Germantown Middle School Choir

Spring 2021

Instructor: Margaret Espinoza

Classroom: Virtual Instruction
Email: [email protected]
Alternate Contact: Remind 101, Class Dojo, Microsoft TEAMS

Course Description
Choir is a home to all students who love to sing. Students who play piano will
also be welcome to enroll for accompaniment opportunities. The Germantown
Middle School Choir is a safe space for all to feel free to be themselves and to
enjoy making music and creating art together. Students will work on developing
the skills necessary to gain a basic proficiency in their individual voice parts,
while also learning to be a part of a larger ensemble. This class is performance-
based, and students will be able to show mastery of the material through singing
tests, prepared material, sight-singing, and recordings. Although we will be
focusing on individual vocal training, there will still be instruction devoted to
musical literacy through performance.

Course Objectives
Students will learn to develop:

● A positive sense and an appreciation of music

● Music literacy – interpreting, reading, and sight-reading music
● Efficient practicing techniques
● Skills necessary to perform solo or in a group
● The ability to recognize articulations and musical styles
● Knowledge of musical terms
● Sight reading skills
● An outlet through which students can express themselves
Required Materials

General
● Pencil
● Ruled Notebook
● A Binder with 5 Dividers, electronic or physical
● Music
● Music Stand
● Metronome*
● Piano*

*There are many free Metronome apps available. Students must have a
metronome available. This is available as an app, in browser, or a physical
metronome. The Metronome Apps I recommend are Pro Metronome Pro
(~$3.99), Pro Metronome (free) and the Metronome App by Soundbrenner (free).
*Much like the metronome, there are many free piano apps. As a vocalist, it is
important to be able to play the notes on the piano so that students know what it
sounds like. It is much easier to learn this way.

Required Texts
The following texts need to be purchased for choir. Teacher will provide solo
pieces unless otherwise noted. The following texts are available on Amazon or
your local music store.

● Essential Musicianship Book 1 (Essential Elements for Choir Book 1)

● Sing at First Sight Level 1

Grading

Grades
Student grades will consist of the following:
1. Weekly Practice
 2. Weekly Participation
3. Singing Tests
4. Sight-Reading Tests
5. Solo Recording (at least 2 per semester)
6. Daily Lesson
7. Binder Check (2 per semester)

Assessments
Formative Assessment will be given daily in Daily Lesson. Students are expected
to practice in order to progress in their solo and technical learning. Summative
Assessments will be held upon the completion of a piece or technical concept
learned. All of these assessments are performance-based and will require the
student to sing alone for the teacher. There will be two solo video recordings
submitted each quarter, one at interims, and the other at finals. Students will
have a singing test each week on both solo work and sight-reading. There will
also be 2 binder checks per semester. Students will be expected to upload
photos or share access to a binder that corresponds with their daily lessons. The
areas graded in the binder check will consist of: Lesson Notes, Texts and
Translations,Repertoire List, Listening Observations, and Poetic
Analysis/Character Study.

Daily Participation and Expectations

● Students should come to class on time each day
● Students should quickly set up their practice space
● Students and their practice space should be in view of the camera
● Students should keep their camera on unless instructed otherwise
● Students should have all materials EVERY DAY.
● Students should practice proper singing posture

Practice
Students are expected to practice at least 75 minutes a week. This is only 15
minutes a day! Students will be expected to complete practice logs after each
practice session, due at the end of each week. Any weekend practice will count
as extra credit!
Late Work and Re-do’s
I accept late work any time during the same quarter. As such, there is no excuse
to not turn in any assignment. I also allow just about any assignment to be re-
done in the name of academia. If you did not do as well as you would have liked
on an assignment, re-do it, with teacher feedback, for FULL CREDIT.

Grading Scale
A: 93-100 Homework: 10%
B: 85-92 Class Participation: 5%
C: 75-84 Projects/Portfolios/Presentations: 5%
D: 70-74 Classwork: 40%
F: Below 70 Assessments: 40%

Class Expectations
1. Be on time.
2. Be respectful.
3. Do your part.
4. In general, stay muted unless called upon.
5. Raise your hand whenever possible.
6. Bring all materials to class each day.
7. Come to class ready to sing!

Remind 101
During the course of the semester, I will be utilizing the Remind 101 app. This
app is free and the concept is similar to Class Dojo, which I will also use for
purposes of communication and administering Dojo Points (G-Bucks). Remind
101 can be accessed via app or browser. Parents and students should join their
respective class. Please note that joining will be a grade, unless discussed with
and exempted by teacher. Class names and codes are as follows:
6th Grade:
Class Name: GMS 6th Grade Choir
 Class Code: @f22fg4

8th Grade:
Class Name: GMS 8th Grade Choir
Class Code: @4egd84h

Local Music Resources

Amro Music
(901)323-8888
2918 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111
Amromusic.com

Lane Music
(901)755-5025
9309 Poplar Avenue, Germantown, TN 38138
Lanemusic.com

Circle Music Center

(901)937-8484
5124 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38117
Circlemusiccenter.com

Bartlett Music Academy

(901)213-4262
7505 US-64 Suite107, Memphis, TN 38133
Bartlettmusicstore.com

Note to Parents
Choir Parents, I cannot express enough gratitude for everything you do to aid in
your student’s music education. Your support of your student and our choral
program is much appreciated. There is a lot that goes into becoming a musically
proficient vocalist, and you providing the necessary materials, attending
performances, and applauding the small achievements your student makes
everyday deserve all the thanks in the world. We couldn’t do it without you!

I look forward to an interesting, potentially frustrating, yet fun semester ahead of

us!

Margaret Espinoza
Choir Director
Germantown Middle School
[email protected]