Robbinsville High Robbinsville High SchoolSchool

Choral Music Choral Music DepartmentDepartment

David Westawski David Westawski

Director of ChoirsDirector of Choirs

COURSE GOALS COURSE GOALS Students will develop an increased Students will develop an increased

understanding of proper vocal understanding of proper vocal techniquetechnique

Students will develop an understanding Students will develop an understanding of the processes involved in choral of the processes involved in choral singing and how it differs from singing and how it differs from solo/pop/Broadway singing solo/pop/Broadway singing

Students will develop the underlying Students will develop the underlying musicianship needed in the musicianship needed in the performance of quality choral musicperformance of quality choral music

Students will develop the skills Students will develop the skills necessary to become an independent necessary to become an independent musicianmusician

CURRICULUMCURRICULUM Vocal Warm-ups and PracticingVocal Warm-ups and Practicing

Breathing exercisesBreathing exercises Vowel unificationVowel unification Producing a quality vocal soundProducing a quality vocal sound Dynamics and ExpressionDynamics and ExpressionPracticing at home

Sight-ReadingSight-Reading Rhythmic and melodicRhythmic and melodic Solfege Solfege

Performances- Performances- Holiday BazaarHoliday Bazaar - Sun, Nov. 24, 11:30am- Sun, Nov. 24, 11:30am Robbinsville Tree Lighting- Tues, Dec 3Robbinsville Tree Lighting- Tues, Dec 3rdrd, 6pm , 6pm Winter Concert- Sun, Dec 8Winter Concert- Sun, Dec 8thth, 3pm, 3pm Roma Bank Holiday Festival- Wed, Dec 11Roma Bank Holiday Festival- Wed, Dec 11thth, 6:30pm, 6:30pm Senior Center Performance- Wed, Dec 18Senior Center Performance- Wed, Dec 18thth 11:30am 11:30am

Extra Help?Extra Help?

During 3During 3rdrd lunch everyday lunch everydayAfter school until 3PMAfter school until 3PMFormal after school chorus rehearsals Formal after school chorus rehearsals

on Thursday afternoons, 2:10-on Thursday afternoons, 2:10-2:50pm2:50pmNot mandatory for Raven Chorus Not mandatory for Raven Chorus

members, but strongly encouragedmembers, but strongly encouraged

GRADINGGRADINGWeekly Participation/Effort Grade Weekly Participation/Effort Grade Quizzes and TestsQuizzes and Tests

WrittenWrittenPerformance (prepared songs, sight singing)Performance (prepared songs, sight singing)

PerformancesPerformancesAttendance at the concerts and other Attendance at the concerts and other

performances is mandatory- please check performances is mandatory- please check the choral handbook for specific guidelinesthe choral handbook for specific guidelines

Point-Based grading system is Point-Based grading system is utilizedutilized

COURSE PREREQUISITESCOURSE PREREQUISITESVocal TechniquesVocal Techniques

Three semesters of high school chorusThree semesters of high school chorusSelect ChoirSelect Choir

Vocal Techniques classVocal Techniques classJune auditionJune audition

Musical TheaterMusical TheaterVocal TechniquesVocal Techniques

TRI-M Music Honor Society TRI-M Music Honor Society Enrollment in chorus or band is required Enrollment in chorus or band is required

at least one semester each school yearat least one semester each school year

NJ STATE HONORS CHOIRSNJ STATE HONORS CHOIRS

Central Jersey Mixed/WomanCentral Jersey Mixed/Woman’’s s Chorus Chorus Live audition in December Live audition in December Concert in late JanuaryConcert in late January

All State Mixed /WomenAll State Mixed /Women’’s Choruss ChorusLive auditions in AprilLive auditions in AprilConcerts are the following school yearConcerts are the following school yearMore information will followMore information will follow

Spring Musical, 2014Spring Musical, 2014

Many choral students choose to Many choral students choose to audition for the annual Spring audition for the annual Spring MusicalMusicalApril 4, 5, & 6, 2014April 4, 5, & 6, 2014Auditions in mid-NovemberAuditions in mid-NovemberTime commitment and rehearsal Time commitment and rehearsal

information can be found on information can be found on WestawskiWestawski’’s websites website

REPERTOIREREPERTOIRE

December Concert- Holiday musicDecember Concert- Holiday musicMarch Concert- Traditional March Concert- Traditional ““ClassicalClassical””

selectionsselectionsMay Concert- May Concert- ““PopsPops”” Concert Concert

New Jersey Honors ChoirsNew Jersey Honors ChoirsCentral Jersey Region II Honors ChoirsCentral Jersey Region II Honors Choirs

Mixed and Women’s ChoirsMixed and Women’s ChoirsAudition, Dec 7Audition, Dec 7thth

Concert, Jan 26Concert, Jan 26thth New Jersey Music Educators’ New Jersey Music Educators’

Association All-State Honors ChoirsAssociation All-State Honors ChoirsMixed and Women’s ChoirsMixed and Women’s ChoirsAudition, April 12Audition, April 12thth

Rehearsals/concerts next school yearRehearsals/concerts next school year

DAVID WESTAWSKIDAVID WESTAWSKI

westawski@robbinsville.k12.nj.usFor a more immediate responseFor a more immediate response

VoicemailVoicemail609.632.0950 ext. 7021609.632.0950 ext. 7021