Humanities – Audience Credit

You will each be required to obtain five hours of audience credit per semester, in which you attend an event or museum that is relevant to our studies in Humanities.

What Counts?

• These should be either live performances, such as concerts, readings, or dance performances, or opportunities to view artifacts and artwork in a museum setting. (Limit of 3 hours per museum.)
• Performances and exhibits must be high school level or above.
• Films and television programs do not count, unless otherwise indicated.
• Popular music concerts (rock, rap, etc.) do not count because they are not new cultural experiences for most of our students.
• Visits to historical museums do count, but museums of science do not.
• Being a performer (e.g. an actor or museum) will NOT earn audience credit. If you are performing at all in an event, you may not count any of it for credit.
• Attendance at university lectures is encouraged, but will not earn audience credit.
• If you have any questions about the suitability of a performance, please ask.

How Do I Find Out About Audience Credit Opportunities?

We are all blessed to live in a community with such rich opportunities to be patrons of the arts, many of them free. Here are some places to look for upcoming events:

• The Current – monthly free Ann Arbor publication with lists of current events. Available at many commercial establishments all over town.
• The Ann Arbor Observer – Monthly publication that arrives free to most Ann Arbor homes. Has a comprehensive list of events going on around town.
• Pioneer Humanities Calendar – we will try to make you aware of opportunities on the Google Calendar, available at http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/pioneer.giles.

How Do I Get Credit for My Hours?

• After you attend a performance or museum, please fill out the Audience Report Form (available in folder in the Little Theater) and turn them in to Ms. Vail. Please sincerely respond to this sheet. Don’t just write, “It was great!”
• You must turn this form in within one week of attending the event, visiting the museum, etc..
• You must attach to your Audience Report Form a program, playbill, ticket, or brochure.
• You may be called upon to discuss your experience with your seminar or teachers.

What Happens If I Do Not Submit My Hours?

If you do not complete your 5 hours and submit the paperwork, your grade in Humanities Social Studies will be lowered by 1/3 (e.g. a B will become a B-).

How to be a Good Audience Member (Adopted from UMS Guidelines)

Listed below are important suggestions about how to be a good audience member. This is important for the performers, who need to concentrate on their performance, and it is important for you and those around you so that you all can enjoy the performance.

· Sit quietly when you first come in so the musicians can hear themselves warming up.

· If you arrive late (and please try not to!!), particularly to a musical performance, it is expected and courteous to stand in the back of the auditorium until intermission or a break between pieces played, and only then should you quickly and as quietly as possible go to your seats.

· When the conductor comes on stage, please applaud so that she/he will feel welcome.

· Applaud for the soloists when they come to the front of the stage.

· When the music starts, listening should begin in earnest.

· Applaud when the conductor turns around and faces the audience. You may notice small breaks between movements. Please do not applaud at these breaks, but wait until the conductor turns around.

· No food or gum is allowed in the auditorium.

· Cameras and recording devices are not allowed.

· Please be sure to turn off cell phones, beepers, pagers, alarm watches or any other device that might make a noise and interrupt listening pleasure.