Mundelein High School - Fine Arts


Guidelines & Exceptions for Participation in Multiple Music Programs

1. Guidelines have been created to establish the protocol by which students understand their opportunities to participate in one or more music courses.

	Guideline: Students in concert choirs (but not show choir) will be scheduled into an every-other-day PE section to accommodate their requirements. These sections (both choir and PE) need to be sufficiently filled and balanced to allow for effective staffing. Students interested in developing purely within our concert choir program should have the opportunity and ability to perform at high levels outside of our show choir program. Guideline: Students in show choir need to also be in a concert choir (or a concert band ensemble) to ensure students will be exposed to a robust music curriculum in addition to the performance elements of show choir. Students (except those with purely jazz instruments) in jazz band need to also be in a concert band (or a concert choir ensemble) to ensure students will be exposed to a substantial music curriculum in addition to their jazz experience. For example, students might be in Sound and Wind Ensemble without enrolling in a concert vocal choir. Students might be in Lights and Jazz Ensemble, without enrolling in a concert band. Student participation in the show choirs fulfills their PE requirement. Guideline: Students will generally not be allowed to miss class periods of the upper level (Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble) bands to attend a choir class. The curriculum is generally intended to be presented to all students in an upper level band course for each day the course meets. Guideline: We need to provide an opportunity to allow co-enrollment (red/gray) in Concert Band and a concert choir. Ninth graders should have the opportunity to experience both programs before committing to our specific programs in subsequent years. Students in a higher band can drop to Concert Band to be in a concert choir. This means that any of our younger/inexperienced/developing music students will be able to co-enroll in a choir and band if they so wish. Guideline: Students who audition into the highest level, evening show choir (Sound) who are also in an upper band will not also be performing in a daytime show choir if this course conflicts with the upper band course. These students are gaining an opportunity in the evening to perform in a show choir and therefore should maximize their class experience in the band section.



2. Exceptions may occur during a given year due to the unique requests from students in regards to their participation in our music program that cannot be accommodated within the general guidelines.

	EXCEPTION: Individual exceptions may be reserved for students who have demonstrated an extremely high degree of talent and commitment in both band and choir. These students have a drive to contribute to and grow in both areas. We should support their dual-commitment provided they can maintain adequate dedication to band and choir. A detailed contract (“Application for Exemption”) for these students needs to be designed by these students and approved by all music instructors and the principal in order to make exceptions to the guidelines above. These contracts need to outline credit issuance, practice and performance schedules, and consequences for failure to uphold the agreement. These exceptions are not a guarantee for the students who are interested in participating in two courses simultaneously, but rather an opportunity for students to apply to do so. These applications are available in the principal’s office. EXCEPTION: By 2009-10, we should be able to establish a high quality concert choir independent of the show choir scheduling so all concert choirs can be scheduled on a predictable and consistent red/gray schedule. However, for the 08-09 school year, we will run an under-enrolled, unbalanced red/gray for 08-09 to accommodate some singers in the Masters Singers/ Women’s Select Ensemble, but not in a show choir. Students in these choirs will sign contracts agreeing to their enrollment in such Red/Gray PE sections.