E-Mails: September 2009

District Auditions – Monday, October 12

September 28, 2009

Dear Parents,

I am in need of two parents volunteers who would be willing to ride on the bus to Petersburg for District Choir Auditions on Monday, October 12. Since the students audition and then have some free time while everyone else is finishing their auditions, it is always nice to have a couple of additional adults around just in case.

Thanks!

Melanie Butcher

Choir Notes, October 2009

September 25, 2009

Dear Parents and Staff,

Attached are the choir notes and the list of junior high students auditioning for district choir on October 12th.

Thanks!

Erin Stegall
Choral Director
Grades 6-8, Macomb Schools

Choir Lessons Next week

September 25, 2009

Dear parents,

Attached is the lesson schedule for next week. It is for 8th grade choir and band choir and 7th grade choir only.

Go Bombers!

Erin Stegall
Choral Director
Grades 6-8, Macomb Schools

Choir Update

September 25, 2009

Good Morning,

  • The choir lesson schedule for next week is attached.
  • Great job last night at Stunt Night! J
  • Our Fall Concert is this Thursday, October 1st at 7:00 pm Below are the choir call times.

Warm-Up in Choir Room

  • 5:50 pm Mixed Chorus
  • 6:10 pm Concert Choir
  • 6:30 pm Jazz Voices
  • 6:35 pm Madrigal Singers
  • 6:40 pm Men's Ensemble

Part of your performance grade is based on your attendance at warm-ups and arriving on time.

Concert grade is worth 200 points.

  • If you child ordered cuff links and a button cover for their Mads or Men's outfit, I have them in the choir office and will give them to the students the night of the concert. I would encourage them to keep them in the choir room after the concert.
  • The Madrigals have been asked the sing the National Anthem on Tuesday, October 6th at the Varsity Volleyball game at Washington Street Gym. The call time has been changed to 6:30 pm Mads students will check in with Mrs. Coker (school nurse) since I will be at the JH Choir concert that evening.
  • The Choir Booster meeting will be Thursday, October 8th at 5:00 pm in the HS Choir room. The East Doors will be unlocked.
  • There will be one more after-school practice for District Auditions- Wednesday, October 7th from 3:10-3:45 pm

Have a great Homecoming weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Butcher

HS Choir Updates

September 21, 2009

Dear Parents and Students,

  1. IMEA District/AllState Auditions- there will be a District Audition Practice this Wednesday, September 23 from 3:10-3:45 pm and also on Wednesday, October 6 from 3:10-3:45 pm These are optional rehearsals. Also, I have practice CDs for those students who would like one for home.
  2. Our first choir performance is this Thursday, September 24 for MHS Stunt Night. Please see below:
    • All Choir members will perform at Stunt Night this Thursday, September 24 at 7:00 pm
    • Call Time- 6:45 pm- students in seats in gym
    • Dress: Black Choir T-shirt and jeans. If you are in other activities, you may put your t-shirt on over your other outfits (i.e., Band, Cheerleading, Dance, Football, etc). Make sure that your name/initials are on the tag of your shirt.
    • Students may leave after the choir performs. This is a performance worth 75 points.
  3. Our first concert is Thursday, October 1 in Fellheimer Auditorium. Below are the HS choir call times for concert.
    • HS Fall Concert Call Times
    • Warm-Up in Choir Room
    • 5:50 pm Mixed Chorus
    • 6:10 pm Concert Choir
    • 6:30 pm Jazz Voices
    • 6:35 pm Madrigal Singers
    • 6:40 pm Men's Ensemble
    • Part of your performance grade is based on your attendance at warm-ups and arriving on time. Please let me know if you have a conflict.
    • Concert grade is worth 200 points.
  4. Lastly, if your son ordered cuff links or button covers for the Men's Ensemble or Madrigal outfit, I have them and will hold on to them until the concert night.

Thanks!

Mrs. Butcher

Choir lesson Schedule

September 18, 2009

Dear Parents and Students,

The Choir lesson schedule for next week is attached. Thanks and have a great weekend!

Mrs. Butcher

Please note:

Mixed Chorus: Please fill out a lesson excuse form or arrange a make-up lesson with Mrs. Butcher if you cannot attend.

Concert Choir: You are required to attend a lesson this week and sing off the following pieces from memory. If you cannot attend your scheduled lesson, please sign up for a make-up lesson or talk to Mrs. Butcher.

