Lipscomb Academy High School Choirs
Meet the Teachers - Robert King & Elizabeth Harrell
Robert King - [email protected] Office Phone 966-6410 Cell Phone 423-4523 Home Phone 383-9362
9:40-10:00 HS Chapel
3rd 10:05-10:55 Chorale
4th 11:00-11:50 Concert Chorus
Additional responsibilities include K-12 Fine Arts Director, oversight of the Music Academy at Lipscomb Academy, Director of the Nashville Youth Choir at Belmont University, TN chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association State Choral Festival Chair and Founder, and Director of the Lipscomb University Community Chorus.
Personal Information
I am in my 32nd year of full time school teaching and my 31st year at Lipscomb. Prior to coming to Lipscomb I taught at Christian Home and Bible School in Mt. Dora, FL. A native Nashvillian, I grew up in the East Nashville/Inglewood area and attended public schools through the 7th grade. I attended Goodpasture Christian School starting in the 8th grade, where I graduated in 1978. From there I went to Freed-Hardeman College and earned the BS in Music Education. After coming to Lipscomb I earned the Masters degree in Vocal Performance at MTSU.
My wife, Donna Moore King, teaches in the Music Department at Lipscomb University. We have two sons. Samuel is a Biology/Teaching graduate from Lipscomb University and is a Ranger with the TN State Park Service. Zachary is a recent Vanderbilt University graduate now studying law at the University of Alabama. We live less than a mile from the campus and attend the Harpeth Hills Church of Christ where I serve as a Music in Worship minister.
Elizabeth Harrell - [email protected] Office Phone 966-6367
Teaching Schedule
2nd 8:40-9:30 7th-8th Grade Chorus
9:40-10:00 HS Chapel
3rd 10:05-10:55 Chorale
4th 11:00-11:50 Concert Chorus
5th 11:55-12:15 6th Grade Chorus
12:15-1:15 Lunch/MS Chapel
6th 1:20-2:10 5th Grade Music
7th 2:30-3:00 5th Grade Chorus (T/Th)
Personal Information
I am a 2005 graduate of Lipscomb High School and a former member of Freshmen and Concert Choruses. I graduated from Harding University in December 2009, with a bachelor's degree in vocal music education. While I was in school at Harding, I participated in two overseas chorus campaigns to 9 countries in Europe and China. I was in 5 Homecoming musical productions and hosted 2 years of Spring Sing, their musical variety show. I taught at Harding Academy in Searcy, Arkansas the past two years. While growing up in Nashville, I attended Bellevue Church of Christ. I now attend Harpeth Hills Church of Christ. My parents, Frank and Valle (like Frankie Valli), live in Brentwood and still attend Bellevue Church of Christ.
Choir Expectations
A "Commitment to Excellence" is the motto of the choral program. ...The goals of the group include promotion of proficiency in singing and appreciation for musicianship in all areas of music. Members should possess a desire to improve and strive to put group goals over self interests.
Requirements of Members
Attendance is required at all rehearsals and performances. Advance notice will be given of all performance times; usually several months. For the sake of the group, each member is expected to be highly self-disciplined. Taking care of their voice, learning lyrics in a timely manner and promptness are all a part of each individual's responsibility. Grades will be determined on the basis of daily participation and attitude, performance attendance and promptness as well as general co-operation. Illness that prevents a person from leaving home is considered an excused absence. However, to be excused the director(s) must be called directly as soon as the illness is evident. Sending word by someone else is not adequate.
The Concert Chorus will sing at approximately a dozen area churches on Sunday nights, and the Chorale will participate in about half of those concerts. There will be a few additional festivals and activities that will round out the schedule. Church scheduling will be set near the beginning of October.
The philosophy of chorus is to focus on the group over the individual, teaching unselfishness in pursuit of the group's goals. Team work and unity is paramount. To that end, we will also have a formal concert attire that emphasizes uniformity.
