fundamentals of choir leading rehearsal · pdf filefundamentals of choir leading ... lesson 3...

Fundamentals of Choir Leading Rehearsal Technique

Workbook

This workbook comprises the worksheets and checklists from all the lessons in the

Rehearsal Technique course. You can access all the lesson documents individually on the

lesson pages.

This book is intended simply to be a convenient way to download the materials if you

wish to view them offline, for example on a tablet or smartphone, or printed out.


Lesson 2 What are rehearsals for?

The fundamental point of performing as a choir is to communicate the meaning of music

to an audience. By extension, the fundamental point of rehearsals is to facilitate that

communication.

What is our intention when rehearsing our choirs?

1. To speed up the learning process compared with simple repetition;

If we asked our choir to simply sing a piece over and over again, it would

undoubtedly improve. We can speed up that process by focusing our

singers’ attention selectively.

2. To improve selective aspects of the choir’s performance;

We can help our singers to improve aspects of their performance that they

wouldn’t be able to improve on their own.

3. To impart the meaning of the music to the choir;

Only when the singers understands the music can they truly take ownership

of their performance and impart the emotional meaning of the music to the

audience.

4. To give the choir a fulfilling musical experience.

People sing in choirs because its fun, enjoyable and musically fulfilling. Our

rehearsals should always be rewarding experiences in their own right.

Remember The vast majority of people who sing in choirs do it as a hobby. If they don’t enjoy it,

ultimately, they won’t do it!


Lesson 3 What does the choir leader do in rehearsal?

Perhaps the most important skill of a choir leader is to LISTEN.

Part of our score preparation is to create an ‘ideal’ performance of a piece in our minds.

We can use that as a mental template against which to compare the choir’s performance.

That doesn’t mean we expect perfection from our choir. The mental template is intended

to give our rehearsals direction, not create a prescription that our choir can never hope

to live up to.

The main roles of the choir leader in rehearsal:

1. To be the final arbiter of how the music should sound and to move the choir

towards that vision;

We want to collaborate with our singers, of course, but someone has to be

in charge and be the decision-maker, and that’s the choir leader.

2. To select what to focus on in the rehearsal, both in advance and in the

moment;

Our score preparation and rehearsal planning inform how we conduct a

rehearsal, added to which we react to the choir’s needs during the rehearsal

session.

3. To give the rehearsal structure and pace.

A big part of our work in rehearsal is keeping the choir engaged and

motivated so that we can work towards the best possible performance.

Remember As well as achieving the things we set out in our rehearsal plan, we should always aim to

make a rehearsal a rewarding experience for the choir.


Lesson 4 Zooming in and out

The process of ‘zooming in and out’ within the choir’s repertoire is the main building

block of the rehearsal.

We listen selectively, home in on aspects that need attention, make changes, then put

those changes in context.

listen

zoom in

make changes

zoom out

put in context

Things to remember when using this method of rehearsal:

1. Don’t forget to zoom out and put changes and improvements into context;

2. Don’t try to zoom in on more than on thing at one.

Remember By zooming in on one aspect of the choir’s performance at a time, and securing that learning

by zooming out and putting it into context, it’s more likely to stick.


Lesson 5 Directing the choir’s attention

Sometimes, just telling your singers what they need to listen to is enough for them to

realise what needs changing. At other times, depending on your choir’s ability and

experience, they may need more help from you.

We don’t want to spoon-feed our choirs. The more they’re able to think for themselves,

the more likely their learning is to stick, and the more likely they are to truly invest in

their performance. In the video lesson, we set out a process that you can use to give the

choir the amount of assistance they need to solve a problem or make an improvement.

Ask them to listen at a particular point in the music

Tell them what to listen to

Tell them what the problem is

Tell them what to change

When you give instructions to the choir in rehearsal, give them time to get to the place in

the piece to which you’re referring. Use a consistent structure of citing:-

PEOPLE - PLACE - POINT

Remember You don’t need to go through this entire process every time you want to make an change,

but it’s helpful for your choir’s development and engagement if you give them the chance to

work out for themselves what needs improving.


Lesson 6 Starting and stopping

The video lesson includes many tips and suggestions for starting and stopping the choir

during rehearsal. Here’s a quick reference guide to the issues covered.

• You may need to give extra preparatory beats compared to your usual

conducting entry. Audible counting can also be helpful.

• Don’t get into the habit of always adding preparatory beats. When the choir

‘performs’ something in rehearsal, give the usual succinct preparation.

• Mark your score with appropriate starting and stopping places. If you’re

teaching by ear and not working with a score, you can mark up a lyric sheet.

If you’re using backing tracks, it can be helpful to note the times of

particular points in the song.

• Give the choir a decent run-up to a point that needs improvement. Start too

close to that point and your singers won’t be concentrating when they get

there.

