Pioneer Heritage Middle

School
Choral Department

Handbook
2022-2023
Kevin Tarpley
Director
Choir Parents and Students,

Welcome to the Pioneer Heritage Middle School Choir for the 2022-2023 school year! I am
very excited to have you in choir and look forward to a wonderful and successful year. This
handbook contains important information to introduce both students and parents to the choral
department.

The following statement summarizes the mission of our organization:

The goal of the Pioneer Heritage Middle School Choir is to promote excellence, foster
community, and create a life-long love for music. Through our dedication to understanding
music, demonstrating good vocal technique, and always employing a positive attitude, we show
our support and commitment to our choirs and ourselves.

I believe that music enriches our lives, and I hope to provide my choir members with a positive
and meaningful musical experience. The Pioneer Heritage choir program provides an
opportunity for the singers to study and perform choral music and study proper vocal
techniques, musicality, and sight-reading. Discipline and dedication will be encouraged in order
to reach our highest potential in rehearsal, attendance, and performances.

Parent involvement is very important to this organization and your encouragement and
assistance aides both the students and the director. I hope that you are able to help this year
with our many events.

Please read through the Handbook and fill the online acknowledgment form that is posted on
the choir website no later than Friday, September 9th. If you have any questions, please feel
free to contact me at tarpleyk@friscoisd. I look forward to an exciting year with your student!

Kevin Tarpley
Director of Choirs
Pioneer Heritage Middle School
Frisco, Texas

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 CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
In addition to all school-wide rules and consequences, the following Rules and Consequences will be enforced
in the Choir room:

Upon entering class:

1. I will give 100% of my effort to follow instruction and participate.
2. I will be in charge of my own learning.
3. I will treat everyone in the room with respect.
4. I will practice sight reading and counting to further myself as a musician.

CONSEQUENCES
1. Verbal warning
2. Written warning (fill out a discipline page)
3. Parent phone call + fill out discipline page
4. *C-Hall + parent phone call + discipline page
5. Teacher and Principal’s discretion (e.g. Short Term ISS, detention, loss of privileges, written
assignment, etc.)

Infractions during one week may result in a lowering of the student’s Weekly Rehearsal Technique grade.

*C-Halls will be served before/after school. Students will be responsible for filling out a reflection and any missed work
in class. C-Halls are not optional and absences must be made up. Please see the schools discipline policy for further details
on multiple C-Hall occurrences.

REWARDS
1. Verbal Praise

2. Music games may be earned for the class for excellent work or effort in choir.

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 GRADING POLICY

Each student’s nine-weeks grade will be derived from:

1. 60% Major Grades – Concert grades, Recorded singing tests, Written tests
2. 40% Minor Grades – Written quizzes, Music theory rhythm/sight-reading quizzes, required rehearsals,
marking music, weekly rehearsal technique

WEEKLY

A choir is made up of individuals working together in a team effort for the success of the whole choir. Because
each member of the group is important to the choir, it is necessary for each member to contribute positively to
the rehearsal. The students will be learning the following rehearsal skills and will be expected to demonstrate
these skills at each rehearsal and performance for their Weekly Skills Assessment grade:

Positive Attitude Proper Posture Paying attention

Showing respect Rehearsal effort Using and marking music
Following instructions Bringing supplies to class Putting folder away
No gum or food Following classroom procedures

Points will be deducted from the Weekly Rehearsal Technique grade when these skills are not demonstrated.

MATERIALS

Each student will need to bring at least one pencil with an eraser (no pens) as well as a 1 inch 3-ring
black binder, and a pencil pouch.

Folders should be kept in assigned folder slots in the choir room. Each student is expected to pick up their
folder at the beginning of class and put it back into their assigned slot at the end of each rehearsal. Students will
be expected to have at least one pencil, their folder, pencil pouch, and the class papers inside the folder at all
times during class, and having these items is part of the Weekly Rehearsal Technique grade (above). Students
may take folders home overnight for further study when needed, but they must have their folder in class each
day.

