Choir Info
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 on the Choir Schedule page on the school website.
WHO CAN JOIN:
Choir is only for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students, with two exceptions: (1) a 3rd grader may join if they have an older sibling in choir or (2) a 3rd grader may join if their parent or guardian is willing to help out in some capacity – whether at school, behind the scenes, at home, or otherwise. 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 do still need to register your child. Farrwestchoir@gmail.com.
COMMUNICATION:
GROUPME– We will primarily communicate changes and other important information to parents this year through GroupMe. Each parent MUST sign up or they will not know what’s going on. It is required!! An invite will be sent to the phone numbers that parents provide in the registration. You may also email us at farrwestchoir@gmail.com with questions or concerns.
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 Registration Period: August 14 - Sept 4
Winter Session Sept 2 - Dec 11ish
Spring session Registration Period: January 15 - Feb 5
Spring Session Feb 3 - May 14ish
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, please email us! farrwestchoir@gmail.com
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 GroupMe, 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. Farrwestchoir@gmail.com
PAYMENT AND DONATIONS:
Choir is $30 for the school year, whether your child is in choir for one or both semesters, and will need to be paid through the Farr West Elementary School Office via credit card, check, or cash.
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. farrwestchoir@gmail.com
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 consistently take your student out of choir, they will be behind and may get confused and frustrated which can make them not want to be in the choir. Absences also cause confusion for the rest of the group. Illness is understood but please email 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 160 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 with the dates and times they will be missing choir so that we can adjust our rehearsal schedules to accommodate. Thank you for your help with this! Farrwestchoir@gmail.com
RULES:
ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND VOLUNTEERS MUST REGISTER THEIR CHILD AND SIGN UP FOR GROUPME MESSAGES FOR THE CHOIR. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE UNLESS THIS IS FINISHED. THIS IS A MUST!!!!! EMAIL ME WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. farrwestchoir@gmail.com
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. We usually hand out t-shirts a week before the first performance.
***CHRISTMAS PJS***: For this Winter semester, rather than wearing our usual fancy attire, the students will need to wear Christmas jammies that cover the shoulders and knees, preferably without words on the front. Also wear shoes that they can comfortably move around in. Hair needs to be styled away from the face and curled, if possible.
VOLUNTEER!!
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! We would love to have you on the team! farrwestchoir@gmail.com
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!
DIRECTOR: CONNIE BENSON STARKS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: CAMMIE YORGASON
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT: TRACY BRINLEY