Keith J Halls’ Homepage
Creekside High School Choral Music Department
Mission: To develop an choral music program that compliments the district’s goals, school’s mission, and the needs of the students while maintaining a full course curriculum.
Mr. Halls’ Courses
Guitar I-IV Women’s Choir
Chorus I (Concert Choir) Chamber Choir (Vocal Ensemble)
Film
Guitar Syllabus
Prerequisite: You must provide your own guitar. An acoustic is recommended.
Course Description:
This is an elective course offering beginning instruction for guitar. You will learn open
Chords, power chords, moveable chords, accompaniment techniques, and a variety of
Playing techniques and styles including both the pick style and finger style approaches to
Guitar. The course also includes music fundamentals, theory , songs, performance,
listening, composing, improvising, analyzing, and learning how to read standard music
notation.
Goals
- To learn how to play chords, accompaniment and melodies on the guitar.
- To learn how to read music, notation, chord frames .
- To develop an understanding of music fundamentals and theory.
- To learn how to perform, write, and create music.
Textbook
This may seem a little interesting, but the textbook I like to use is called “H.O.T. Hands On Training”, written by Nancy Lee Marstersl. This text is full of very useful exercises designed to get you comfortable with the fret board of a guitar. All students are responsible for purchasing their own copy of the text which costs approximately $20.00. I will supplement the text with several other handouts in order to cover other topics. I have asked the staff at Music and Arts to carry this textbook. You may visit the store to pick up your copy- located at 10991 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville (In front of WalMart).
Evaluation
Grades in this class will be determined on the following basis:
- Day to day participation, practice, attitude, and effort
- Individual playing and performance tests.
- Group performance tests.
- Objective tests on the fundamentals of music.
- Working up to your ability-based on the teacher’s evaluation of your musical aptitude.
Participation -20%
Daily Assignment – 20%
Playing Tests/Tests- 60%
Classroom Rules
- Be in your seat with all supplies when the bell rings.
- No talking while the teacher/visitor/guest/student is talking.
- If you have questions or wish to answer a question raise your hand to be acknowledged and wait for permission.
- Do not play anyone’s instrument.
- Do Not chew gum, eat food or candy, or consume beverages in the band room.
- Respect yourself and others at all times (keep hands and feet to yourself).
Concert Choir (Chorus I) Women’s Choir Chamber Choir
Course Description: Concert Choir (Chorus I) is the first level of curricular choral music class at Creekside High School and comprised of all 9th graders and some 10th, 11th 12th grade students.
The Women’s Choir is comprised of all female students in grades 10-12,.
This Chamber ensemble is a mixed choral ensemble,which aims to further build upon the skills and techniques learned in Freshman Choir and/or Women’s Choir. The Chamber Choir performs music that is SATB, or SSAATB. At this level more emphasis is placed on musicality, intonation and a cappella singing.
Course Objectives: To improve and further develop individual and choral singing, including but not limited to: pitch, intonation,scales, vocal blend, tone quality, diction, music literacy, sight-singing and musicality. Students should aim to present music accurately both through technique and expression.
Required Materials: Each student is required to have a folder, notebook and pencil for every class. The teacher will provide printed music scores for each student. The music for each concert session is sole responsibility of the student. Students are expected to treat their music with care. All music must be returned at the end of each concert session. Failure to turn in the music on time, or loss of the music will result in a reduced grade. In instances of loss of the music, the missing materials will be turned into the office as obligations. Excuses for forgetfulness (i.e. folder in locker, pencil in locker, etc.) will not be accepted after the first week of school.
Attendance Policy: Standard Daily Attendance:
Students are expected to attend as many classes as possible. Absences should be avoided at all costs. Ensemble building and music covered is very difficult to recreate and cannot always be completed anywhere but in the choral classroom. Therefore, if a student misses more than five days per concert season,he or she may be required to make those classes up with the teacher at a mutually agreed upon time. Failure to make that class up will result in a lower classwork grade.
