Choir Etiquette
The minute you step into the door for rehearsal, forget about all of your problems, all of the things you didn't get to, and all of the deadlines you have coming up. Nothing else should matter when you are here, except for the music that is our praise to God. This awareness will change your life.
Why are you here? What is your motivation for being in the choir? Is this just another thing for you to do during the week, or does your time here guide your life's purpose? I encourage you to commit to this community. If you are consistently absent it won't help our cause.
The only attitude that will be tolerated is a positive one. Be respectful, helpful, polite, peaceful, and loving. If you have a question, ask it in a loving way.
It is each choir member’s responsibility to be aware of and attend all scheduled rehearsals and masses. If you find you will be late or absent, let Patrick or Sharon know as early as possible.
On time = early. If you must arrive late to rehearsal, WAIT TO ENTER if the choir is in the middle of rehearsing a piece. Walking in during a piece will cause commotion and take the focus away from the rehearsal.
If you didn’t get a piece of music, you can find extras on the A/C duct.
When Patrick is rehearsing other sections, pay attention to what he is doing with that section, as you may have similar material or a similar vocal problem that needs addressing.
If you have problems, comments, or concerns about programming or logistics, please talk to Patrick AFTER the rehearsal, not before or during.
During mass maintain a sacred silence before and after you sing. Before a song: open your body for what you are about to sing; be attentive as Patrick plays the introduction, if there is one - ask questions before he starts playing the introduction, and sing along IN YOUR HEAD to find the tempo. After a song: please don't move or close your book abruptly; revel in the sacred silence until Patrick gives you the cue to move or sit. Similarly, watch Patrick for a cue to stand if you've been sitting and STAND TOGETHER!
Ground Rules and other items of note
Bring water
Use your pencil during rehearsals – there will be a glass jar with pencils for you to use.
Hold your music so that you can see both Patrick and the music with ease.
If you need more attention on a specific part, record the rehearsals so that you can practice singing the part on your own, or ask Patrick to play the part for you after the rehearsal.
Use the ribbon in your books or post-its to mark the songs we sing so that no page flipping occurs during a potential delicate silence before a song.
Do not depend on another person in your section. Use your own ears, eyes, hearts, spirits, souls, & minds.
The rehearsal is the time for learning parts and mass is the time to sing the music.
Turn off your cell phone or silence it during rehearsal and Mass.
Please keep your deluxe choir folder on top of your Ritual Song book to preserve the folder.
When we process in, line up in the narthex, process in 2 by 2, bow when you get to the front of the main aisle then walk single file to the piano. Bring the music you need for Gathering through the Gospel Acclamation. The sopranos will be behind me and in front of the St. Joseph altar, then the altos to their left, then the tenors, then the basses.
Please don’t wear t-shirts, jeans or shorts for mass, even on days when we wear the choir robes.
After mass (not during communion), please leave the music and any solfege from the mass we just sang on top of your choir folder. Chuck Fiori, our choral librarian, will then collect all the music after mass. Thanks, Chuck!
Please program my phone number into your phone:
Patrick Godon, a.k.a. the guilt free hotline: 773-354-4533
Attendance Policy
To be in good standing, all you have to do is excuse yourself (call or email) ahead of time if you are going to be absent or late, with at least 24 hours notice. Please do so as soon as there is an inkling that you may be late so I can make any necessary arrangements. If I had my way, you’d all be here for every rehearsal & mass. It may seem like there are a lot of people in the choir, and that it isn’t as important that you are here, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that you make a commitment to being here as often as you can to get the most out of the choir experience, and so that we have a consistent idea of what the choir group sound is.
If you are here regularly and on time (which means about 10 minutes EARLY), you will benefit greatly:
2nd time - written warning
3rd time - out for the rest of the season, and you may rejoin the next season
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The minute you step into the door for rehearsal, forget about all of your problems, all of the things you didn't get to, and all of the deadlines you have coming up. Nothing else should matter when you are here, except for the music that is our praise to God. This awareness will change your life.
Why are you here? What is your motivation for being in the choir? Is this just another thing for you to do during the week, or does your time here guide your life's purpose? I encourage you to commit to this community. If you are consistently absent it won't help our cause.
The only attitude that will be tolerated is a positive one. Be respectful, helpful, polite, peaceful, and loving. If you have a question, ask it in a loving way.
It is each choir member’s responsibility to be aware of and attend all scheduled rehearsals and masses. If you find you will be late or absent, let Patrick or Sharon know as early as possible.
On time = early. If you must arrive late to rehearsal, WAIT TO ENTER if the choir is in the middle of rehearsing a piece. Walking in during a piece will cause commotion and take the focus away from the rehearsal.
If you didn’t get a piece of music, you can find extras on the A/C duct.
