Those students who ordered items from our Century Resources fundraiser will get them tomorrow, Wednesday December 19.  The items will arrive by 1:30pm, and will be distributed to students during our 6th hour.  Those who have large orders (10+ items) should arrange to be picked up from school on Wednesday.  If your customers ordered online with credit cards, the items will be delivered directly to your them, and you will receive profit from the sales. 

Please deliver your items promptly and be sure to thank your customers for their support.  Remind them that if they're not satisfied for any reason, they can get a full refund without returning their item by calling the 800 number on the product package. 

All profits will be calculated once the paperwork is received with the delivery, and you'll be able to subtract profit from your Cedar Point trip cost when the paperwork comes home in January.  

Congratulations on a successful fundraiser!  

On Tuesday, December 11 and Wednesday, December 12th, the West Chorus performed their 2018 Holiday concert.  The Tuesday night performance was hosted at the beautiful Wayne County Community College District Heinz C. Prechter Education and Performing Arts Center, and we really appreciated the beautiful stage and professional support staff.  The choirs performed music from holiday favorites including Santa Claus is Coming To Town, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, In The Bleak Midwinter, The Hallelujah Chorus, John Lennon's Happy Xmas (War is Over), and songs from The Sound of Music.  Congratulations to our singers for an excellent performance!  

Parents who wish to purchase a DVD copy of the performance, send $10 cash to Mr. Martin by Wednesday, December 19. 

December 5, 2018
 
Dear Chorus Parents and Students, 
 
We have some important dates coming soon, here’s the information you need to know!  As always, more information is available at WESTCHORUS.COM
 
THE UNIFORM (For 12/11 & 12/12): 

• Black shoes, black socks, black dress/school uniform pants (No jeans).  Chorus polo shirt tucked into pants.  Deodorant, but no cologne or perfume.  No Santa hats or other flair on Tuesday (but ok on Wednesday). Dress your uniform best for our concert AND our yearbook photos on Tuesday. 

 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7: 

• Solo and Ensemble soloist forms due for all 8thgraders who’d like to perform.  You can use fundraised profits to pay for your $25 fee. 
• Our accompanist, Mr. Johnson, will be rehearsing with our choirs. 

 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11:

• Students must arrive IN UNIFORM at Wayne County Community College Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center by 5:15pm.  21000 Northline Rd. Taylor, MI 48180 (see back)
• Drop students off at the loading dock doors.  Staff members will greet and sign in students.
• Parents drive around to the auditorium parking lot to park your vehicle.  
• A room will be provided for singer coats and other items. 
• The concert begins promptly at 6pm and is free for all.  A 50/50 drawing will be held. 
• The concert will end at about 7:15pm. 
• We will take yearbook photos of each group at this performance. 

 
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12:

• Students need to wear their uniform to school for our performance.  If they are also in band, they may wear either their band or chorus uniform. 
• We will perform 2 shortened concerts with the band, each 45 minutes long, one for 5thand 6thgraders, the other for 7thand 8thgraders.  
• Parents can come to this show but must check in at the main office.  We will not sing every song from our Tuesday night performance, however. 

 
TODAY.  RIGHT NOW.  

• Practice your music at WESTCHORUS.COM

 

The complete lesson plan for all classes is in this post.  Guest teacher(s) - thank you, and please start by playing this for students: 

Men in Black - follow these recordings and sing along, using your music.  PLEASE perform your best, and use good posture, good technique, and all the things we need to show in our performance next week. Go in the order of the tracks.  If you need to do something again, DO IT AGAIN!  

8th graders only: 

Once you've completed all the songs, go to the bottom of this blog post for instructions. 

Cadet Choir - Use these recordings  to warm up and rehearse, and do them in this order.  Sing with great posture and tone, don't hold back - our concert is in a week!

Now, watch this performance of "The Gift of Love," from a concert by the Michigan Opera Theater Children's Chorus, with 8th grader Elizabeth Garcia and my daughter, Mia.  I recorded it last night.  It's a little faster than we are taking it, and they added a little to the end.  It's really beautiful. We can sing it this well too!!!  

6th Graders - Follow the tracks below in order and sing along with energy and tall space.  Show your guest teacher what you'll be doing in just one week.  

Once you're done, go to the video at the bottom of this message and follow the instructions there. 

Cardinals, Do your best to fill in the gaps of knowledge on the songs we are preparing for the concert, especially Riu Riu Chiu, Bleak Midwinter, and Carol of the Bells.  USE YOUR MUSIC. Be a Level II sight reader, and help the people in your part be successful without arguing!  Do good work. 

Bleak Midwinter: Mezzos practice alone first, then everyone.

For Carol of the Bells - Megan - play Bb on the piano.  Sopranos start with "one ready go" on pitch, just like sight reading.  Be STRONG, start over if you need to, and Cooperate!  For today, section leaders are Soprano: Khloe, Mezzo: Elizabeth, Alto: Jada.  Break into sections (without leaving the room) if you need to. 

If there's not enough time, watch this amazing performance of the Hallelujah Chorus!