This Week in Choir: Week 1

Good Afternoon Grissom Choir,

Welcome, parents and students, to another exciting year of Grissom Choir! I am thrilled to see what this new year has in store for our program. To our returning students and families, welcome back. I hope this year provides continued opportunities for growth, learning, and musical achievement. To those joining us for the first time, welcome to the Grissom Choir family and to my classroom. Grissom Choir is a unique program because we strive to provide more than just performance opportunities. Our goal is to offer a well-rounded music education that strengthens students as musicians and individuals. This includes understanding the theory behind the music we perform, exploring the history and context of choral literature, and developing the technical skills and personal appreciation for why we sing. I hope this year challenges and inspires each student, and that it helps cultivate a lifelong passion for music..

It will be a joy to see returning students this week, and to meet our new Grissom Choir members as well.  I am already very excited to see what this year has in store, and to hear what wonderful music each of our choirs will make!


This Week in Choir…

Women’s Choir:
Name Game, Voicing, & Music Theory Review
Begin Michael Jackson Music
Music Theory Review
Thursday - Show & Tell - Bring something of significance with you and come prepared to talk about it!

Concert Choir:
Voicing & Music Theory Review
Begin Michael Jackson Music
Music Theory Review
Thursday - Show & Tell - Bring something of significance with you and come prepared to talk about it!
Music Theory Review

Chamber Choir:
Voicing & Music Theory Review
Begin Elton John & Collegiate Choral Festival Music
Thursday - Show & Tell - Bring something of significance with you and come prepared to talk about it!
Music Theory Review


This Week in Choir
Each week, I will send an email titled “This Week in Choir,” which will direct you to the Grissom Choir Weekly Newsletter on our website. The newsletter outlines each class’s objectives for the week, highlights upcoming events, and includes any additional announcements related to Grissom Choir. Returning families, please make sure all of your contact information—especially your email address—is current in My Music Office so you can continue receiving these weekly updates. New families will learn how to set up and update their information during the Grissom Choir Parent Meeting.


Grissom Choir Parent Meeting
We would like to welcome all Grissom Choir students and parents to our required Choral Parents Meeting on Tuesday, August 11, at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. During this meeting, we will review the Choral Handbook in its entirety and discuss all important information regarding participation in the Grissom Choir program, including expectations, procedures, events, communication, and student responsibilities. Attendance is required for every Grissom Choir student and at least one parent or guardian, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in choir during the Fall semester, the Spring semester, or both. Please plan accordingly, as this meeting contains essential information for all members of our program. New choir members will also be measured and fitted for their choir uniform during the meeting.


Grissom Choir Handbook & Acknowledgment Form
The Grissom Choir Handbook will be sent home with each student this week. Please ensure that both students and parents/guardians carefully read the handbook and submit the Digital Handbook Acknowledgement Form by our required Parent Meeting on August 11. Completion of the Digital Handbook Acknowledgement Form serves as a 50-point Formative Assessment in PowerSchool for all students. To access both the handbook and the acknowledgement form, please visit www.grissomchoir.com/handbook.


Basic Support Fee & Fundraising
At our Parent Meeting, we will discuss the annual Basic Support Fee for all Grissom Choir students and officially kick off our first fundraiser of the year, which is designed to help offset this cost. Additional information about the Basic Support Fee can be found in the Grissom Choir Handbook that will be sent home with all students. We ask that families either make a payment toward the Basic Support Fee or establish a payment plan at the Parent Meeting. Families who wish to use fundraising proceeds toward this fee are welcome to do so after speaking with our Treasurer.

Remind
It is required that all Grissom Choir students, and their parents/guardians, join the NEW Grissom Choir Remind by August 11. Instructions and class codes can be found in the Grissom Choir Handbook, on our website, and in the Schoology presentation. Parents/guardians should join the same Remind class as their student using the information provided. To access the Remind codes on our website, visit www.grissomchoir.com/about, scroll to the Remind section, and join the class that corresponds with the student’s schedule. Completion of this requirement serves as a 50-point Formative Assessment in PowerSchool for all students.

All-City Registration Deadline
The registration deadline for this year’s All-City Choral Festival Auditions is our required Parent Meeting on August 11. Because of this quick turnaround, students who wish to audition should complete their registration as soon as possible by visiting www.grissomchoir.com/allcity. We will discuss the All-City Choral Festival in greater detail during choir classes this week, including the audition process, rehearsal schedule, and performance expectations. All-City Auditions are open to every Grissom Choir student, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the Fall semester, the Spring semester, or both.


Sincerely,