Choral clinics give students from different choral backgrounds throughout the state an opportunity to rehearse and perform together under the direction of a professional conductor. Participation in these clinics will:
- Unify large and small choruses in the common goal of performing challenging choral repertoire
- Allow students to hear other groups perform in a positive, non-competitive atmosphere
- Give teachers an unparalleled opportunity to share ideas, music, and “tricks of the trade” and to benefit from first-hand observation of other choruses and conductors
- Offer students opportunities to be taught by other choral directors
MS Clinic Handbook 2025-2026 (Will be updated soon!)
Preparing to attend a clinic
Repertoire
Directors are responsible for purchasing their own repertoire. Repertoire lists are provided under each site listed above, and on the Choral division website. Please make sure you read the repertoire list carefully and order the correct pieces for your school. Links for each piece are included in this handbook. You may only bring original copies to an SCMEA-sponsored event. If you have e-prints, please plan on bringing a receipt of purchase with those copies to ensure you have enough copies for each student.
Directors are responsible for preparing any students they bring with them. Students are expected to attend the clinic knowing the music already. It does not have to be memorized, but students should feel confident in their own voice parts. This allows the clinicians to work on other elements to take our students to the next level, rather than only reviewing notes/rhythms.
Practice Tracks
Currently, the Middle School Choral Clinics Committee does not offer practice tracks as a part of our registration fee. However, you may want to consider using practice tracks with your students to help prepare them for your chosen event. Here are some ideas:
- Matthew Curtis has many tracks available for purchase for selected pieces through JW Pepper. Just type in the piece, and search for “Choral Tracks.”
- Make your own!
- Check the publisher’s websites. They may have tracks available for purchase, or even free downloads. Bri-Lee used to have free tracks available for their pieces.
Day of the Clinic
Director Expectations
- Directors and chaperones should actively supervise and help during the day. We would love your assistance with singing parts where needed or supporting our clinicians as they request.
- Please make sure your students are prepared on notes and rhythms and have black folders, original copies, and pencils to make notes with.
- Groups should plan on staying until the conclusion of the final performance. At that time, you may dismiss your students as you choose (depending on whether they will be picked up there or if they will return to school with you.)
- Please bring chaperones with you as needed (1 chaperone per 15 students)
Student expectations
- Students should be practicing and preparing their music ahead of time.
- Come in prepared on the repertoire so that our clinicians can clean and get the music performance ready.
- Bring black binders with original copies of their music
- Behave respectfully to all students and adults throughout the day
- Come ready to work
- Have a pencil to mark in music as needed
- Electronic devices should not be out at any time during rehearsal
- Only water is allowed in the rehearsal rooms
- Clothing: Please wear school-appropriate clothing. Directors may ask students to wear their choir t-shirts if they wish. There is no required uniform for the performance.
General expectations
- If signing up to attend a clinic, it is expected that your group is there for the entire day, actively participating
- Within 10 days of the registration window closing, Your site host will be in touch with you to begin communicating information to help you prepare to attend your selected clinic(s).
- Schools should not attend a clinic unless the director has correctly registered prior to the registration deadline.
- Please feel free to reach out to your site hosts to ask any questions prior to your clinic
- All-day clinics will end with a final performance. Parents and other community members are welcome and encouraged to attend to support our students!
- Sample schedules for both all-day and half-day clinics are shown below. Any alterations to these schedules will be communicated to you by your site hosts.
Sample Schedule-All day clinic
9:15 a.m. Arrive. Meet in Sanctuary to discuss expectations, introduce
clinicians, etc. Begin moving to rehearsal spaces.
9:30-11:45 a.m. Rehearsal I
11:45-12:45 p.m. Lunch in the fellowship hall (students should bring their own lunches)
12:45-3:00 p.m. Rehearsal II
3:00-3:30 p.m. Individual group performances in Sanctuary. (optional..just for fun! You may perform a work in progress if you’d like.)/Break.
3:30- 4:30 p.m. Rehearsal III
4:30-5:00 p.m. TTB Sanctuary rehearsal
5:00-5:30 p.m. Final staging/logistics
5:30-5:50 p.m. Break
5:50 p.m. Call time for performance
6:00-6:30 p.m. Performance.
Sample Schedule-Half day clinic
9:15 a.m. Arrive. Meet in Sanctuary to discuss expectations, introduce clinicians, etc. Begin warm-up.
9:30-10:00 a.m. Rehearsal I
10:00-10:20 a.m. Performance (2 groups)
10:20-10:50 a.m. Rehearsal II
10:50-11:10 a.m. Performance (2 groups)
11:10-11:40 a.m. Rehearsal III
11:40-12:00 p.m. Performance (2 groups)- extra time built in if someone else decides to sing
12:00-12:15 p.m. Rehearsal IV
12:15-12:30 p.m. Final review/Performance of pieces
12:30 p.m. Dismissal
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, the event coordinator will reach out to directors with as much prior notice as possible to decide whether the event will proceed. Every effort will be made to hold the event where possible as long as students may safely attend.
Refunds can be granted if SCMEA cancels the event due to inclement weather.
Contact a Committee Member
The Middle School Choral Clinics Committee is always here to help you as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
If you have any interest in assisting with our clinics, please contact our site hosts or committee chair. We would love your help.
Get involved! We have two open business meetings every school year:
- Choral Arts
- MS Clinics meeting is typically held at 6:30 pm on Friday.
- SCMEA Professional Development)
- MS Clinics meeting typically held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday