The Florence Men’s Choral Society and The Palmetto Boychoir School
Updated April 2010

The Three-Tiered Music Education

Tier 1: Entry Choir All boys move through Entry Choir.  This is a trial period to see if the newly admitted boy will follow the rules:  The rules are divided into two groups (behavior and musicianship). Here are the Choir Rules: Choir Rules A. Behavior 1. Parent’s Responsibility: The boy must be on time (both for arriving and departing).  The adult dropping the boys off must sign the boy in when arriving and out when departing. 2. Child’s Responsibility: Behave well (at rehearsals, concerts, and when representing the choir to the community). 3. Child’s Responsibility: Do your assigned task (quickly and without being asked). 4. Child’s Responsibility: Do not distract others with talking, acting out, arguing/fighting, joking, snatching things, etc. or in any way that might be construed by others as unfriendly or rude. 5. Parent’s Responsibility: The boy must dress appropriately (arrive clean & well groomed). 6. Parent’s Responsibility: Pay all expenses, fees, etc. on time and purchase all needed performance and wardrobe items quickly.  It is suggested that both the parent and the boy pay the bill, so that the child sees that the experience is an investment into the child’s life and should not be compared to free public school activities. B. Musicianship 1. Stay on pitch 2. Sing with others (like a member of a group and not like a soloist) 3. Pronounce the words properly 4. Follow the directions of the conductor. 5. Learn/memorize the music. 6. Participate fully in the rehearsals.  Use proper rehearsal etiquette. 7. Attend all concerts.  Use proper concert étiquette Rehearsal Etiquette Rehearsal etiquette at the Palmetto State Boys Choir includes the following: - Dress appropriately and use your best manners. - Perform your duties and then take your seat quickly. - Stand when an adult enters the room. - Raise your hand if you make a mistake – so that the conductor knows he or she does not need to go over that section. You know what you did wrong. - Sit properly when sitting and stand properly when standing. - Always be prepared to sing.  Be at the right place in the music at all times. - Use your best voice. - Raise your hand if you have a question or comment. - Keep a sharpened pencil ready to write notes in the music. - Pay attention to the director even if he or she is working with another person or section. - When a song is finished or when the rehearsal is over, applaud the accomplishment. - Complete your duties before you sign out. Concert Etiquette The Concert Etiquette of the Palmetto State Boys Choir includes the following: - Always use your best manners. - Set up for the concert – perform your assigned duties. - Get dressed, go to the rest room, drink water, do not eat food or drink anything other than water after you have dressed. - Get your folder and keep it with you.  Do not lose it.  Insure your music is ready.  (No shuffling of papers on the stage or during a performance, because you can’t find the music.) - Always walk everywhere with your partner.  This includes to the restroom, water fountain, dressing rooms, in the processional line, to the stage to perform… everywhere! - No running. - Sing with your whole body including your face.  Don’t just stand there with your mouth moving and song coming out with your body in a stiff frozen stare. - If you must sit on stage, keep your knees together (cross your ankles, if you must). - After the concert, perform a correct bow. - Be prepared to sing an encore. - Depart from the stage quickly and professionally. - Move to the exits with your partner to thank the audience for attending your concert. - After everyone is gone and the sales table is closed, finish your duties. - Stay with the group until your parent picks you up and signs you out. - If we go out to eat, use your best manners and stay with your partner. Tier 2: The Novice/Training Program After a suitable probation period, newly admitted choristers may move into the Novice Training Program by enrolling in the Novice Course. Novice Course The Novice Course comprises the first year of the Chorister Training Program where students learn the basics of music theory, vocal production, and sight-reading.  Novice choristers are typically boys in grade 3 or 4 but may be any child joining the choir.  At the time they enter the Novice Course students are not formally part of the Training Choir but must successfully complete the Novice year for consideration.  The course is presented in three selective terms throughout the year, corresponding to the three terms of the choir schedule.  At the completion of each term the Choirmaster and chorister’s family discuss his individual progress and determine if the chorister will advance to the next stage of the Novice Course (Novices may also transition into the Training Choir at these term breaks).  By the third stage the course accelerates to prepare for full entry into the Training Choir.  After completion of the Novice Course successful students continue in the Chorister Training Program as Junior Choristers.  The Novice and Junior Chorister curricula are presented in Appendix B.  Those who successfully complete the Novice Course are formally “installed” into the Palmetto State Boys Choir in a special service. Tier 3: The Palmetto Boychoir School The Resident Choir All members of the Palmetto Boychoir must join the Resident Choir.  The boy may be in this choir for many months to years.  Essentially, only 25 boys can perform in the Touring Choir.  All other boys must remain in the Resident Choir.  Boys may be moved to the Touring Choir and then be moved back into the Resident Choir for a variety of reasons.  Not the least of which are the following: 1) the boys has scheduling conflicts and is unable to rehearse with the Touring Choir. 2) the boy consistently misses Touring Choir concerts. 3) the boy is unable to perform at the Touring Choir level. 4) the director, in consultation with the parents, believes the boy is not ready or willing to tour. 5) there are consistent behavior issues; such as, missing too many rehearsals or misbehaving during rehearsals or concerts (warning: too much of this may lead to dismissal from the choir).  Having said this, it is to be expected that most of the boys in the Training Choir when invited to move to the Touring Choir will not have issues that would require the boy to be returned to the Resident Choir before the end of the tour.  