Part Track Updates

Singers:

I hope each of you had a wonderful weekend and are enjoying your holiday break.

Just wanted to give you the heads up, Part Tracks for Three Madrigals, Ave Verum, and Muie Rendera are now uploaded to Dropbox via the Part Tracks folder under Concert Choir.  Reference recordings for all Spring Curriculum can be found there as well.  I highly encourage you to be actively listening to these tracks throughout the week!

Also as I mentioned before the break.  Stile Antico--one the greatest early music choirs in the world--is coming to Boston on February 24.   For information including how to purchase tickets, visit their website at: http://www.stileantico.co.uk/concerts

If you can afford the ticket price and are able to get up to Boston, I would definitely encourage you to go! You can also check out some of their many fantastic albums on their website!  This would be a great way to learn about singing Early/Renaissance Era Choral Music and hear it sung at the highest level by some of the finest choral singers on the planet.

Have a wonderful week, keep an eye out for further updates regarding part tracks and more,

Mr. Raymond

Caroling On The Common Tonight!

Caroling On The Common

This is a Foxboro Community Tradition! (not a required/graded event)

Thursday December 22nd at 6:00pm on the Common

This is a fun town event where we gather to sing classic holiday favorites!

Come help lead the community members/children in singing!

Sponsored by the Foxboro Jaycees!  

Hope to See you There!!!

-Mr. Raymond

Assembly Concert Tuesday

Singers:

Please come to school in your concert attire!

You will not have time to change before the concert!

We will warm-up together in the Choir Room first block and then we will proceed down to the Auditorium for a walk-through of the performance.

BE READY to sing by memory Acapella: 

Esto Les Digo 

Break Forth

Colder Weather

Hallelujah, Amen

Homage To Leonin (will happen at one of the performances)

Energy, Expression, Breath Support!  

Let's Rock Our Final Performance of 2016!!!

-Mr. Raymond

Weekly Updates December 19-23

Choir Weekly Updates: Final Week Of December!

AFTER SCHOOL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:

Monday: Tenor and Bass

Tuesday: Soprano and Alto

Wednesday: Senior District Practice

Thursday: Senior District Practice/Makeup Sectional

TUESDAY: ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCES

The Day's Schedule Will Go Period 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

The Assembly Performances Will Take Place During Second Block (per. 2)

There Will Be Two Separate Performances (8:25-9:20, 9:30-10:25)

Our Program Will Be 3-4 Songs From The Following:

Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light

Esto Les Digo

Colder Weather

Hallelujah, Amen

Homage To Leonin -- this will be sung, we will take the outside isles this time

THURSDAY: Caroling On The Common

This is a Foxboro Community Tradition! (not a required/graded event)

Thursday December 22nd at 6:00pm on the Common (Rain = Library)

This is a fun town event where we gather to sing classic holiday favorites!

Come help lead the community members/children in singing!

Sponsored by the Foxboro Jaycees!  

Spring Repertoire Part Assignments

All part assignments for the Spring curriculum have been emailed

Recordings are now up on Dropbox

Part Tracks will be posted soon

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Goal: Learn All Part/Harmonies and Rhythms By End Of January 

Have a FANTASTIC final School Week of 2016!!

-Mr. Raymond

Concert Tonight!

2016 Winter Concert Tonight!

CALL TIME: 6:00pm, Concert Black Dress, Striped Ties, Necklaces

PERFORMANCE ORDER:

Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light

Northern Lights

Hallelujah, Amen

Colder Weather

Betelehemu

REMINDERS:

Big Visual Energy, Expressive Engaged Faces At ALL Times

Full Breath, Sing Out Confidently

Focused Air Energy, Aim Your Resonance

Stand Tall With Pride

Listen To Your Section Members and Balance

"DANCE" during Betelehemu, STOMP on the unified rhythm, SHOW the joyful spirit

HAVE FUN!!!

Can't wait to take part in this performance experience with you!

-Mr. Raymond

Concert Week Updates!

Happy Concert Week!  Busy Week Ahead!

