| The first day of chorus class for the chorus teacher | | | | entrusting to the student along with the replacement |
| starts long before day one for the choral music | | | | cost of each piece. When a student signs the contract, |
| student. The chorus teacher must choose the music | | | | he is accepting responsibility for both his behavior and |
| for each choir in time to order it, if necessary, and learn | | | | his classroom materials. At the end of the quarter or |
| it or review until she knows it inside out. If this is your | | | | the semester when you take up music, if a student's |
| first year with these groups, you may want to pick | | | | music is not in good shape or not returned in a timely |
| only three or four pieces per group to begin the year. | | | | fashion he or she may be charged for replacing the |
| If, on the other hand, you know your students and you | | | | music. Many schools have a policy that allows |
| know your choirs, go ahead and plan the music for the | | | | teachers to hold grades until financial obligations are |
| first quarter. | | | | met. Check with your school to see what the particular |
| Music Packets | | | | policy is. |
| At any rate, you will need to prepare music packets | | | | Include the Parents from Day One |
| for each student. In the packet you must include one | | | | Finish off your student packets with a copy of your |
| fairly easy piece that the students will enjoy singing | | | | syllabus to be signed by the parents. In the middle |
| right away, but eventually hate because they will be | | | | school and high school chorus syllabus you will want to |
| bored with it, one piece that is out of reach and that | | | | include your behavioral expectations so that the |
| they will likely hate right away but will learn to love | | | | parents are aware of the requirements you have for |
| because of the challenge and sense of | | | | their child. |
| accomplishment, and a nice standard piece that falls | | | | Now you are set up for day one. You have a |
| somewhere in between on the difficulty scale. (You | | | | welcome package for your students, you have your |
| may certainly include more music selections. Just be | | | | first communication with parents, materials are in place |
| sure you have these three bases covered). | | | | for the first few weeks of school, and on day one you |
| You will also want to include a contract that is a list of | | | | already have much of your lesson plan ready to go. |
| expectations for the student's grade. In the contract, | | | | Congratulations! Now go be a chorus teacher. |
| be sure to include a list of the music that you are | | | | |