All the guys will wear a Tuxedo supplied from the chorus for a $35 use fee. Shirts are purchased through the chorus for @ $25. Cummerbunds and ties are provided, and students supply their own black dress shoes & black socks. Boys should be cleanly shaven, with hair in school dress code, neat in appearance, not covering the ears or over their collar, and remaining above their eyebrows without having to touch it during the concert.
Girls all wear the chorus dress. We will order for those who do not already have one from last year. The price will be approximately $75. They supply their own pearls (think cheap) that should be between 24" and 28" long, with pearl size 3mm to 6mm. Black flat shoes. Jewelry should be limited to no more than one ring per hand, and one ear ring per ear. Ear rings are optional, and should be either silver, gold or pearl, and no larger than a nickel, and should not dangle. No more than one watch or bracelet per wrist, and they should be black, gold, silver or pearl (no colors). Hair should remain out of the eyes without having to be touched in the course of a concert. Barrettes should be either gold, silver, pearl or some natural finish like tortoise shell brown, and should be small. No large bows or colored ribbons. (A simple, black elastic band works well.)
Grades will be based on 30% Bible assignments, 30% Rehearsal and 40% Performances for Biblical Choral Studies (available for Chorale & Concert Chorus members who have completed a year in the choral program). Concert Chorus & Chorale will be 50% concerts and 50% rehearsals. A weekly rehearsal grade will be assigned and posted on Renweb. Comments may be seen there on any deficient issues which will affect their grades. Factors affecting grades may include punctuality, adherence to the dress code, behavior, effort and cooperation. Basically, if they are where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be, diligently doing what they are asked to do the first time they are asked, then an ‘A’ should be the expected grade. However, A's will be earned, not be given away.
A word on Communication - While we will utilize our web site for some information, as well as some e-mails and notes sent home to parents, these may be considered supplementary. The primary responsibility for communicating information back home on chorus activities lies with each student. Further, it is the responsibility to daily check a functional e-mail account supplied to the Directors for possible news and information bulletins. If you get the impression something was "sprung" on them at the last minute, you may want to check that out. Feel free to e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] or call (966-6410) or (966-6367) with questions or concerns. Of course, there may be occasions when an unforeseen opportunity or invitation arises, but the overwhelming majority of our activities are planned well in advance.
Concert Attendance Policy
The short version - Be at the concerts unless you are really sick. If you don't want to sing concerts, why be in chorus?
The long version - Chorus is designed to be a team activity. Each member accepts a commitment to the well-being of the ensemble and agrees to place group goals above personal preferences. Musical decisions are made on the assumption that all members will be present at the concert. If a student does not want to sing at the concerts, they made a mistake choosing to be in chorus. Conflicts with other school sponsored activities are avoided. In the unlikely event that such an intra-school conflict arises between 2 activities of equal import, such as an athletic team competition and a concert, it shall be the choice of the student which activity they take part in, without consequences from either group. When the conflict is not equal, such as a game versus a rehearsal, or a practice versus a concert, then the higher level wins. The student has the responsibility to communicate with both groups' leaders as soon as the possibility of a conflict arises. Failure to communicate in a timely manner may result in an otherwise excused absence being counted as un-excused. Often what may initially appear to be a conflict with no resolution may actually turn out to have some solution that avoids completely missing either activity. However this is only possible when sufficient notice is given to provide the opportunity for such problem solving. School activities take precedence over non-school activities.
Excused absences would include sickness that prevents the student from leaving their home in order to prevent jeopardizing their health or the health of others. If a student is running a fever, they should not come, and should remain at home to get well. The goal should be to attend if possible. I expect no more than the head football coach does of his starting quarterback on a game night, but I expect no less. Unlike most sports, every chorus member is a "starter" and there is no "2nd string" to take your place if you are absent. Being tired, or generally not feeling great, or not having 100% voice is not an excuse to miss. Even if you cannot sing well, being at the concert makes a statement of support for the group goals, and frequently one can sing more than anticipated once the actual concert begins. Filling your slot in the standing order saves the group time in trying to reconfigure to account for your absence. If it is deemed that you are too sick to be at the concert, the director must be contacted as soon as this is known. It is not sufficient to send a message by someone else. If you leave a phone message, continue attempts to contact the director up to concert time until you receive confirmation that the message has been received. Both my home and office phone messages also give out my cell phone number. Make positive contact. Failure to provide appropriate notice may result in the absence being counted as un-excused.
