Music Teacher Information

Schedule of Activities and Deadlines
 

Sept. 10, 2011 – In-service Workshop and Meeting, Killian Road Elementary School
2621 Clemson Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29229

Oct. 3, 2011 – Postmark deadline for Honor Choir audition CDs/tapes, audition fees, and Nomination Forms to Suzanne Lee.  Please note that this deadline has been extended due to the fact that the SC Musician will not be printed this fall.  Audition materials will NOT be accepted after this date.

Oct. 15, 2011 - Tapes will be judged.  Results will be sent to teachers the following week.

Nov. 14, 2011 - Postmark deadline for teachers to send Honor Choir Member registrations & fees to Suzanne Lee.

February 2-4, 2012 – SCMEA In-Service Conference and  SC Elementary Honor Choir Weekend.  Note:  All teachers having students in the Honor Choir must register for the conference as well as register at the Sheraton on Thursday, February  by 8:00 p.m., or on Friday, February  by 11:30 a.m.  This is so you can pick up revised information concerning the choir and Honor Certificates.  Teachers who do not register will risk being asked not to participate next year.

2011 - 2012 Honor Choir Repertoire

Fidelia omnia mandata ejus (Unison with piano and violin), Pergolesi/Shelton, Hinshaw, HMC2236 

Shojojee [SA with piano, percussion(Finger Cymbals/Temple Blocks/Hand drum)],

Japanese Folk Song arr. B. Wayne Bisbee, Santa Barbara Music, SBMP 741 

Two Poems of Emily Dickinson (SA with piano), Neil Ginsberg, Santa Barbara Music, SBMP 230
There Is No Frigate Like a Book
I Never Saw A Moor 

Playground Tunes (2-part with piano), arr. Rentz; Heritage, 15/1549H 

O Colored Earth (2-part with piano), Steve Heitzeg, Stone Circle Music, www.steveheitzeg.com

I'm Part of the Rainbow (SSA with soprano solo and piano, percussion & steel drum), Glenn McClure, Roger Dean Publishing, 15/1861R 

 

Rehearsal Notes:
****Notes on phrasing, dynamics, etc are on the CD for teachers!!*****
This year, the music is only in 2 or 3 parts.

1A students will always sing the top line. Where there are optional notes in the music on the top line, Mr. Shelton has asked that we teach the children both notes and he will assign students their respective notes in February.

2B students will sing the bottom line in 2-part music and the middle line in 3-part music. Again, if there are optional notes in the bottom line, teach both parts and the students will be told what to sing in February.

2C students sing the bottom line in 2-part music and the bottom line in 3-part music. Teach the optional notes that are in the part and Mr. Shelton will decide in February which parts the students sing. This instruction is given on the CD.

Guest Clinician - Tom T. Shelton, Jr.

Tom T. Shelton, Jr. is a native of Greensboro, N.C. and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with both a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and Master of Music in Choral Conducting. He is the Associate Director of the Music Ministry for Children and Youth at First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro.

Prior to working at First Presbyterian Church, Shelton taught middle school choral music in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County for eighteen years. During this time he was selected "Teacher of the Year" for both Atkins Middle School and Kernersville Middle School, and in 1999 was presented the North Carolina Middle School Music "Teacher of the Year" award by the NC Music Educators Association.

Tom Shelton is active in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), where he currently serves as the President for the Southern Division.  He has served as National Repertoire and Standards Chair for Junior High/Middle School Choirs (2007-2009), and President for North Carolina ACDA (2005-2007).

An active clinician, Tom has conducted the ACDA Central Division Junior High Honor Choir (Indianapolis), as well as Elementary, Middle, and High School Festivals and Honor Choirs in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and  Virginia. In 2007, he traveled to Hong Kong to conduct a piece he was commissioned to write for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Hong Kong International School.
 
Tom Shelton has compositions published by Colla Voce Music, Heritage Music Press, Hinshaw Music Company, and Santa Barbara Music Press. He is listed in "Who's Who among America's Teachers (2003-2004 edition) as well as "Who's Who in America" (2005-2006 edition).  Mr. Shelton works with the Greensboro Youth Chorus organization as conductor of the Chorale. www.tomsheltonmusic.com
 

Chairman, SC Elementary Honor Choir Committee
Suzanne Lee – Email slee@lexrich5.org
Ballentine Elementary School
1040 Bickley Road
Irmo, SC  29063
School - (803)476-4500   Fax -  (803)478-4520

General Information

1.  Use a separate CD-R for each nominated student.  Click here to download computer recording instructions.  

2.  Label each CD to indicate name of student and school only. Use a sharpie marker to write the student name and school name on the actual CD. Do not apply any labels on the original CD. Please do not label tape or CD cases with names.  

The student's music teacher must conduct the audition. Please read and familiarize yourself and the student with the audition procedure and audition examples before recording. The audition should be recorded straight through from beginning to end.