On the other hand, some boys will be returned to the Resident Choir because they were promoted for a short season, to fill a gap, as a trial, or for any number of reasons, with the full expectation that the appointment to the Touring Choir was temporary. The Resident Choir is where the boy proves himself.  He can do this in several ways: Behavior – the boy demonstrates himself to be a vital team player and an asset to the Resident Choir. Musicianship – the boy achieves all of his goals in the Resident Choir and is ready to be moved to the Touring Choir. Talent and Skill – the boy arrives with a tremendous amount of talent so that it is clear to the director that he should be able to achieve his Resident Choir goals while performing with the Touring Choir. It should be noted that if the Touring Choir is filled, boys can be returned to the Resident Choir to make room in the Touring Choir for other boys.  Expectations of the Resident Choir: It is to be expected that all of the Choir Rules will be maintained. It is to be expected that boys in the Resident Choir will show vocal improvement, will demonstrate an advancing understanding of music, theory, composition, performance, and conducting.  This can be demonstrated by performing increasingly difficult pieces, playing an instrument, composing/arranging music, directing a piece during a concert, etc. It is to be expected that boys in the Resident Choir will desire to audition for the Touring Choir. Please know that it is possible to remain in the Resident Choir for the duration of membership in the Palmetto State Boys Choir.  It is, for example, possible that a boy desires to sing in the Touring Choir but is unable to do so due to family circumstances, health issues, or one or more issues indicated in the admissions-probation rules, such as missing too many rehearsals, missing concerts, etc. Choir Members must demonstrate a proficiency in music theory within three years of being admitted into the program.  The music theory curriculum offers graduated instruction in the rudiments of music theory, sight-singing, and basic keyboard literacy. Choristers who transition into the Touring Choir program from the Resident Choir will not start as novices.  They will be placed by the Choirmaster according to the present rank, age, and level of education.  They will keep their ribbons and continue to advance according to the curriculum outlined below.  Even the most advanced chorister will be offered a music curriculum that matches their present abilities and challenges them to continue their progress. Junior Choristers Junior choristers are typically boys in grades 4-5 (or any person) who have completed their Novice year and have been installed as members of the Resident Choir.  They participate fully in rehearsals, in special events, and in concerts.  Junior Choristers not only rapidly build their experiences by singing in special events but they also continue to strengthen and integrate their knowledge of advanced music theory through regular instruction.  Additionally, once installed in the choir, Junior Choristers will begin to have group piano instruction in the piano lab, and individual voice instruction with the voice teacher. Senior Choristers Senior Choristers are typically boys in grades 6-8 who have completed the music theory component of the Chorister Training Program.  Senior Choristers perform in major concerts and special events, as well as for special tours.  As a senior chorister, private vocal study and group keyboard study will continue.  Youth Chorister Youth Choristers are typically boys in grades 9 – 12 who have completed the music theory component of the Chorister Training Program.  By special arrangement, youth choristers may participate in the Florence Men’s Choral Society without auditioning, when they have reached the age of 14.  If the Youth Chorister so chooses, at 16, he may leave the Palmetto State Boys Choir to sing exclusively in the Florence Men’s Choral Society. If he does this, he may return to support PBS events until he is 18. Likewise, the 16+ year old chorister may choose to sing with the Palmetto Boychoir until he graduates from high school or turns 18 years old if he has graduated early or is no longer in high school. The Touring Choir Only 25 boys are admitted into the Touring Choir for a season. This is the highest performance level.  As such there are certain expectations that go with being a chorister in the Touring Choir.  These are as follows: Learn to perform all of the music at an exceptional level. Be a role model for the other members of the Palmetto State Boys Choir, especially tier 1 and tier 2 members. Seek out and accept a leadership role in the choir.  This can be done in many ways.  For example, one could… Help the members of the Resident Choir to achieve their goals Recruit new members into the choir Conduct a piece during a concert Take voice lessons or other music lessons and improve your performance as a result of those lessons.  For example, sing a solo or play an instrument during an intermission at a concert or during some other performance of the choir. Make recommendations to the director on how to improve some aspect of the Touring Choir’s performance.  For example, improving the brochure, the timing or sequence of music, loading or unloading equipment, etc.  And act on the director’s instruction to the recommendation. Perform in an ensemble Learn more about other boy choirs, music organizations and associations, etc. Participate in camps, association meetings, competitions, etc. Always attend to details during rehearsals and concerts – stay focused and on task.  Behave very well – use good manners all of the time. Ribbons and Rank Yellow   Novice Light Blue  Junior Chorister I Blue   Junior Chorister II Green   Senior Chorister I Purple   Senior Chorister II Red   Senior Chorister III/Youth Chorister Gold   Jr. Head Chorister Gold w/medallion Head Chorister

Rehearsal Times and Locations:

The Palmetto Boychoir rehearses on Saturdays from 1:00 until 3:00 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Florence

The Palmetto Boychoir Touring Choir rehearses on Thursdays from 5:15 until 6:45 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Florence.

Florence Men’s Choral Society rehearses on Thursdays from 7:00 until 9:00 at First Presbyterian Church in Florence.