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 T-SHIRTS/UNIFORMS

The Pioneer Heritage Choir performance attire will consist of a Choir T-Shirt for all groups and a formal
uniform for some groups. Detailed information, including which uniform is to be worn, will be sent home
before each event. Parents need to purchase the T-Shirt and include the size and fee(s) online by Fri, Sep. 9th.
**Link will be sent out once the online store is ready to go**

T-SHIRT

The Choir T-Shirt will be worn with your own school-appropriate long blue denim jeans and closed-toed shoes
as the concert attire for the beginning choirs, and during field trips, and at school on the day of a concert.
Additional T-Shirts may be purchased for family members or as extras, if desired.

FORMAL UNIFORMS

Formal uniforms will need to be purchased by parents for each student. Students in the Choirs will need a
floor length, concert black dress (no strapless), and solid black closed-toed dress shoes. Flats or heels are
acceptable, and the bottom of the dress must be hemmed to one inch above the floor while wearing your
concert shoes. You are encouraged to have it done professionally, or parent volunteers may be available. If you
cannot find a dress this long, the dress must at least be knee length, with black tights on underneath.

Example of black dress (one we are fundraising for): https://sepapparel.com/melisma-concert-choir-dress.html

Students in the 7th and 8th grade Tenor/Bass choir must provide your own black dress pants, long sleeve black
button up shirt, black dress socks, and black dress shoes. Items which do not meet requirements (not
hemmed, improper shoes, badly wrinkled, etc.) are not considered to be the proper uniform and will cause the
student’s grade to be lowered.

Vest and Tie we are trying to fundraise for: https://sepapparel.com/vangard-satin-vest-men-concert-choir.html

https://sepapparel.com/vangard-long-tie-choir.html

I do not wish for the T-Shirt or Uniform requirement to prevent a student from taking choir. If this
requirement poses a problem or creates a financial difficulty, please contact me as soon as possible so that we
can work something out (delayed payment, financial assistance, etc.).

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 FUNDRAISING
The Panther Choir Booster (parent booster club) will be working with the choir this year to raise money for the
events and needs of the choir program, mainly formal uniforms. Participation by all students is encouraged as
every student benefits from these efforts. Donations to the Booster Club may be made in lieu of, or in addition
to, fundraising efforts if you choose.

PRIVATE VOICE LESSONS

Interested students are highly encouraged to take private voice lessons with our voice teacher(s). Private
lessons are offered once a week for $20 and are scheduled during the student’s choir class (half a period is 24
min.) or before/after school. Studying voice privately is extremely beneficial for student vocal development
and confidence, and it strengthens the choir. You can request a Voice Lessons form by indicating your interest
on the choir website. Students will be included in voice lessons in a first come-first served basis, as space is
limited. These voice lessons will be done virtually in the Fall, and may be in person in the Spring.

EXTRA CONTESTS
There are two opportunities for individual recognition this year. These optional contests have their own
non-refundable entry fee, and outside rehearsals may be required. Students who enter extra contests must
follow through with the entirety of the process in order to be recognized or to earn any awards. Details will be
sent home before students sign up for any of these optional contests.

1) All-Region Choir (April) – 7th and 8th grade students choosing to audition for the TMEA (Texas Music
Educators Association) All-Region Choir will prepare two pieces, and the highest ranked singers from
area school districts earn a spot in the choir. This honor choir performs once at the All-Region Concert.
Varsity Treble Choir is required to audition for All-Region Choir. Students are required to make sure
they are available for the performance date before they audition.

2) Solo & Ensemble Contest (Nov. 5th) – 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students choosing to compete in the UIL
(University Interscholastic League) Solo & Ensemble contest will prepare a memorized vocal solo from
a prescribed music list and be will be scored by a judge. The voice teacher or choir director will assist in
music selection and learning.

Additionally, there may be solos available with some of the music the choir will perform this year. When a solo
opportunity arises, all students will be given a chance to audition.

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 PANTHER CHOIR BOOSTER CLUB

All parents and guardians are invited to join the Parents of Panther Singers Booster Club (POPS), your parent
Booster Club! POPS supports the choir both financially and by volunteering throughout the year. This year,
POPS hopes to help us by sponsoring social events, paying contest entry fees, providing student incentives,
purchasing music, and much more! They also run our fundraiser and are working to raise funds to provide all
choir students with formal uniforms in the future.

