Blue Fever Guidelines and General Information 2023
BF Membership
Membership fees are determined per annum: All Members AED 500; these dues are collected within the first month of membership. Membership fees cover general administration, operating costs, sheet music and recordings. Any individual who has financial concerns may speak to a board member regarding exceptions made to fee amounts.
An audition for new members is undertaken by the Musical Director for musicality and voice placement. New members are subject to a probationary period of up to 2 months. At the end of or within the probationary period, all new members may be tested for performance readiness at the discretion of the Musical Director.
All members, (new and existing), will be tested for performance readiness for each song that has been chosen to be performed that season. This may result in being retested at a later date or not being permitted to perform should this test prove an inability to sing accurately.
The Musical Director’s decision is final regarding performance readiness. The MD decides how we present BF to the public. The Musical Director’s and Board Member’s decision is final regarding probationary status and or dismissal of members related to attendance or conduct-related issues.
Attendance Policy
It is challenging to prepare a concert of the highest quality within the limited time we have to rehearse.
Our aim is to quickly get beyond learning the words and notes and out of book to make music.
Attendance is the single most important factor in attaining that goal. Our rehearsals are intense, and when a member misses one, you might actually miss the only in-depth rehearsal that we will have for a given piece. Missing rehearsals creates problems for the Musical Director as she works on the choir’s dynamics, sectional balance, and interpretation; and it can seriously hamper your own ability to support the best sectional sound.
1. If you need to miss a rehearsal, arrive late, or leave early, notify your section leader and our membership coordinator as soon as you are aware of the conflict.
2. You are expected to get the markings from your section leader or another singer in your section before the following rehearsal.
3. If you are ill but ambulatory, and not contagious please try to come to the rehearsal anyway and sit apart from the choir to familiarize yourself with the music and get markings. You will find it well worth the effort.
4. If your performance lags behind the choir’s progress towards a concert, your section leader will discuss the issue with you and with the Musical Director. If the problem is serious, singers may be asked to drop out of a given concert.
Attendance Rules
1. Members are ready to sing at rehearsal commencement time. Early arrival is encouraged.
2. Core rehearsals are held 7 pm-9 pm on Tuesdays
3. Members should be available for sectional rehearsals when agreed upon and called by the Sectional Leader.
4. Members maintain an 80% attendance rate unless excused by the Musical Director.
5. Lack of attendance or lateness for 3 rehearsals, including sectionals, may result in probationary status or dismissal from BF (subject to reasonable absences through annual vacation, illness and the like)
6. Any changes to rehearsal times or additional rehearsals will be announced no later than the preceding rehearsal.
Conduct
Blue Fever strives to be a supportive, enriching and fun environment for all of its members.
Talking during rehearsals is a big NO-NO.
Side discussions result in missing important information.
Musical Direction
Food & Drink
Please bring a water bottle to use during rehearsals to avoid spills and do not bring food into rehearsal room.
BF Membership
Membership fees are determined per annum: All Members AED 500; these dues are collected within the first month of membership. Membership fees cover general administration, operating costs, sheet music and recordings. Any individual who has financial concerns may speak to a board member regarding exceptions made to fee amounts.
An audition for new members is undertaken by the Musical Director for musicality and voice placement. New members are subject to a probationary period of up to 2 months. At the end of or within the probationary period, all new members may be tested for performance readiness at the discretion of the Musical Director.
All members, (new and existing), will be tested for performance readiness for each song that has been chosen to be performed that season. This may result in being retested at a later date or not being permitted to perform should this test prove an inability to sing accurately.
The Musical Director’s decision is final regarding performance readiness. The MD decides how we present BF to the public. The Musical Director’s and Board Member’s decision is final regarding probationary status and or dismissal of members related to attendance or conduct-related issues.
Attendance Policy
It is challenging to prepare a concert of the highest quality within the limited time we have to rehearse.
Our aim is to quickly get beyond learning the words and notes and out of book to make music.
Attendance is the single most important factor in attaining that goal. Our rehearsals are intense, and when a member misses one, you might actually miss the only in-depth rehearsal that we will have for a given piece. Missing rehearsals creates problems for the Musical Director as she works on the choir’s dynamics, sectional balance, and interpretation; and it can seriously hamper your own ability to support the best sectional sound.
1. If you need to miss a rehearsal, arrive late, or leave early, notify your section leader and our membership coordinator as soon as you are aware of the conflict.
2. You are expected to get the markings from your section leader or another singer in your section before the following rehearsal.
3. If you are ill but ambulatory, and not contagious please try to come to the rehearsal anyway and sit apart from the choir to familiarize yourself with the music and get markings. You will find it well worth the effort.
4. If your performance lags behind the choir’s progress towards a concert, your section leader will discuss the issue with you and with the Musical Director. If the problem is serious, singers may be asked to drop out of a given concert.
Attendance Rules
1. Members are ready to sing at rehearsal commencement time. Early arrival is encouraged.
2. Core rehearsals are held 7 pm-9 pm on Tuesdays
3. Members should be available for sectional rehearsals when agreed upon and called by the Sectional Leader.
4. Members maintain an 80% attendance rate unless excused by the Musical Director.
5. Lack of attendance or lateness for 3 rehearsals, including sectionals, may result in probationary status or dismissal from BF (subject to reasonable absences through annual vacation, illness and the like)
6. Any changes to rehearsal times or additional rehearsals will be announced no later than the preceding rehearsal.
Conduct
Blue Fever strives to be a supportive, enriching and fun environment for all of its members.
Talking during rehearsals is a big NO-NO.
Side discussions result in missing important information.
- If you have questions please have a pencil handy and write the question down and ask your section head in the section meetings or during a break. If however you are given direction and you can’t hear it or don’t understand it, feel free to raise your hand to get the director’s attention. You are probably not the only one with the question and it will benefit others as well.
- Behavior during rehearsal must be conducive to the success of BF.
Musical Direction
- The Musical Director/s and Section Leaders will provide feedback to members regarding note accuracy, blending and performance readiness.
- Individual members, who have concerns regarding another BF member’s musicality, may speak privately and discreetly to the Musical Director or relevant Section Leader/s.
- The Musical Director and the Board are responsible for selecting BF repertoire for each season. Members are welcome to share ideas and music.
- The Musical Director will make the final decision in determining the performance readiness of individual members as well as the entire group.
Food & Drink
Please bring a water bottle to use during rehearsals to avoid spills and do not bring food into rehearsal room.