Concert Choir: to be sung from memory:

  • Hanacpachap – all from memory
  • Lay a Garland – p. 4 to end
  • Nigra Sum – mm. 30-82
  • Do You Fear the Wind – all

Make up lesson times for Concert Choir members:

Monday after school

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Wednesday lunch (11:45 am)

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Wednesday after school

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Friday after school

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Lessons Next week/District Choir information

September 16, 2009

Dear parents and faculty,

Next week, for choir lessons I am going to hear students sing off their parts for district choir. If your child is not wanting to audition for district choir, they don't need to have a lesson. J

If, however, they wish to audition, I do need to hear them sing their parts to make sure that they are "on their way" to knowing the music. There is a signup sheet in the choir room for lessons and they can choose their 10 minute time slot. I made individual CD's for the students to practice and they have their own copies of the music. If a student doesn't sing off their part or doesn't show that they have been working on it, I won't allow them to audition. District choir auditions is an expense (about $10.00 per student with transportation) and we need to make sure that the students realize the commitment. Again, their music does not have to be perfect, but they do need to show that they are working on it.

I have attached the list of students who says they are auditioning. Some were on it and chose to bow out. Others (noted) are on the fence. We are working on the music in class and during lessons if time allows. So, they do have plenty of exposure.

The audition is on Monday, October 12th which is a day off of school. We are loading the bus at the east doors at 6:15 am and leaving at 6:30 am We should be home by mid afternoon, but one never knows how long it takes the students to go through the audition process. Some years we are home by noon, other year's it takes much longer. We tell the students to bring a few dollars for a snack in the cafeteria.

Thanks so much!

Erin Stegall
Choral Director
Grades 6-8, Macomb Schools

HS Choir

September 11, 2009

Dear Parents and Students,

  • The choir lesson schedule for next week is attached. Please note that if the students cannot make their lesson they are responsible for turning in a lesson excuse form.
  • If your son or daughter is in Madrigals and/or Jazz voices, just a reminder to pay your Activity Fee in the main office with Liz Provine.
  • Concert Time Change- The JH/HS Concert with Nick Page on Wednesday, October 21 will begin at 7:00 pm (not 6:30 pm as stated earlier).
  • Lastly, if your son or daughter is auditioning for IMEA District/All-State Choir, I will be helping students after school on Wednesday, September 23rd and Wednesday, October 7th from 3:10-3:45 pm in the choir room.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Butcher

Lessons the week of Sept. 14-18 (8th grade choir only and all 7th grade choir and band choir)

September 11, 2009

Dear parents,

I attached next week's schedule!

Thanks so much! Go Balloons!

Erin Stegall
Choral Director
Grades 6-8, Macomb Schools

Band/Choir Rehearsal Schedule

September 10, 2009

Dear Choir Parents,

As you know, the current schedule for students who are in both choir and band is Band: M-W-F and Choir: Tu-Th. Since, the "full band" gets more instructional time, Mr. Mattsey and Mr. Wetmore are being gracious enough to give up some days in order for the choir to rehearse some additional time throughout the year. Most of these switches from the regular schedule will happen on Fridays. If your child is in choir only, they will have choir every day as usual.

We will tell the students in class and we will write emails to let you know of the switches. That being stated, the first "switch day" was going to be Friday, September 18th. However, my mother's health is frail and she is going to have surgery out of town on the 18th, so we now will be having Full choir on Friday, September 25th. Students who are in both band and choir should come to choir on Friday, September 25th. We will do our best to remind the children of these days and keep you informed as well.

Thank you so much for your flexibility.

Erin Stegall
Choral Director
Grades 6-8, Macomb Schools

Booster meeting correction

September 8, 2009

Sorry, parents.

The December meeting is Tuesday, December 1st (not the 3rd).

Thanks so much!

Erin

Erin Stegall
Choral Director
Grades 6-8, Macomb Schools

Choir Booster meetings

September 8, 2009

Dear parents,

At our meeting last week, we discussed the choir booster meeting days/times for this year.

They are on Thursdays at 5:00 pm in the HS choir room (room 152) unless noted.

They are:

  • October 8th
  • November 5th
  • December 1st (This is a Tuesday and we meet in the Aud. Foyer after poinsettia distribution)
  • January 7th
  • February 4th
  • March 4th
  • April 1st
  • May 6th

We hope you can come!

Erin Stegall
Choral Director
Grades 6-8, Macomb Schools

Lessons next week

September 3, 2009

Dear parents,

I finally have my email distribution lists set up. Here are the lessons for next week. It is a "band lesson" week for the 7th graders in both band and chorus. All 8th graders (chorus and band chorus) will have a lesson next week!

Have a nice long weekend with your families!

Erin Stegall
Choral Director
Grades 6-8, Macomb Schools

Choir Booster Meeting

September 1, 2009

Dear Parents,

Thursday, September 3rd (this Thursday) at 5:00 pm is the first Macomb Choir Booster Meeting of the school year. We meet in the high school choir room (on the east side of the building). Park on the tennis court side, walk into the building and turn right. The choir room is Room number 152.

We will be discussing several items to begin our school year and everyone is welcome.

Thanks!

Mrs. Butcher

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