Dress Rehearsals (Day of Concert or the day before):
A dress rehearsal is the process of running a concert or other program exactly the way it will be performed with an audience present. For choral dress rehearsals, students do not need to wear the attire they will wear to the concert. Regular school clothes are acceptable. ON THE DAY OF A DRESS REHEARSAL YOU MUST BE PRESENT IN CLASS IN ORDER TO PERFORM AT THE CONCERT! Failure to be in class on the day of the dress rehearsal may jeopardize your opportunity to sing in that concert, and therefore adversely affect your grade. Students will not be excused from class on that day for any reason. Students with excessive absences may be ineligible to perform in the concert.
ATTENDANCE AT ALL CONCERTS IS MANDATORY. If you are in school, you must attend the concert. Absences from performances will not be accepted unless under extreme circumstances. Students and parents are responsible for securing transportation to and from concerts or rehearsals held in the evening. Please arrange back up plans in the event that your first choice ride does not work out. Transportation excuses will not be accepted unless in the event of a dire circumstance. Doctor’s appointments will also not be accepted, unless it is an extreme emergency. If it is impossible to call, within 24 hours Mr. Hall must receive written documentation explaining your absence. When the student returns to school, a note from a doctor or other appropriate party will be required in order to avoid a grade of zero for the evening’s performance. A make-up assignment may be given at the discretion of the teacher. Failure to complete the assignment will result in a zero for this portion of the grade.
Make-Up Policy: Students will be required to make up classes in which he or she was not present before the concert. Students should make an appointment with the teacher to make that class up. Before school or after school are acceptable times in which to schedule a make-up class. If the student can demonstrate that he or she has learned all information covered on the days he or she was absent than a make-up is not necessary.
Policies & Procedures
Dress Code:
Unless otherwise specified the attire is as follows:
Concert Choir ALL BLACK, school appropriate knee length dress or pants, black shoes for females. Men will wear black button down shirts, black pants, black shoes and black socks. NO SNEAKERS, SANDALS or Flip Flops!
Women’s Choir: Concert Dress, Black Character shoes
Chamber Choir Concert dress and Character Shoes (women), Men will wear Tuxedos, Black shoes, black socks
Please note that dressing for a concert is semi-formal attire. No jeans,sneakers, sweaters, or other casual-type clothing is appropriate.
Call Time:
The“call time” in the performing arts is referred to as the timed you are “called”to be at a given destination for a rehearsal or concert. Call times are as follows:
7:00 pm start time = 6:00 pm CALL TIME
Please be aware all students are required to sign in and out at concerts. If you fail to arrive (or sign in) on time your grade will be docked 20 points.
Concert Etiquette:
Concert etiquette is commonly known as the way an audience should behave at a concert. Since students function as both performers and audience members at each concert please note the following:
a) TALKING/MESSAGING/PLAYING GAMES ON CELL PHONES or PAGERS and OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES!!!! LEAVE ALL THESE DEVICES HOME!!
b) Do not enter/exit while an ensemble is performing.
c) Do not applaud at inappropriate times, nor should you catcall, boo, or wave from the risers, etc.
d) Avoid talking during musical selections.
e) Stay and enjoy the concert in its entirety.
Grading Policy:
EXPECTATION: This class is a PERFORMING ensemble. Your individual performance is an integral part of the whole. Proficiency must be demonstrated as a part of the whole and as an individual. Concerts are of the utmost importance and are the single most important event in any one semester. All course work in the semester culminates at the concert.
EXPECTATION: Students are expected to come to class well prepared and ready to work. Students are encouraged to aim for proficiency in each category. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the maturity level of high school students. Cooperation and self-discipline are expected.
- · Quarterly Assessment
EXPECTATION: Students will be expected to use daily practice to prepare for each quarterly assessment, which may be written and/or sung. Students will be made aware of the date and content of the quarterly assessment well in advance of the date of the assessment. See course outline for specific dates.
- · Participation 20%
EXPECTATION: Students are expected to be in class, and arrive on time. Students are also expected to participate. Cell phone use or doing other work during class is not an acceptable use of class time.
EXPECTATION: Students will practice assigned material either at home or in rehearsal rooms before or after school.
Women’s Choir
Chamber Choir (Vocal Ensemble)
Film