Junior Choir Parent Guidelines

• Keep rehearsal times reserved for rehearsal — don't schedule outings, social events, make-up lessons or other organizations' rehearsals or meetings at that time. Football players don't skip practice; neither do choristers. The girls must be able to count on each other.
• You know well in advance when school concerts will be; tell the director when you find out, if the concert requires missing rehearsal. Tell school music teachers as well as private instructors about your Tuesday/Thursday evening commitment when the semester starts, and give them plenty of advance notice of choir concerts and times. Many take extracurricular commitments into consideration when planning their own events.
• Read handouts and newsletters carefully and respond to items by their deadlines! Ask your daughter if she has a handout for you — especially close to concerts.
• As in any performing organization, concert participation is required. Enter dates and times in your calendar when you get them, so that they don't come as a last-minute surprise. We try for 6 weeks' lead time on concerts to help you, and expect the same courtesy if you are faced with an unavoidable conflict. We can't cancel at the last minute.
• Make every effort to ensure your daughter's attendance at rehearsals preceding concerts. We want our girls going into performances feeling up and confident.
• Parents must call if a child must miss rehearsal — NOT the child. [We have had cases of girls being dropped off at rehearsal (after getting an "excused" from the director by phone) and then slipping off to 6th Street. The Artistic Director will not accept that responsibility.] The director needs to hear from parents by 5:30 p.m. on rehearsal night; earlier if at all possible. Otherwise, an unexcused mark will result. Girls will not be excused for social events.
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• DO NOT invite other choristers to skip a rehearsal or concert to attend an event with your daughter.
• If you wish to attend rehearsal, please do not talk. Children in your care must be quiet, and should not wander the room or interfere with rehearsal. You're welcome to chat outside the room!
• Please ask the director's permission before inviting others to visit rehearsal. There are some nights (such as those primarily spent learning new music) when we shouldn't be on display! No photographs without advance permission from the director.
• Do not interrupt rehearsal to talk to the director or to choristers. Once rehearsal starts, conversation should be only between director and choristers.
• If you take on a responsibility for the choir and find you are unable to follow through, you must find a reliable, responsible replacement, and you must let the Committee Chair and the director know who that person is. Give as much lead time as possible, please.
• Boosters meetings are intended to be constructive information and planning sessions that are for your benefit as well as to help the organization. Make an effort to have one parent present for meetings. They are the most efficient means of communication we have. Attending allows you to ask questions, make suggestions and share ideas. Please realize that for each person who does not attend, another person must spend 30 minutes (average) of his/her time connecting with him to repeat the same information.
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• A good solo performance at church or school does wonderful things for a girl's ego, and is great publicity for the choir. Good performances are not based on luck, however, but on preparation and sensible choice of songs. Please consider this when your child comes home saying she wants to sing a choir song for a gathering that may include some very critical ears. Let the director be sure she's ready before she puts her voice on the line. Advance notice of more than one or two days is very important — if the song your daughter wants to sing is not quite ready for the public yet, then we can figure out an appropriate song to substitute. Please do not assume that the director will provide music for the accompanist, or accompany the performance. Likewise, do not expect extensive coaching. Scores may be ordered from Southern Music (1-800-284-5443), but you will need at least a few weeks' lead time.
• If your daughter absolutely must attend a slumber party before a concert, ask the host parent to get her to bed by midnight. Tired, hoarse choristers don't handle rehearsals or performances well, and they affect the choir's output. Girls should get a good night's sleep before a concert. and should finish eating snacks or meals at least one hour before a performance. Yelling and screaming should be avoided at all times.
• Practice tapes do not replace rehearsal. They are issued in order to supplement rehearsal, and should be used daily by your daughter. Encourage her to review her "trouble spots" repeatedly. The tapes help to reinforce notes, and thus allow the choir to concentrate on improving musicality in rehearsal.
• We are guests at the Highland Park, and must respect their rules: no food or drinks in the building, no use of rooms other than those reserved by the Choir, and no loud noise or running in the building. Neither the church nor the Choir will be responsible for children dropped off early.
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• Arrive on time to pick up choristers from rehearsals or performances. Parents' tardiness can frighten girls and inconveniences the adult who must wait for them. If a girl's ride has not appeared 20 minutes after the appointed pick-up time, the adult waiting with her may leave a note or phone message and take her along to his/her next location.
• Telephone calls to the Artistic Director may be made between 9 a.m.-9 p.m. to 834-3694. Messages should include your name, telephone number, best times to reach you, and your question or information. (Please be sure that you have carefully read handouts and newsletter first!) Calls made or messages left at any other number will be ignored.
• The Choir Directory is for the use of this organization only, and may not be shared with other organizations or individuals.

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