Parent Handbook

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GENERAL – 2023-2024

Your child or children are invited to join the award-winning Napa Valley Children’s Chorus. The chorus is starting in September 2023 after a long break because of covid. We are hoping to recruit as many children who like to sing as possible, so spread the word to your children’s friends and school classes. We will resume rehearsals and concert activities September 12, 2023.

Founded in 1994, NVCC is under the umbrella of the adult community chorus, Sing Napa Valley. The children’s chorus is part of SNV’s ongoing goal of providing opportunities for lifelong participation in choral singing.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the children’s chorus is to provide a high quality, group singing experience for members that includes, building friendships through healthy vocal training, performance opportunities, the development of performance skills and fun through their accomplishments. Through participation, members practice discipline and commitment, develop self confidence, and become part of a musical community where every member is important.

Because of cutbacks in funding in some elementary schools, Napa Valley Children's Chorus remedies an important vocal musical part of children’s lives. For more information, continue reading this handbook and call Diane (707) 484-8548 or email her at dianestroh@comcast.net with questions or information.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

We welcome parents, or anyone interested in children’s vocal music education in the Napa and Sonoma areas to call Diane and inquire about joining our Board of Directors. Board responsibilites would be policy setting, strategic planning, chorus attire, measurement and ordering, and fundraising for NVCC.

We are also looking for a chorus manager. If you are interested, please let Diane know.

STAFF MEMBERS

Diane Strohmeyer, Artistic Director
(707)484-8548
dianestroh@comcast.net

(To Be Announced) Chorus Manager and Executive Director

Travis Rogers – piano accompanist

REHEARSAL TIMES AND LOCATION

NVCC will rehearse on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00 to 5:15 PM. Please be prompt or early when dropping your children off. Rehearsals are in the Choir Room at Napa Methodist Church located at 625 Randolph Street in Downtown Napa. Please note that the Methodist Church is at the corner of Radolph and FIFTH Streets, NOT Third Street.

To drop-off your children, form a car line going into the driveway closest to the building. The first door under the green awning will be open, and the childen will enter the building there and go up a few stairs. Then they make a U turn and go up the stairs and make another U turn at the landing. At the top of the stairs they turn left and go straight into the Choir Room. Please advise your children that no running will be allowed. Parents are encouraged to attend the first rehearsal with their children.

After dropping your children off at the door, Parents can park and wait in the car, go with their child to the first rehearsal or continue around the trees in a U and exit the lot by the second driveway

COMMUNICATION

Periodic Newsletters

Emails to all

Personal emails to individuals.

Our goal is that all families are in the know and receive all information For gmail users, make sure that my email goes into your inbox.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

NVCC relies on parent participation to support our different activities throughout the season. (Sept. – end of May)

Each family is asked to fulfill 10 hours of volunteer work per season (this season Sept. – May; each year after August – May) Some jobs include, Board of Directors, helping with attire, being chaprerones for camps, concerts, competitions etc, Driving groups to performances, designing programs, ushers at concerts, are just a few jobs needed.

NVCC will keep records of the volunteer hours for each family.

If you cannot volunteer or do not wish to do so, you may pay a $15.00/hour buy out fee for your hours not worked.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

• We expect every singer to attend all rehearsals
• Consistent attendance by each choir member is necessary for the growth of the individual singer and of the choir as a whole. When a singer is absent,the sound of the whole choir is compromised.
• Excellence, being the best we can be is our goal.
• We value and strive for, individual as well as group excellence.
• Excessive absences undermine the quality of the choir and could result in dismissal from NVCC.

ABSENCES

Excused absences are illness, family emergency, or school peformances for a grade. Please schedule all other commitments, for example Doctors appointments, for times other than your time commitment to NVCC.

It is very important that you notify Diane if your singer will be absent. Her phone is 707-484-8548.You can also text message.

Also, please discuss any issues that may arise afffecting your singer’s attendance. Please discuss it with Diane as soon as you are aware of the issue. We cannot help with fixing a problem unless we know it exists.

CONCERT AND PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE

Concerts, dress rehearsals, and performances are mandatory. After all, that is why we are here, to learn and to share what we have learned through concerts and performances. When a concert,dress rehearsal or performance date is announced to parents, please consult your family calendar immediately. If there is a conflict, please let Diane know within a week of the announcement.

