- Noblesville West Middle School
- NWMS CHORAL DEPARTMENT
Music - Axsom, Alex
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WELCOME TO THE NOBLESVILLE WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR PAGE!
The Noblesville West Middle School Choral Music Department is dedicated to providing high quality training for our students by highly qualified teachers and clinicians. Our performers focus on vocal technique, performance skills, and life-changing skills through specifically tailored classes and training. Noblesville West Middle School Choral Music Department believes that by achieving excellence in the performing arts, students can and will strive for excellence in all areas. For this reason, the Noblesville West Middle School Choral Music Department is committed to making the productions at West Engaging, Inspiring, Empowering, and most of all, Entertaining.
The 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Choirs are broken into two periods that meet during the school day.
ISSMA Organizational Contest
Saturday, March 9th, 2024
Elwood Jr-Sr High School
Our next performances for 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Choirs will be at ISSMA Contest on March 9, 2024. This is a Saturday performance at Elwood Jr-Sr High School in Elwood, IN.
Transportation:
Students should be dropped off and picked up at Elwood Jr-Sr High School. There will be NO BUS transportation to this event.
Each student will need a completed Parent Travel Transportation Form. This form should be turned as an Assignment in your child's Choir Canvas Course.
Contest Dress:
Students should wear their Black pants/leggings, dark closed-toed shoes, and NWMS Choir Shirts for this performance. If your student is new to choir this quarter, they will receive their shirt in March. If your student has lost their shirt, it will be $8 to replace it. Please make sure your student has their shirt.
Contest Grading:
Concerts/performances are worth 30% of your student's choir grade. Please fill out the contest conflict form link if your student is unable to attend.
ISSMA Contest Guide for Parents ISSMA Organizational Contest is an opportunity for our choirs to be evaluated by three choral judges. These judges will score the choir on a nine category rubric. The total rubric score will be used to assign a rating of Gold, Silver, Bronze to the choir. One of the judges will be giving recorded spoken comments to the choir. This judge will be speaking throughout the performance. The remaining judges will provide the choir with written comments.
Parents are encouraged to attend this free performance. Choir performance times are very strict. The Intermediate Gym doors will close at the beginning of each performance and will not be opened until the performance has ended. Please plan to arrive prior to your child's performance time to insure you will get to see the performance. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
It is is best for parents to not sit near the judges. Under no circumstances will a parent/guardian communicate with any judge. Should there be an issue, please inform Mr. Axsom. He will then deal with the issue through proper channels.
6th Grade (NWMS Univoiced Choir #3) ISSMA Contest Saturday, March 9, 2024
Elwood High School-1137 North 19th Street, Elwood, IN 46036
Meet in the Elwood Main Gymnasium: 9:15am
Transit and Warm Up Time: 9:35am-9:55am
Performance Time: 10:00am (Intermediate Gym)
Students will return to the Main Gymnasium immediately after the performance to retrieve their items and reunite with their parent/guardian.
Please fill out the Contest Conflict Form Link (below) ASAP if your student should have to miss their event, but please keep in mind that this is our most important performance of the year!
7th Grade (NWMS Mixed Choir #2) ISSMA Contest Saturday, March 9, 2024
Elwood High School-1137 North 19th Street, Elwood, IN 46036
Meet in the Elwood Main Gymnasium: 10:45am
Transit Warm Up Time: 11:00-11:20am
Performance Time: 11:25am (Intermediate Gym)
Students will return to the Main Gymnasium immediately after the performance to retrieve their items and reunite with their parent/guardian.
Please fill out the Contest Conflict Form (link below) ASAP if your student should have to miss their event, but please keep in mind that this is our most important performance of the year!
8th Grade (NWMS Mixed Choir #1) ISSMA Contest Saturday, March 9, 2024
Elwood High School-1137 North 19th Street, Elwood, IN 46036
Meet in the Elwood Main Gymnasium: 2:15pm
Transit and Warm Up Time: 2:35pm-2:55pm
Performance Time: 3:00pm (Intermediate Gym)
Students will return to the Main Gymnasium immediately after the performance to retrieve their items and reunite with their parent/guardian.
Please fill out the Contest Conflict Form (link below) ASAP if your student should have to miss their event, but please keep in mind that this is our most important performance of the year!