When Patrick is rehearsing other sections, pay attention to what he is doing with that section, as you may have similar material or a similar vocal problem that needs addressing.
If you have problems, comments, or concerns about programming or logistics, please talk to Patrick AFTER the rehearsal, not before or during.
During mass maintain a sacred silence before and after you sing. Before a song: open your body for what you are about to sing; be attentive as Patrick plays the introduction, if there is one - ask questions before he starts playing the introduction, and sing along IN YOUR HEAD to find the tempo. After a song: please don't move or close your book abruptly; revel in the sacred silence until Patrick gives you the cue to move or sit. Similarly, watch Patrick for a cue to stand if you've been sitting and STAND TOGETHER!
Ground Rules and other items of note
Bring water
Use your pencil during rehearsals – there will be a glass jar with pencils for you to use.
Hold your music so that you can see both Patrick and the music with ease.
If you need more attention on a specific part, record the rehearsals so that you can practice singing the part on your own, or ask Patrick to play the part for you after the rehearsal.
Use the ribbon in your books or post-its to mark the songs we sing so that no page flipping occurs during a potential delicate silence before a song.
Do not depend on another person in your section. Use your own ears, eyes, hearts, spirits, souls, & minds.
The rehearsal is the time for learning parts and mass is the time to sing the music.
Turn off your cell phone or silence it during rehearsal and Mass.
Please keep your deluxe choir folder on top of your Ritual Song book to preserve the folder.
When we process in, line up in the narthex, process in 2 by 2, bow when you get to the front of the main aisle then walk single file to the piano. Bring the music you need for Gathering through the Gospel Acclamation. The sopranos will be behind me and in front of the St. Joseph altar, then the altos to their left, then the tenors, then the basses.
Please don’t wear t-shirts, jeans or shorts for mass, even on days when we wear the choir robes.
After mass (not during communion), please leave the music and any solfege from the mass we just sang on top of your choir folder. Chuck Fiori, our choral librarian, will then collect all the music after mass. Thanks, Chuck!
Please program my phone number into your phone:
Patrick Godon, a.k.a. the guilt free hotline: 773-354-4533
Attendance Policy
To be in good standing, all you have to do is excuse yourself (call or email) ahead of time if you are going to be absent or late, with at least 24 hours notice. Please do so as soon as there is an inkling that you may be late so I can make any necessary arrangements. If I had my way, you’d all be here for every rehearsal & mass. It may seem like there are a lot of people in the choir, and that it isn’t as important that you are here, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that you make a commitment to being here as often as you can to get the most out of the choir experience, and so that we have a consistent idea of what the choir group sound is.
If you are here regularly and on time (which means about 10 minutes EARLY), you will benefit greatly:
- You can talk to everyone else and see how his or her week is going!
- You can look over the choir sheet and check out the music we will be singing.
- You’ll get to warm up your voice and prepare it for the full rehearsal.
- You'll be ready mentally for the rehearsal.
- Your voice will improve with the vocal techniques I pass on to you and because of the time you devote to singing each week.
- For UNEXCUSED absences (meaning you didn’t call or email), we currently have a 3 strikes & out policy
2nd time - written warning
3rd time - out for the rest of the season, and you may rejoin the next season
- Please call with 24 hours notice if you will be absent entirely from the rehearsal. It may happen that we are doing a more difficult piece that may need a full section – if everyone from your section calls in an hour before rehearsal I am left high & dry and don’t have enough time to hire someone if need be to cover the section. However, if I know a day in advance that everyone in your section is gone, I have time to find extra singers.
- For an unexcused tardy or unexcused absence you will not be able to sing for the Sunday mass.
- If you miss the rehearsal during the week you cannot sing the mass - you will have missed too much from the rehearsal. (Amends may be made to this particular policy point, but only at the music director's discretion.)
- If you are late for a Sunday morning rehearsal and you haven’t called in advance to let me know you will be late, you will not be allowed to sing for the mass.
Your membership and regular attendance will imply that you understand and accept these policies. Thank you for being a member of this esteemed choir and making the commitment to the group for its continued success!
A Choral Bill of Rights
The choir member has a right to:
- Offer their musical gifts and talents, as guided by the director, for the glory of God and the enrichment of the parish community
- Know the schedule of commitments: rehearsals, masses & concerts, call times & approximate conclusions
- Prompt, well-organized and efficient rehearsals that begin and end as scheduled.
- Expect to work hard to produce wonderful music, and have a great time along the way.
The choir director has a right to:
- Committed choir members whose shared goals are offered for the glory of God and the enrichment of the parish community.
- Choir members who, out of respect for the ensemble, show up 5-10 minutes early and are ready to sing at the beginning of the rehearsal.
- Choir members who carry a smile and a pencil at all times.
- Choir members who understand that making music is not always easy, fun, or immediate, but that the rewards of the hard work and dedication are countless.
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