REQUIREMENTS FOR REHEARSALS

Each singer should arrive at least ten mnutes before rehearsal begins to allow enough time to use the restroom, get a drink , greet friends, and pick up new music if available.

Be in your seats five minutes before rehearsal starts and follow the directors procedures for beginning a rehearsal.

Water bottles are encouraged. Gum chewing, food or drinks other than water are not allowed.

At all times, show respect for your peers, parent volunteers and the staff working with you.

Pay attention to the conductor at all times, do not talk or in any way distract other Singers.

Running, yelling or rowdy behaviours are not part of the NVCC singer’s rehearsal or performance etiquette.

Do not touch anything that is not NVCC’s We are guests in the church and we want to respect their building.

PARENTS

Pick up your singer promptly at the conclusion of rehearsal. I will bring them down from upstairs and wait until all are picked up.

Please enter and exit the parking lot the same way you brought your children.

Let Diane know if you are running late to pick up your singer. Your singer will never be left alone to wait for you.

Continued tardiness in drop off or pick up may result in a fee assessment of $25.

Make every attempt to schedule routine medical, dental and school appointments on no-reherasal days.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PERFORMANCES AND CONCERTS

Concerts – events sponsored by NVCC

Performance – an event sponsored by another organization by whom we have been invited to perform.

SINGERS

• Hair and body must be fresh and clean
• Hair must be away from face. Use only black/navy blue hairbands or black bobby pins. A ponytail is best for girls.
• No obvious make-up
• Earrings- Stud earrings are acceptable. No dangling earrings.
• No watches or bracelets or necklaces.
• No gum
• No electronics
• Running, yelling, or rowdy behavior are not part of the NVCC singers performance etiquette.

PARENTS

• Check your emails and text messages for updates on call times, location or other pertinent information.
• Be sure that your singer is provided with a healthy meal and drinks plenty of water before a concert or performance, and send a water bottle with your singer.
• Drop-off the singers at least 10 minutes, but no more than 20 minutes before call time.
• Call time is the designated time for singers to be in their assigned places and ready to begin.
• Please pick up your singer at the designated end time for the concert or performance. There may be times when you will have to wait a few minutes as these things are often difficult to predict.
• Admission to non public performances (e.g.retirement homes, museums, etc.) is by ticket or invitation only.
• Be sure your singer’s concert attire is clean, pressed, and complete for each concert or performance.

FINANCIAL OBLIGATION POLICY

As a not-for-profit organization, NVCC is committed to providing quality music education, vocal music education, and performances and concerts for its audiences and singers. Our main expenses are our professional staff and printed music. Tuition fees cover about 50% of our expenses, The remainder comes from grants, fundraising, and donations at concerts and performances.

TUITION

Current Yearly tuition for each entire season (Sept.-May) is $195.00 plus $70.00 for chorus attire which we will order for each chorus member. We expect your child will want to coninue in NVCC from year to year, and as they continue to grow, a new outfit will be required. At the beginning of each half year, we will ask that you have your child try on their performance attire and come on a special day chosen by Diane and the Board so that we can see it fits. If a new outfit is needed, we will order it at your cost of $70.00. A discount may be given to you if you turn in the smaller outfit in good shape so we may give it to new singer at a reduced charge.

We do not want to keep any child from singing with us due to finances, so if there is a financial problem with tuition, please let Diane know. Payments can be worked out over time and/or there may be scholarships available with parents knowledge and commitment to the Sept. 2023 through May 2024 agreement.

ATTIRE

For girls -Pleated short black skirt with black tights and black dress shoes (no heels) and a blue shirt decorated with star lights.

For boys – Black shirt and Pants with blue clip-on tie to match girls blue shirt, black dress shoes and black socks.

SIBLING DISCOUNT

A sibling discount fo $20 will be credited for the annual tuition for a second sibling. This discount will be applied when the second child is fully registered.

Security Deposit

There is a security deposit of $40.00 for the music packet which is fully refundable when the complete packet is returned at the end of our season at the end of May.

NVCC functions as a team with every member an important member of the team. Additionally, significant effort and resources are spent on choosing music and events to best fit our singers. Because every singer is expected to fulfill his or her commitment for the entire season, tuition is non-refundable.

IN THE FUTURE – NVCC will go on week end retreats and competitions. A fee will be charged depending on the activity. We will fundraise to help cover these expenses for each singer.