Generally, if a student is too sick to be at a Sunday night concert, they would also be too sick to be at school Monday morning. If you are well enough that had it been a school day, you would have been at school, then you should likewise be at the concert. Choristers do not typically have choral homework on a nightly basis. Singing at concerts and occasional morning sectional rehearsals for the Concert Chorus is in lieu of regular homework and tests. Half of the grade you receive in chorus is based on attendance and punctuality at concerts. (Concert attendance is 40% of the grade for those enrolled in Biblical Choral Studies.) But really, the concert should be an enjoyable opportunity to share the fruits of our hard work in rehearsal. Tardiness may result in a singer not being allowed to perform that night. This will be determined by the director based on what is in the best interest of the group as a whole in that particular situation. Un-excused tardiness will result in a lowering of that concert grade. However, just because you are tardy does not mean there's no point in coming. An un-excused absence can result in a "zero" grade, which is far worse than a lowered grade for tardiness.
No policy can account for every scenario. There will be emergencies and situations that arise that will be excused, such as a death in the family that necessitates an absence. Every situation will be considered on a case by case basis, attempting to apply a consistent standard that does not set a precedent that would jeopardize the future success of the chorus. Being faithful in attendance in the past is not license to miss a concert without penalty. Attendance at the concerts is just doing what you should be doing. This will inevitably mean that some positive, wholesome activities that conflict with a concert may not be considered excused. It simply is not tenable to start excusing some activities without opening the door to more absences than the group can reasonably sustain. The concert calendar is developed and communicated well in advance and amounts to a relatively small percentage of the overall school year. Concert Chorus generally will have less than a dozen Sunday night concerts and Chorale about half that.
Robert King - [email protected] Office Phone 966-6410 Cell Phone 423-4523 Home Phone 383-9362
9:40-10:00 HS Chapel
3rd 10:05-10:55 Chorale
4th 11:00-11:50 Concert Chorus
Additional responsibilities include K-12 Fine Arts Director, oversight of the Music Academy at Lipscomb Academy, Director of the Nashville Youth Choir at Belmont University, TN chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association State Choral Festival Chair and Founder, and Director of the Lipscomb University Community Chorus.
Personal Information
I am in my 32nd year of full time school teaching and my 31st year at Lipscomb. Prior to coming to Lipscomb I taught at Christian Home and Bible School in Mt. Dora, FL. A native Nashvillian, I grew up in the East Nashville/Inglewood area and attended public schools through the 7th grade. I attended Goodpasture Christian School starting in the 8th grade, where I graduated in 1978. From there I went to Freed-Hardeman College and earned the BS in Music Education. After coming to Lipscomb I earned the Masters degree in Vocal Performance at MTSU.
My wife, Donna Moore King, teaches in the Music Department at Lipscomb University. We have two sons. Samuel is a Biology/Teaching graduate from Lipscomb University and is a Ranger with the TN State Park Service. Zachary is a recent Vanderbilt University graduate now studying law at the University of Alabama. We live less than a mile from the campus and attend the Harpeth Hills Church of Christ where I serve as a Music in Worship minister.
