TERMS & CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP & FEES:

The membership fee is $115 per term. Choir runs during school terms, which can mean between 8 and 10 weeks per term, plus any performances or workshops.

There is also an annual fee per member of $7, payable in Term 1, or when you join if after Term 1, for membership of the New Zealand Choral Federation.

When you join for the first time there is an non-refundable fee of $10. If you have visited and paid $10, this will be held across in payment of this administration fee. If you have joined and paid a full fee, but change your mind before your second week, you will be refunded in full, except for this $10 fee.

Fees are due in advance of the upcoming term. You will be emailed an invoice, which will be due by the Monday one week before the start of the new term. Payment after the due date incurs a $10 administration surcharge.

In choirs where the membership is full, your place might be offered to someone on the waiting list if you have not paid your term fee by the first rehearsal of term.

We do not offer partial or pro rata rates for partial attendance or missed rehearsals. We understand that members might have varying attendance in a term due to work, travel, or family commitments. Compassionate consideration might be offered in exceptional circumstances.

EXTENDED ABSENCES:

If you wish to take a term off choir for any reason, you must continue to pay full term fees if you wish to remain on the roll and have continued access to the website resources. Participation in any rehearsals or performances in a given term requires membership to be current and fees to paid in full for that term. Extra rehearsal attendance may be available by attending choir at any of our locations other than the choir for which you are enrolled.

If you choose to withdraw from membership for a term, we will hold your details but you must email us to reinstate your membership for the next term. If a choir is full at the time you wish to return, you will be placed on a priority waiting list and offered membership at other locations until a place is available.

If there are special circumstances – eg chronic illness – you need to contact us in confidence to arrange an exception.

COMMUNICATIONS:

We try to keep our communications concise and efficient, and we expect choir members to read our emails, keep track of information on our website, and reply to events which require RSVPs in a timely manner.

ATTENDANCE, REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES:

Singing in a choir is like belonging to a sports team, and we strongly encourage teamwork at All Together Now. Everybody does best if most people are present most of the time.

Sometimes the music will require a little extra practice at home, depending on your current skill levels.

We understand that performance can feel daunting for some people but we encourage you to attend as many rehearsals as you possibly can, so that you build skills and confidence, and feel ready to join in when we sing in the community or give a concert.

REHEARSAL ETIQUETTE:

We ask our members to maintain a reasonable level of self-discipline in rehearsals, in order to facilitate a good learning environment for everyone. You are asked to listen to and follow directions from your Choir Leader, and to wait quietly when another section of the choir is working.

We love the social aspect of choir, but during the rehearsal is not the time for catching up with your choirmates. If someone next to you is needing help with the music, please ask them to wait until a break in the rehearsal, or ask the Choir Leader for assistance.

We expect our Choir Leaders to be treated with respect. If you disagree with what they say, or you wish to have some input, please ask them during the break or email them with your point. We also expect our choir members to be treated with respect and will never tolerate negativity towards or criticism of others' singing in the rehearsal.

LEARNING AND READING MUSIC:

Not everyone in our choirs read music, and it is not a requirement. We provide learning tracks for most songs, and we also encourage you to record learning sections of rehearsals on your phone for practising at home.

We provide sheet music via our website and you are responsible to download it, either to a mobile device like an iPad, or you can print it and keep it in a folder. We do not provide copies of music for members in the rehearsals.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALS:

All resources, materials, and music copies are the property of All Together Now Ltd. You may not share any of these outside the choir, even if you think they are in the public domain.

PHOTOGRAPHY & MEDIA:

We sometimes photograph and make audio or video recordings of the choir during rehearsals or performances. These maybe used on our website or social media. If you do not wish your image to be used in this way, please email admin_filter_unwanted@thechoir.co.nz

You may not make recordings during rehearsals except for your own practice purposes only. You may not video rehearsals without prior permission from the All Together Now office (admin_filter_unwanted@thechoir.co.nz) and your Choir Leader.

HEALTH & WELLBEING:

You are asked not to attend a rehearsal if you have any signs of illness - especially respiratory infections.

If you have any physical, psychological or any other condition which could impact your participation in a rehearsal, or the participation of other choir members, you are asked to disclose it in confidence to choir management (kate_filter_unwanted@thechoir.co.nz) so that we can ensure the safety and enjoyment of all choir members.

SINGING AND LEARNING TO SING:

Occasionally a prospective member will have a genuine issue with pitch-matching. These few people who might need some private lessons before joining the choir. We have an excellent, specialist singing teacher who can provide this service. We will let you know, privately and kindly, if we think you would benefit from this strategy. We might also ask you to start your choir journey with us in the Fundamentals group which begins in 2024.