Hi everyone  -  Attached is the Self-Evaluation Checklist that I sent you several weeks ago.  Please download this, save it to your own computer, and make 10 copies for yourself (one for each week between now and May).  Each singer is expected to do this for every song in the repertoire; at this time of year, the contest songs are the top priority and I’d love to see every hand go up the next time I ask how many of you have completed your self-evaluations.  You all know that I’m very passionate about ringing chords and the basic criteria for this is correct notes and words, so this checklist is a simple way to check your level of accuracy and skills in each of the areas noted.   There are several things that can happen when you do this each week: 

• You’ll catch errors before they become habit – that builds accuracy.
• You’ll hear your progress – that builds confidence.
• You’ll hear the beauty in your voice – that builds pride.
• You’ll be involved in the process – that demonstrates team spirit.

  GOALS:

• Achieve 100% accuracy on the notes & words of both contest songs by the end of February. 
• Strive for 100% on all the other skills listed on the attached checklist.

YOU CAN DO THIS!

Next Tuesday (Feb 20), we will do row-by-row evaluations.  This is known as the STAR Program by the International Champions, Scottsdale Chorus.  Here’s how it works:

1. The chorus performs on the risers while the reviewers (who may be section leaders, or someone assigned by the section leader) are positioned along the front of the room between the chorus and the Director.  OSC reviewers are (section leaders, let me know if you've assigned any additional reviewers):
• T:  Judy Gobat
• L:  Cat West, Sasanna Botieff
• Br:  Darlene Manning, Marian Martin, Karlene Hancock
• ;Bs:  Eileen Kemp
2. For each reviewer, a singer comes off the risers to stand in the front and sing "live" for their reviewer while the chorus performs behind them.
3. The singer gives her copy of her sheet music to the reviewer and the reviewer puts it on a clipboard (BRING YOUR SHEET MUSIC).
4. The whole chorus sings while the reviewer listens to the singer who writes comments on the singer’s sheet music in colored pencil.  (Comments include achievements and challenges).
• UNDERLINE incorrect words.
• CIRCLE incorrect notes.
• Write other comments regarding breaths, tuning, support, resonance, vowels.
5. At the end of the song, the reviewer goes through her comments with the singer for about 2 minutes.  If comments cannot be communicated in just a few minutes, they agree to meet later to discuss in more detail.
6. The singer moves back to the risers with their music and will sing along with the chorus, watching their sheet music so they can address the issues just discussed, while the next group of singers moves forward for their review.
7. The process is repeated until all singers are done.
8. If a person is absent on the night of the review, the Section Leaders will plan a “make-up” night or provide another type of evaluation for that individual.