2024-25 NWMS Show Choir Audition Information
2024-25 Show Choir Auditions
Scan the QR Code or click the link below to register:
https://forms.gle/r7kh3T5sEgdiB7Qi7
Auditions are open to all students entering grades 7-8. Show Choir students will be required to participate in their academic grade level choir.
VOCAL AUDITION VIDEO:
SUBMISSIONS Due by Friday, April 19, 2024
Each student will submit one vocal audition video. You will need to prepare: 45 seconds to 1 minute and 30 seconds of a song of your choice. Choose something that best shows off your 'show choir' voice. (Disney, Broadway, Classical, Folk, etc..all are fine- pop or rock are discouraged)This song can be sung with or without accompaniment. The student should demonstrate good vocal tone, breath support, and facial expression.
Vocal Audition Submission Link
Scan the QR Code to Upload the Vocal Audition Video
DANCE AUDITION:
Dance Learning Day:
Friday, April 19, 2024: 4:00-5:00pmDance Audition Day:
Monday, April 22, 2024: 4:00-5:00pm
NWMS Choir Room
Learning Day: Each student will attend an after school Dance Audition. The students will be taught a brief choreographed routine. (30-45 seconds long).Audition Day: All students will be recorded performing the dance in groups. (6-8 students)
Students must complete the dance audition for consideration for show choir.REHEARSALS:
- Mixed Show Choir (West Side Sound) will take place during SLT. This means you will not have any form of study hall.
- This group will rehearse on Tuesday/Friday mornings: (before school)
- There will be 4-6 extended rehearsals to work with our choreographer(s). Choreographer rehearsals are mandatory.
- Additional times or rehearsals may be added during the competition season (January/February).
INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Students who are involved in other school activities besides Westside Sound should carefully consider their responsibilities to every group in which they are involved. The philosophy of the director has always been that students should be able to participate in as many school activities as they desire, as long as they can maintain their academic grades and perform at an acceptable standard in each activity.
*If you are considering auditioning but have potential conflict concerns/questions, please communicate them to Mr. Axsom at alex_axsom@nobl.k12.in.us. We will do everything we can to work something out.
COSTS:
- Students will pay a $180 fee.
- An additional $25 transportation fee will be assessed to each show choir student.
- New female students will need to purchase tan character shoes ($40-$92), black bloomers ($11-$14), black leggings, nude pantyhose, and a leotard. All items to be purchased from Kinney Dancewear.
- All prices are estimated and are subject to change.
Course Description
Choir is a yearlong course. We have a total of 3-4 performances throughout the year - *Fall, Winter, & Spring Concerts, plus ISSMA Contest in March. We sing a varied repertoire of music, ranging from classical to pop to Broadway to spirituals and even songs in other languages! We also do some choreography (dancing)! Students who are in both Choir and Band/Orchestra will attend Band/Orchestra 3 times a week, and Choir 2 times a week.
Grading Practices
Performances/Projects - 30%
Rehearsal Technique: 30%
Written or other Assignments: 20%
Tests/Quizzes/Virtual Assignments - 20%
Choir Room Rules & Expectations
- Students will respect their peers, director, support staff, and the property of the NWMS Performing Arts Department.
- Students will fully participate in all choir activities.
- Students will not chew gum during class. There is also no food, candy, or drinks other than water allowed in the choir room.
- Students will come to class on time and be ready to begin class when the bell rings. This includes using the restroom BEFORE coming to class.
- Students will come to class prepared with all necessary materials: iPad, Mask, Water Bottle (optional)
- Students will put their cell phones away during class and will follow all iPad guidelines.
- Students will follow all other school policies as they are outlined in the student handbook.
Choir Newsletters
All Parent communciation and newsletters will be done through the ParentSquare App.
Choir Concert Dates
8/15/23 Fundraiser Kick off
8/29/23 Fundraiser Forms Due
9/19/23 Fundraiser Delivery Week
9/29/23 Fall Choir Concert (Friday)
TBA Winter Choir Concert
2/3/24 ISSMA Piano/Vocal Solo Ensemble Contest (optional)
3/9/24 ISSMA Organizational Contest Week #1
4/??/24 Show Choir Auditions
TBA Spring Choir Concert
Let's Get Connected
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Instructor Name
Mr. Alex AxsomPreferred Contact Method
alex_axsom@nobl.k12.in.usAlternate Contact Methods
317-776-7792 ext. 18275.