Choral Excellence

Choral Excellence
Thomas Bookhout, DMA

PURPOSE OF REHEARSALS

Purpose: There are many purposes to a rehearsal. The overriding purpose is to prepare for excellent performances. To reach the objective of a successful performance, rehearsals provide time for some or all of the following, depending on the chorus:

Developing the vocal technique, music reading ability, basic musicianship of the choristers.

Learning the pitches, rhythms, text and printed expressions of the selected music.

Polishing, unifying, and perfecting the presentation by the application of advanced vocal production, selected performance techniques and instructions from the conductor. (keep a pencil with you at all times!!)

Practicing the performance, including logistical issues such as processionals, standing arrangements, etc.

Coordinating the performing forces, in particular the addition of instrumentalists or a second chorus just before the performance.

Addressing various "non-musical" concerns, such as organizational governance, traveling arrangements, team-building efforts, etc.

CHORAL "HOMEWORK"

In order to do that in rehearsals (see above), the chorister must do his part at home. Some groups only rehearse once each week, others more often than that. In either case, you have less time at rehearsal than you do at home. What can you do on your own to help prepare for excellent performances?

Vocalize and practice healthy singing at home, or in a practice room.

Mentally review, by looking at your score, the issues that were "fixed" or addressed at the last rehearsal so that you do not forget them.

Practice singing the correct notes of your part. Even if you do not yet read music, you can at least review your part with your eyes, measure by measure.

Memorize your music (if needed). That’s a whole procedure by itself. Here are some suggestions:

Know the form of the piece or passage. Does it divide neatly into smaller sections? Are some sections repeated? How are contrasting sections different from each other?

When practical, start memorizing from the end of the piece and then work back toward the beginning (that is, memorize the last section first, and so on). This way, in performance you will always be singing into sections which you know better and better.

Practice writing the text out by memory, or saying it without singing.

Make "cue cards," 3x5 cards with the first words of each entrance. Use these in rehearsal instead of the printed music, and gradually rely on them less and less until you do not need them any more.