3.  The only permissible talking on the recording is the announced student name only. Counting off, singing with, or any other verbal instructions given by the teacher are unacceptable.

4.  Please limit auditions to your best six students. Students must be in grades 4, 5, or 6 and attend an elementary school. Only a maximum of six auditions may be submitted. Only a maximum of six (6) students will be selected from any one school.

5.  The judging rubric is available on the Download tab above.

 

Ready to mail SCEHC Audition Packet Checklist

Postmark Deadline: Monday, October 3, 2011
_____Only six Audition CDs. Each CD should be labeled with the student name and school name. Do not label CD cases with any names or school names. Use a "sharpie marker to label your CDs. Do not affix any labels to CDs. Place each CD in a separate plastic jewel case.
_____One Nomination Form per student audition (maximum-six).
_____One Check made for correct amount. $8.00 fee for each student audition.
Check or money order must have school name written on it somewhere for identification purposes in case it is separated from paperwork.
_____Copy of current MENC membership showing ID number and the expiration date.
_____Print "audio recordings enclosed" on your mailing envelope right above the address.

 

 

For best printing results, use the downloadable procedures and rubric documents found on the Downloads tab rather than printing from the web page.

Procedure

1. Start audition

2. The teacher reads the following filling in the blank. Speak slowly and clearly "This is (Student Name). No other talking is permitted.

3. Melody Echo Patterns

a) Teacher sings or plays on the piano each of the following melodic examples. (#1 through #4) Do not sing and play. After each example is played or sung the student echoes (a cappella) using the syllable "loo".

 

4. Harmonies (use the melody below)

a) Play the upper (soprano) line then have student echo the (soprano) line on "loo".

b) Give the student the starting pitch (B). Have the student sing the upper line while the teacher plays both parts (soprano and alto) on the piano.

c) Play the lower (alto) line then have student echo the (alto) line on "loo".

d) Give the student the starting pitch (G). Have the student sing the lower line while the teacher plays both parts (soprano and alto) on the piano.

 

5. Prepared song

a) Student sings America a cappella in G major.

b) Give the student the starting pitch G. Do not play any other type of introduction.

c) The student should sing the vocal line as written. Do not alter the rhythm or the pitches.

d) The teacher may accompany the first two measures. The student should complete the song a cappella. The song must be sung straight through without stopping.

6. End of Audition Recording

Listen to all recorded auditions to insure quality recording.

7. Mail Audition Packet to SC Elementary Honor Choir Chairperson. The following items must be included:

• Audition CD -a separate CD for each student. Please place each CD in a separate plastic jewel case.

• Nomination Form – a separate form for each student.

• $8.00 audition fee per student -Enclose one check or money order from the school or the teacher, payable to SCMEA Elementary Division. The school name must appear on all checks or money orders.

• photocopy of teacher's MENC card showing ID number and the expiration date.(Membership is a requirement.)

Mail to: MaryAnne Tillman, Logistics Chairperson
AC Moore Elementary School
333 Etiwan Avenue
Columbia, SC  29205

Helping Hands Responsibilities

(Download a copy of these instructions from the Forms page)

• Please wear your SCMEA conference nametag as well as the section leader nametag so that students know you are a teacher.
• Please be a few minutes early so that you can “switch off” with a teacher who was on the last shift and be ready to supervise when your shift begins.  Let Suzanne know that you are on duty by checking by your name at the registration table. If you are on the first shift of the day, please pick up a section leader nametag. You will hand this off to your replacement when your shift concludes.
• Please be ACTIVE while you are on duty. Constantly walk around in your section (it will say which section you are on the section leader name tag you pick up) and monitor student posture, attentiveness, and participation. Many potential behavior issues can be avoided if students see that we are all actively monitoring them.
• If a student needs correcting, please do so in a positive manner.  
• If a problem persists with a particular student(s), you may choose to change a child’s seat.  However, please do not be overly vigilant. Be positive as much as possible!
• Give thumbs up when deserved, too. We want the students to have a positive experience.
• Thanks for lending your “helping hands” for the good of the choir!  By being an active monitor, you help all of our students get the most out of rehearsals and out of the entire Honor Choir experience.

 

For best printing results....

... use these downloadable procedures and rubric documents rather than printing from the web page.

Audition Procedures

Judging Rubric

2011-2012 Rehearsal Notes

****Notes on phrasing, dynamics, etc are on the CD for teachers!!*****

Honor Choir Music - Instructions for Parts

This year, the music is only in 2 or 3 parts.

1A students will always sing the top line. Where there are optional notes in the music on the top line, Mr. Shelton has asked that we teach the children both notes and he will assign students their respective notes in February.

2B students will sing the bottom line in 2-part music and the middle line in 3-part music. Again, if there are optional notes in the bottom line, teach both parts and the students will be told what to sing in February.

2C students sing the bottom line in 2-part music and the bottom line in 3-part music. Teach the optional notes that are in the part and Mr. Shelton will decide in February which parts the students sing. This instruction is given on the CD.