Make sure you have your concert attire clean and ready for Thursday's Performance!

Please make sure you are getting plenty of rest and taking care of your voices.

THIS WEEK AFTER SCHOOL:
Monday: Tenor and Bass
Tuesday: Alto and Soprano
Wednesday: FCA Holiday Party Choir Practice
Thursday: Sectional Makeup
Friday: Senior District Festival Practice

"I still NEED VOLUNTEERS for the "Holiday Party Choir" for the Foxboro Cable Access annual holiday party, Wednesday (6-7pm), short after school rehearsal on Wednesday sing easy holiday songs and choir pieces!

Performance Days!

Ahern 5th Grade Concert: December 13 @ 6:30pm

FCA Holiday Party Caroling Choir: December 14 6:00-7:00pm

Assembly Performances: December 20

Caroling On The Common: December 22

Friday Updates

Singers:

First, thank you to those of you who came out last night to hear and support the 8th grade singers and Ms. Shetler! It was greatly appreciated by all!

Second thank you to those who came early to help with risers today--much appreciated!

Lots of positive takeaways from this morning's rehearsal!  It is a tough space to sing in acoustically but you guys are working hard and you're on track.  Keep working hard on those tricky harmony sections in Colder Weather and Northern Lights overall focused air and expressive energy.  It would be best if we could do it by memory!  This will take weekend practice and work.  I'm in the process of uploading today's video of colder weather to YouTube to share with you all.

NEXT WEEK AFTER SCHOOL:

Monday: Tenor and Bass

Tuesday: Alto and Soprano

Wednesday: FCA Holiday Party Choir

Thursday: Sectional Makeup

Friday: Senior District Festival Practice

"Holiday Party Choir" for the Foxboro Cable Access annual holiday party, 

Wednesday (6-7pm), short after school rehearsal- sing easy holiday songs and choir pieces!

LOOKING AHEAD...

Winter Concert: December 15 (next Week)

Ahern 5th Grade Concert: December 13 @ 6:30pm

FCA Holiday Party Caroling Choir: December 14 6:00-7:00pm

Assembly Performances: December 20

Caroling On The Common: December 22

MICCA/Spring Curriculum (starts next Friday)

(Start listening and searching YouTube for recordings)

Three Madrigals - Emma Lou Diemer

Ave Verum Corpus - William Byrd

Nothin Gonna Stumble My Feet - Gilpin

Ballade To The Moon - Daniel Elder

Fresh and Fearless - Daniel Elder

O My Luves Like A Red, Red Rose - David Dickau

*Womens*

Mainacht - Brahms

There Will Come Soft Rains - Memley

Autumn - Daley

Ahern 8th Grade Concert Tonight! 6:30pm

Some Midweek Updates:

Ahern 8th Grade Concert Tonight 6:30pm!  Please go out and show your support!

One Week To Go Until The FHS Winter Concert!!

- Soprano Sectional Today (Thursday) After School

- Tour Check #2 Is Due

- Concert Choir Rehearsal In The Auditorium On Friday

- Senior Baby Pictures into Julia By Friday

Next Week I need volunteers to form a "Holiday Party Choir" for the Foxboro Cable Access annual holiday party!  This is a wonderful way to give back and show our appreciation for video recording all of our concerts and being so supportive of our program!  It will only be an hour (6-7pm), and we will sing easy holiday songs and choir pieces.  Please try to come and sing along if you can make it Wednesday December 14, 6-7pm!

LOOKING AHEAD...

