student’s size, or mark if you already have one that fits. It is the same t-shirt we used last school year: red with blue writing and a graphic of a microphone. We usually use these t-shirts during assemblies and community performances. Dark pants/jeans with dark shoes are worn with the t-shirt. If your student’s t-shirt gets lost or damaged, there is a $6 replacement fee.
FANCY CLOTHES: We are encouraging the students 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 us 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 CHRISTMAS. 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 lifelong experience on the stage and creating shows and events of all kinds. Our creative director, Cammie Yorgason, has been incredible and is great at putting shows together! Very talented and creative! Tracy Brinley has been our instrument coordinator for a few years now, and this year she is also joining the staff at Farr West Elementary as an aide! We’re so happy to continue to work with her! There are also many on the crew that have helped all the craziness happen and we’re grateful 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 us. Volunteers who help in a significant capacity do not need to pay the choir fee for their children! (But registration is still needed!) No music experience required! You do not need to attend practice! Most volunteers work from home with prop or costume creation, secretarial needs, set up, videography, etc! Please see the volunteer tab on the website for more information, and email with questions! Thank you!
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 us with any questions and concerns through email.
DIRECTOR: CONNIE BENSON STARKS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: CAMMIE YORGASON
INSTRUMENT DIRECTOR: TRACY BRINLEY