Uintah High Choir Family,
Since you’ve been gone, well it feels like I’ve been chewing on tin foil.  Since you’ve been gone, it’s like I’ve got a great big mouthful of cod liver oil.  Oh well, I'm feelin' like I stuck my hand inside a blender and turned it on. You know, I've been in a buttload of pain, since you've been gone. – Mr. Merryweather (actually Weird Al Yankovic, Since You’ve Been Gone) 
 
Week 3 Assignments
We are doing something a little different and hopefully fun this week.  We are going to try and make a Virtual Choir video.  This week we’re doing Phase 1 where each choir has been assigned a song and each choir member will make an audio recording of them singing the song and then submit it to me through their assignment.  There is more explanation about this assignment on Canvas, along with some extra stuff you might want to see and hear.  The second assignment is to fill out the ballot for the choir awards.  The third is you weekly listening assignment.  These are all due Friday, Apr. 3rd, before spring break.  
 
Instructions
Please read all the instructions for assignments, etc.  Most of the questions I’m asked are answered in the instructions.   
 
End of Year Performances
I’m sorry to inform you, but all region and state choir events have been cancelled through the end of this school year.  I’ve also been informed that the Colorado Mesa Jazz Festival SoVoce was to sing at has also been cancelled.  As many of you know school has been officially dismissed until May 1st.  With this information and the guidelines, we’ve been given to be responsible with our social interactions we are also cancelling Spring Mini Tour.  I know this is very disappointing to many of you.  It is to me too.  My hope is we can find other was like the virtual choir to make choir memories.   
 
The Plan Moving Forward
I’m hoping and planning that we can do some sort of Spring Concert.  We will continue to work on Calling All Dawns (The orchestra is working too.) and keep up our festival music.  I’m also working on putting together the virtual choir that is outlined in your assignment.   
 
Grade Updates
I plan to check on assignments and update grades on Tuesdays.  If you’ve turned something in late, please plan on your grade not being updated until the following Tuesday.   
 
Choir Video Conference
I am planning to have a video conference using Zoom on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 11am.  It will last 1 hr.  All Uintah High Choir students are invited to attend this conference if they have any questions that they would like to ask live or if they would like to talk with Mr. Merryweather or any of their choir family.  It is not required to attend the conference.  It’s mainly so we can all see each other.  The link to the conference will be on the choir website under the Online Choir tab.  Bear with me on this, I haven’t done a lot of this video conferencing stuff.     
 
SoVoce
I’d like to do your virtual choir video first.  Please make sure you submit your recordings.  
 
Leadership
I’d like to meet with all leadership (presidency members) in a video conference at 10:30am on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.  I just want to check in and have us throw around some ideas. 
 
Useful stuff again:
My email: aaron.merryweather@uintah.net
My office phone: 435-781-3110 ext 2673 (I’m working mostly from home now.)
Choir website: www.uintahhighchoir.weebly.com
Canvas link:  https://uintah.instructure.com/login/ldap 
 
I think that’s it for this week.  With that I’ll leave you with this: 
Ever since the day you left me I've been so miserable, my dear.  I feel almost as bad as I did when you were still here.       – Mr. Merryweather (actually Weird Al Yankovic) 
Just kidding. Hope to see you soon. Keep up the singing.
​ Mr. Merryweather   

​Uintah High Choir Family,
 
I come to you from the solitude of the Uintah High Choir room.  Once a lively place full of singing and merriment, but now reduced to an empty space of sterilized chairs.  Even as I close my eyes I can hear the voices…… (Can you hear the music.) 😉  I hope you’ve survived the first week.  All I can say is it’s been weird.  Here are just a few notes about choir and the upcoming week.
 
Youtube issues
Some students have mentioned having issues listening to the songs on youtube.  I think I’ve fixed the issue for most people, especially if you’re using a school chromebook.  For some, there may be restrictions on your home computer, so visit with your parent/guardian about these restrictions.  If you have any other problems I’ll do my best to solve them.
 
Week 2 Assignments
There are two assignments this week.  The first is similar to the listening assignment from last week.  The second is an opportunity for you to rehearse on your own.  Polyphony has been assigned HAMSAFAR and Luminosa & Virsonum have been assigned MADO KARA MIERU.  Follow the instructions closely in the assignment.  I look forward to hearing how everyone is doing at the end of the week.  By the way, you cannot submit the assignment until Friday.  It is due Monday, March 30th. 
 
Calling All Dawns Solos
No one is required to learn any of the solos for Calling All Dawns.  However, all solos are up for grabs in any of the Calling All Dawns songs.  Rehearsal recordings will be sent out to help learn them as time allows.  If you want one work on it.  There’s some fun stuff, including a duet. 
 
Missed Assignment
Some have missed previous assignment, such as the Noteflight assignment due a few weeks back.  Make sure you do these assignments.  Some points are better than no points.  Also, make sure you do the upcoming assignments and that you do them on time. 
 
SoVoce
I have not forgotten about you.  I’ve got some things in the works for you to do.  In the time being, work on your music, especially the songs we’ve already been working.  Keep them up.
 
Leadership
I’m hoping to get you involved as we’re all apart currently.  If you have any ideas please let me know.  I’ll keep brainstorming.
 
Useful stuff again:
My email: aaron.merryweather@uintah.net
My office phone: 435-781-3110 ext 2673 (I’m working mostly from home now.)
Choir website: www.uintahhighchoir.weebly.com
Canvas link:  https://uintah.instructure.com/login/ldap
 
Unfortunately, we don’t know how long this might last, so we’ll take each week at a time.  I am working on some potentially fun ideas moving forward.  Make sure you keep up on your music and try to have some fun learning these weird languages.  Although it is not ideal to not meet, I’m excited to see you each of you do as you learn on your own.  Again, let me know if you need help with anything. 
 
Singingly,
 
Mr. Merryweather
“Online” Choral Director
Uintah High School

​Hello,
If you were unable to pick up music on Wednesday at the high school I have put pdf versions of it on the choir website. This includes all Luminosa, Virsonum songs and the Calling All Dawns packets for each class. It is under the 'Online Choir' tab listed as 'Sheet Muisc PDFs'. I'll put a link to this in your upcoming Canvas assignment.

Make sure you do the first assignment ASAP, so I know you're out there.

Lonelyly,
Mr. Merryweather

The link below contains the email I sent to all Uintah High Choir students and parents in regards to Online Choir classes.

I sent the below email out to parents and students in Virsonum, Luminosa and Polyphony. 

​Hello everyone,

The Region Solo & Ensemble & Chamber Choir Festival scheduled for March 18th has been cancelled.  The Festival Choir Concert scheduled for March 25th has been cancelled.  Whether these will be rescheduled for a future date is currently unknown.  I encourage students who prepared a song for Solo & Ensemble to continue preparing. 
In regards to future choir events in April and May, we are plan to continue to prepare for these events.  If any additional information is given to me in regards to these events I will pass it along. 
I'm very proud of the hard work the students have put in this year and especially these last few months.  I'm currently looking at ways to share this hard work with parents, etc. 

Thank you.
​
Mr. Merryweather
Choral Director
Uintah HS

Download the All State Choir & Honor Choir Performance Recordings below: 
(Apparently the song 'Lux' does not have its own track.  It can be found at the end of the 'It Was Glad' track.)

Click here to download All State Choir recordings.

Click here to download Honor Choir recordings.