Winter Concert: December 15 (1 more Week)

Ahern 5th Grade Concert: December 13 @ 6:30pm

FCA Holiday Party Caroling Choir: December 14 6:00-7:00pm

Assembly Performances: December 20

Caroling On The Common: December 22

Choir Step-up Night: Monday January 9

Weekly Updates December 5-9

After School Schedule This Week 

(note Bass and Tenors have been switched)

MONDAY DEC 5: TENORS (In Choir Office -Music Wing)

TUESDAY DEC 6: ALTO (In Room 122)

WEDNESDAY DEC 7: BASS (In Choir Office -Music Wing)

THURSDAY DEC 8: SOPRANO (In Room 122)

FRIDAY: MAKEUP

- Tour Check #2 Is Due

- Ahern Grade 8 Choir Concert Thursday -- Please Attend If You Are Available

- Jazz Choir Tuesday Evening 6:30-8:00pm

- Concert Choir Rehearsal In The Auditorium On Friday

- Senior Baby Pictures into Julia ASAP

CONGRATULATIONS TO Amelia, Anya, Maddie, and Taegan for being accepted into the Junior District Choir!  Congratulations as well to the FHS instrumentalists and Ahern singers and instrumentalists that were also selected!

Next Week I will need volunteers to form a "Holiday Party Choir" for the Foxboro Cable Access annual holiday party!  This is a wonderful way to give back and show our appreciation for video recording all of our concerts and being so supportive of our program!  It will only be an hour (6-7pm), and we will sing easy holiday songs and choir pieces.  Please try to come and sing along if you can make it Wednesday December 14, 6-7pm!

LOOKING AHEAD...

Winter Concert: December 15 (2 weeks from Thursday)

Ahern 5th Grade Concert: December 13 @ 6:30pm

FCA Holiday Party Caroling Choir: December 14 6:00-7:00pm

Assembly Performances: December 20

Caroling On The Common: December 22

Choir Step-up Night: Monday January 9

Junior District Auditions Saturday

A HUGE good luck tomorrow to all of the Foxboro Musicians Auditioning for Junior Districts!

Ms. Shetler and I are both very proud of you

Quick reminder: Bus is rolling at 12:30 from the Ahern school, don't be late!

Dress Professionally: Dress Pants/Dresses, brighter colors, avoid scarves and overly distracting jewelry, wear comfortable shoes/flats.

The most important thing: don't be nervous and don't apologize if you make a mistake!

You have all prepared and worked, and you have no reason to be nervous!  If you make a mistake, keep moving no matter what.  Take your time and take a couple deep breaths before you start. 

Remember the audition starts the minute you walk into the room so you want to carry yourself with confidence.  

The first thing that goes when you are nervous or hyped up is your breath support.  So if you stay relaxed, and use your air effectively without taking extra breaths or breathing in the middle of words/phrases, and you focus on making music and singing with the recording with a carefree, pleasant expression, I think each of you should do very well!

Very proud of you all, and look forward to seeing you do your best tomorrow!

-Mr. Raymond

Important Midweek Updates!

MIDWEEK UPDATES...

Junior District Auditions: December 3rd (audition time 2:30pm)

Departure Time 12:30 from Ahern

Professional Attire: Dresses/Dress Pants, lighter color tones with comfortable dress shoes/flats, avoid scarves and excess jewelry, hair tied back/out of your face

Next Week's After School Schedule Has Changed--Please Take Note!

MONDAY DEC 5: BASS (In Choir Office)

TUESDAY DEC 6: ALTO (In Room 122)

WEDNESDAY DEC 7: TENOR (In Choir Office)

THURSDAY DEC 8: SOPRANO (In Room 122)

FRIDAY: MAKEUP

Tour Check #2 Is NOW Due

Senior Baby Pictures into Julia

RULES FOR AHERN CHOIR VISITORS

Anyone that is going to Ahern to assist Ms. Shetler and provide leadership must:

- Email Ms. Shetler before every visit

- Sign in with the office and get a visitor badge

- Remember that you are NOT A MEMBER of the ensemble, you are a MENTOR and a ROLE MODEL

- You MUST be positive and encouraging of EVERYONE at ALL TIMES

- If Ms. Shetler asks you to do anything, you need to listen, and assist her

LOOKING AHEAD...

Winter Concert: December 15 (2 weeks from Thursday)
Ahern 8th Grade Concert: December 8 @ 6:30pm
Ahern 5th Grade Concert: December 13 @ 6:30pm

FCA Holiday Party Caroling Choir: December 14

Assembly Performances: December 20

Caroling On The Common: December 22
Choir Step-up Night: Monday January 9