Elizabeth Harrell - [email protected] Office Phone 966-6367
Teaching Schedule
2nd 8:40-9:30 7th-8th Grade Chorus
9:40-10:00 HS Chapel
3rd 10:05-10:55 Chorale
4th 11:00-11:50 Concert Chorus
5th 11:55-12:15 6th Grade Chorus
12:15-1:15 Lunch/MS Chapel
6th 1:20-2:10 5th Grade Music
7th 2:30-3:00 5th Grade Chorus (T/Th)
Personal Information
I am a 2005 graduate of Lipscomb High School and a former member of Freshmen and Concert Choruses. I graduated from Harding University in December 2009, with a bachelor's degree in vocal music education. While I was in school at Harding, I participated in two overseas chorus campaigns to 9 countries in Europe and China. I was in 5 Homecoming musical productions and hosted 2 years of Spring Sing, their musical variety show. I taught at Harding Academy in Searcy, Arkansas the past two years. While growing up in Nashville, I attended Bellevue Church of Christ. I now attend Harpeth Hills Church of Christ. My parents, Frank and Valle (like Frankie Valli), live in Brentwood and still attend Bellevue Church of Christ.
Choir Expectations
A "Commitment to Excellence" is the motto of the choral program. ...The goals of the group include promotion of proficiency in singing and appreciation for musicianship in all areas of music. Members should possess a desire to improve and strive to put group goals over self interests.
Requirements of Members
Attendance is required at all rehearsals and performances. Advance notice will be given of all performance times; usually several months. For the sake of the group, each member is expected to be highly self-disciplined. Taking care of their voice, learning lyrics in a timely manner and promptness are all a part of each individual's responsibility. Grades will be determined on the basis of daily participation and attitude, performance attendance and promptness as well as general co-operation. Illness that prevents a person from leaving home is considered an excused absence. However, to be excused the director(s) must be called directly as soon as the illness is evident. Sending word by someone else is not adequate.
The Concert Chorus will sing at approximately a dozen area churches on Sunday nights, and the Chorale will participate in about half of those concerts. There will be a few additional festivals and activities that will round out the schedule. Church scheduling will be set near the beginning of October.
The philosophy of chorus is to focus on the group over the individual, teaching unselfishness in pursuit of the group's goals. Team work and unity is paramount. To that end, we will also have a formal concert attire that emphasizes uniformity.
All the guys will wear a Tuxedo supplied from the chorus for a $35 use fee. Shirts are purchased through the chorus for @ $25. Cummerbunds and ties are provided, and students supply their own black dress shoes & black socks. Boys should be cleanly shaven, with hair in school dress code, neat in appearance, not covering the ears or over their collar, and remaining above their eyebrows without having to touch it during the concert.
Girls all wear the chorus dress. We will order for those who do not already have one from last year. The price will be approximately $75. They supply their own pearls (think cheap) that should be between 24" and 28" long, with pearl size 3mm to 6mm. Black flat shoes. Jewelry should be limited to no more than one ring per hand, and one ear ring per ear. Ear rings are optional, and should be either silver, gold or pearl, and no larger than a nickel, and should not dangle. No more than one watch or bracelet per wrist, and they should be black, gold, silver or pearl (no colors). Hair should remain out of the eyes without having to be touched in the course of a concert. Barrettes should be either gold, silver, pearl or some natural finish like tortoise shell brown, and should be small. No large bows or colored ribbons. (A simple, black elastic band works well.)
Grades will be based on 30% Bible assignments, 30% Rehearsal and 40% Performances for Biblical Choral Studies (available for Chorale & Concert Chorus members who have completed a year in the choral program). Concert Chorus & Chorale will be 50% concerts and 50% rehearsals. A weekly rehearsal grade will be assigned and posted on Renweb. Comments may be seen there on any deficient issues which will affect their grades. Factors affecting grades may include punctuality, adherence to the dress code, behavior, effort and cooperation. Basically, if they are where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be, diligently doing what they are asked to do the first time they are asked, then an ‘A’ should be the expected grade. However, A's will be earned, not be given away.
A word on Communication - While we will utilize our web site for some information, as well as some e-mails and notes sent home to parents, these may be considered supplementary. The primary responsibility for communicating information back home on chorus activities lies with each student. Further, it is the responsibility to daily check a functional e-mail account supplied to the Directors for possible news and information bulletins. If you get the impression something was "sprung" on them at the last minute, you may want to check that out. Feel free to e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] or call (966-6410) or (966-6367) with questions or concerns. Of course, there may be occasions when an unforeseen opportunity or invitation arises, but the overwhelming majority of our activities are planned well in advance.