All POPS parents who wish to volunteer to help with school events should fill out an FISD Volunteer form for
district approval. This form must be submitted new each year and is only available online. From the Frisco
ISD Home Page, click the “Parents & Students” tab, select “Volunteer Form,” under Volunteers select “Submit
this background check,” fill in the required fields, and select “Submit.”

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Panther Choir Calendar can also be found on the website and it lists all of the choir events that are known at
this time. Detailed information will be sent home for all events in which your child is participating and
transportation will always be provided for required events held outside of the school district.

Please pay attention to which groups are involved and whether the event is required. Performance is included
as part of the choir curriculum mandated by the state of Texas. This means that our 6 concerts: Fall, Winter,
Pre-UIL, UIL, Spring, and Pop Show are curricular events in which attendance is required by all choir
members. For Pre-UIL and UIL events, attendance is required for all choir members who meet UIL eligibility
rules, and alternate assignments will be given to students ineligible to attend. For non-curricular and non-UIL
events attendance is expected unless an absence has been approved in advance by the director when possible.
Social events are always optional and UIL eligibility rules may apply.

Students will receive a Major grade (60%) for concert attendance, uniform requirements, stage presence, and
audience etiquette at each concert. Absences from required events will result in a make-up assignment as
deemed appropriate by the director to replace the missing grade.

Please make every effort to pick up your student promptly when an event ends or to notify Mr. Tarpley if
you will be late.

CHOIR WEBSITE
The Panther Choir Website will be a great way for you to stay current regarding upcoming choir events, contest
results, recordings, and pictures. Please access the website often, as many of your questions can be answered
here. The website can be found at https://phmschoirs.weebly.com/

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 FORM/FEES

**Forms, Fees, and Folders are due Friday, September 9th.**

After reading the Pioneer Choir Handbook on our website, please sign the Google Doc
Handbook Agreement Form found on the choir website. It is my hope that this will take care of
the majority of paperwork for the school year. When permission slips are needed for outside
activities or trips, or if changes to the calendar occur, that information will be sent home along
with event details. I appreciate your time and prompt attention to this matter.

***In addition to the Handbook Acknowledgement Page, we ask that you pay the $25 Choir
participation fee online by Friday, September 9th. As mentioned earlier, this fee covers not
only the choir t-shirt, but also sheet music, sight reading materials, and accompanist fees. If this
is any issue please send Mr. Tarpley an email to work out an appropriate solution (payment
plan, scholarships, etc.).**

**Link for the online store will be sent out as soon as it is ready to go**

Please know that dates other than the concerts are subject to slight change, though this is unlikely. If any
location or cancellation does occur I will send out an email and send home a handout. Thank you for your
understanding in this matter.

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 Pioneer Heritage MS Choir 2022-2023 Calendar
Date & Time Location Students Involved Description-*Requi
red
Tues. Oct. 11th, PHMS Cafeteria All PHMS Choir Fall Concert*
5:30-6:30 pm
Tues. Oct. 25th, Memorial HS Tenor/Bass Singers Tenor/Bass Camp
2:00-6:30 pm
Sat. Nov. 5th, All Day Independence HS Select Participants Solo and Ensemble
th
Wed. Dec. 14 5:30-6:30 PHMS Cafeteria All PHMS Choir Winter Concert*
pm
Wed. Dec. 21st 4:00-6:00 PHMS Cafeteria Anyone who wants to Talent Show Auditions
pm Participate
Fri. Jan. 27th 6:30-8:30 pm PHMS Cafeteria Anyone who makes the Talent Show
Talent Show
Sat. Feb. 4th, All Day Fowler MS Those auditioning for Region Choir Camp
Region
Tues. Feb. 21st, 6:00-8:00 Grace UMC Sanctuary All PHMS UIL Choirs Pre-UIL*
pm
Feb. 28-Mar. 2nd McKinney North HS All PHMS UIL Choirs UIL Evaluation*
Sat. April 1st, all day Dowell MS 7th and 8th Grade Choir Region Auditions
Students
Fri. April 14th 5:15-7:00 Vandeventer MS All Region Choir All Region Choir
pm Participants Pre-Rehearsal
Sat. April 15th, all day McKinney North HS All Region Choir All Region
Participants Clinic/Concert
Tues. May 16th, PHMS Cafeteria All PHMS Choirs Pop Concert*
6:00-8:00 pm

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