KELLY HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Kelly Cantantes – Vocal Music I, Vocal Music II, Vocal Music III, Vocal Music IV

SYLLABUS
Read this syllabus carefully. Complete the signatures. Return one copy to Mr. Skalinder. Place the other copy in your chorus binder.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The members of Kelly Cantantes will develop musical literacy and fluency in melody, harmony, rhythm,
dynamics, articulation, expression, phrasing, and tone color through a varied high quality repertoire of vocal
music representing a mixture of historical periods and cultural traditions. Students will establish and improve
knowledge and abilities in large and small group vocal performance, aural skills, evaluation, music reading, and
music theory analysis. Singers will exhibit progress in specific techniques and skills including but not limited to
breath control, intonation, diction, vowel formation, tone quality, phrasing, and sight-reading. The ensemble
will be expected to foster aesthetic development and appreciation of music as an art form and to apply literacy
and technique to musical insight, interpretation and style. The chorus will participate in school and community
concerts, choir exchange programs, contests, and other music festivals and performance opportunities.

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION

01) Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
02) Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
03) Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
04) Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
05) Reading and notating music.
06) Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
07) Evaluating music and music performances.
08) Understanding relationships between music, other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
09) Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

ILLINOIS STATE GOALS

Students who meet the standard…
25A) …understand the sensory elements, organizational principles, and expressive qualities of the arts.
25B) …understand the similarities, distinctions, and connections in and among the arts.
26A) …understand processes, traditional tools, and modern technologies used in the arts.
26B) …can apply skills and knowledge necessary to create and perform in one or more of the arts.
27A) …can analyze how the arts function in history, society and everyday life.
27B) …understand how the arts shape and reflect history, society and everyday life.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
It is required that each student…
01) …attend all classes, rehearsals, and performances.
02) …be prepared on a daily basis and participate fully in all classroom activities.
03) …exhibit maximum effort, positive attitude, teamwork, concentration, and focus.
04) …return all classroom materials or pay the replacement fee.
05) …be responsible for all work missed due to an absence.
06) …sing in small groups in front of the class and alone in front of the instructor.
07) …sing and memorize music in multiple languages.
08) …complete written, evaluative, and reflective assignments on the Cantantes blog.
09) …exhibit professionalism, respect, honesty, responsibility and dedication.
10) …pay a mandatory $30.00 fee for folders, music, workbooks, pianos, uniforms, photocopying, and more.

Eric Skalinder • Office 159F: 773.535.4900 ext.89277 • fax 773.535.4841 • eskalinder@cps.edu • ericskalinder.com • cell: 847.420.5085
KELLY HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Kelly Cantantes – Vocal Music I, Vocal Music II, Vocal Music III, Vocal Music IV

GRADING SCALE AND CRITERIA

Grades are based on a standard scale:

A = 90% – 100% B = 80% – 89% C = 70% – 79% D = 60% – 69% F = 0% – 59%

Grades are comprised of student work in three main categories: Weekly, Quiz, and Skill.

WEEKLY
Daily attendance and punctuality
Maximum effort and focus
Full preparedness including materials
Positive attitude & contribution
Support for the ensemble & members
Respect for music, peers, and leaders
Students begin each week of the semester with a perfect score
of 100. There will be 19 weekly grades each semester. A
week’s grade will be lowered by 50% for each instance of the
following: absence, tardiness, missing materials, lack of
participation, or eating. These infractions will be cumulative
within each week and will affect only that week’s grade.

QUIZ
Note letter names, types, and durations
Solfege identification
Key signatures in two clefs
Rhythm counting methods
Intervals and basic chords
Basic music theory problem solving
All quizzes are pass/fail. A perfect score earns a passing grade
of 100%. An imperfect score earns half credit. A missed quiz
results in zero credit. Each quiz may be taken any number of
times outside of class up until two weeks after the initial
offering. After two weeks, a quiz may not be taken again and
the current grade stands.

SKILL
Scales: major, minor, chromatic, etc.
Tonal memory
Sight-reading alone and with others
Ear training & dictation
Small and large group performance
Solo performance for the instructor
Skills are graded on a standard scale or on a pass/fail basis.
Students are expected to demonstrate continual improvement
and competency in a variety of chorus skills, including but not
limited to singing of scales, sight-reading, ear training,
dictation, and solo and group performance. These skills
support the development of independent musicianship.

AGREEMENT
I have carefully read and I fully understand this course syllabus. I agree to be adjudicated, or to have my child
adjudicated, based on the content contained in this syllabus in addition to other Kelly Cantantes rules and
regulations provided by the instructor.

Printed Student Name Student Signature Month Day Year

Printed Parent or Guardian Name Parent or Guardian Signature Month Day Year

Eric Skalinder • Office 159F: 773.535.4900 ext.89277 • fax 773.535.4841 • eskalinder@cps.edu • ericskalinder.com • cell: 847.420.5085