Concert Attendance Policy
The short version - Be at the concerts unless you are really sick. If you don't want to sing concerts, why be in chorus?
The long version - Chorus is designed to be a team activity. Each member accepts a commitment to the well-being of the ensemble and agrees to place group goals above personal preferences. Musical decisions are made on the assumption that all members will be present at the concert. If a student does not want to sing at the concerts, they made a mistake choosing to be in chorus. Conflicts with other school sponsored activities are avoided. In the unlikely event that such an intra-school conflict arises between 2 activities of equal import, such as an athletic team competition and a concert, it shall be the choice of the student which activity they take part in, without consequences from either group. When the conflict is not equal, such as a game versus a rehearsal, or a practice versus a concert, then the higher level wins. The student has the responsibility to communicate with both groups' leaders as soon as the possibility of a conflict arises. Failure to communicate in a timely manner may result in an otherwise excused absence being counted as un-excused. Often what may initially appear to be a conflict with no resolution may actually turn out to have some solution that avoids completely missing either activity. However this is only possible when sufficient notice is given to provide the opportunity for such problem solving. School activities take precedence over non-school activities.
Excused absences would include sickness that prevents the student from leaving their home in order to prevent jeopardizing their health or the health of others. If a student is running a fever, they should not come, and should remain at home to get well. The goal should be to attend if possible. I expect no more than the head football coach does of his starting quarterback on a game night, but I expect no less. Unlike most sports, every chorus member is a "starter" and there is no "2nd string" to take your place if you are absent. Being tired, or generally not feeling great, or not having 100% voice is not an excuse to miss. Even if you cannot sing well, being at the concert makes a statement of support for the group goals, and frequently one can sing more than anticipated once the actual concert begins. Filling your slot in the standing order saves the group time in trying to reconfigure to account for your absence. If it is deemed that you are too sick to be at the concert, the director must be contacted as soon as this is known. It is not sufficient to send a message by someone else. If you leave a phone message, continue attempts to contact the director up to concert time until you receive confirmation that the message has been received. Both my home and office phone messages also give out my cell phone number. Make positive contact. Failure to provide appropriate notice may result in the absence being counted as un-excused.
Generally, if a student is too sick to be at a Sunday night concert, they would also be too sick to be at school Monday morning. If you are well enough that had it been a school day, you would have been at school, then you should likewise be at the concert. Choristers do not typically have choral homework on a nightly basis. Singing at concerts and occasional morning sectional rehearsals for the Concert Chorus is in lieu of regular homework and tests. Half of the grade you receive in chorus is based on attendance and punctuality at concerts. (Concert attendance is 40% of the grade for those enrolled in Biblical Choral Studies.) But really, the concert should be an enjoyable opportunity to share the fruits of our hard work in rehearsal. Tardiness may result in a singer not being allowed to perform that night. This will be determined by the director based on what is in the best interest of the group as a whole in that particular situation. Un-excused tardiness will result in a lowering of that concert grade. However, just because you are tardy does not mean there's no point in coming. An un-excused absence can result in a "zero" grade, which is far worse than a lowered grade for tardiness.
No policy can account for every scenario. There will be emergencies and situations that arise that will be excused, such as a death in the family that necessitates an absence. Every situation will be considered on a case by case basis, attempting to apply a consistent standard that does not set a precedent that would jeopardize the future success of the chorus. Being faithful in attendance in the past is not license to miss a concert without penalty. Attendance at the concerts is just doing what you should be doing. This will inevitably mean that some positive, wholesome activities that conflict with a concert may not be considered excused. It simply is not tenable to start excusing some activities without opening the door to more absences than the group can reasonably sustain. The concert calendar is developed and communicated well in advance and amounts to a relatively small percentage of the overall school year. Concert Chorus generally will have less than a dozen Sunday night concerts and Chorale about half that.