• Have the confidence to wait for silence before you start conducting. Keep

calm, make eye contact, smile and wait.

• Don’t use aggressive gestures or commands to stop the choir. Try to use

normal conducting gestures to bring the choir off.

• To avoid frustration if you have to stop the choir several times, specify in

advance where you will stop the choir.

• Let specific vocal parts know if you don’t need them for a particular passage.

• Give everyone a chance to re-group before you give instructions. Giving

instructions before inviting the choir to sit can help to minimise chatter.

Remember Don’t be afraid to insist on what you want, calmly and authoritatively.

Remember that the choir is there to sing.


Lesson 7 Communicating with the choir

How we communicate with our choirs is vitally important. It sets the tone for our

rehearsals. Here are some points to consider.

• Never shout, scream or swear at your choir (obviously!).

• Use inclusive language that focuses on the collaboration between you and the choir, and between the singers. Try to use ‘we' and ‘let’s' instead of ‘I' and ‘I want’.

• Never single anyone out for criticism.

• Try not to use unduly negative language. Always focus on what you want to improve.

• Don’t praise unless it’s warranted. Constant praise loses its impact very quickly.

• Don’t keep repeating instructions if you're not getting the result you expect. Change your language, or model what you mean instead.

• Don’t be afraid to use musical terminology, even with singers who don't understand it. Just make sure you define any unfamiliar terms.

• Remember that inexperienced singers often don’t know what to change physically in response to an instruction. Focus on the practical changes you want them to make, rather than the musical ones.

• Focus on one thing at a time. Don’t give the choir a ‘shopping list’.

Remember Your singers don’t want to hear a lecture from you - they’re there to sing! Try to strike a

balance between giving information and keeping up a good pace in rehearsal.


Lesson 8 Keeping everyone engaged

However committed your singers are to the choir, they’ll struggle to stay engaged and

motivated if they get bored in rehearsal. Boredom leads to inattention and chattering,

which is exhausting for you. Here are some strategies for keeping everyone in the game.

1. Start with singing, not talking.

Avoid the chatter arising in the first place by re-directing your

singers to warm-ups at the start of the rehearsal. Leave admin

and announcements for later.

2. Make sure no one spends too long with nothing to do.

Keep everyone involved by asking other parts of the choir to hum

their part while you work on another, or by having everyone sing

everything.

3. Have easy exercises and games at the ready.

When attention starts to wane, re-charge the rehearsal with a fun

teambuilding exercise or silly game.

4. Let everyone have a good sing.

Sometimes, a restless atmosphere is an indication that the choir

needs to have a good, uninterrupted sing.

Remember If your current repertoire doesn’t lend itself to a ‘good sing’, have something familiar from

past repertoire, or an easy round, available to turn to.


Lesson 9 Helping the choir to take ownership

Your choir can only hope to achieve its potential in performance when every single

singer invests in the choir’s purpose: to communicate the meaning of the music to the

audience. Here’s a reminder of the issues we covered in the video lesson.

1. You’re not playing a ‘human instrument’.

Your choir is made up of individuals, each of whom needs to

understand the meaning and emotion of the music in order to

perform at their best.

2. Talking about the ‘why’ as well as the ‘what’.

You don’t want to lecture your choir in rehearsal, but you can

combine instructing the choir, the ‘what’, with helping them to

find the emotional core of the music, the ‘why’.

3. Ask questions.

Your choir’s learning will stick much more readily if they come to

their own conclusions about the meaning of a piece.

Remember Including the choir in the process of creating an interpretation of a piece will increase the

likelihood that they will give their best performance.


Lesson 10 Implementing or departing from you rehearsal plan

It’s an important skill for a choir leader to be able to structure and pace a rehearsal to

implement a rehearsal plan. Just as important is the ability to react in the moment to the

choir’s needs and, when necessary, depart from a plan.

1. Acknowledge that a plan only gets you so far.

If you accept that your plan will have to be departed from, and

you are willing to do that, you can have the confidence to react in

the moment to your choir.

2. Use your ‘sacrificial section’.

In our rehearsal planning course, we teach the use of a section

that can be added in or left out of your plan as necessary. When

the choir takes less time than expected to accomplish part of

your plan, it’s time to bring out that ‘sacrificial section’.

3. Beware the law of diminishing returns.

Learn to notice the tipping point when repeated rehearsal will no

longer bring improvement but will actually set the choir back.

4. Finish on time.

Respect your choir and yourself by sticking to your allotted

rehearsal time and making sure you have time for a good sing at

the end of it.

Remember Your rehearsal plan is your route map. It's your central point of reference, even when you

take some detours.


Lesson 11 Dealing with questions & interruptions

Questions and interruptions can be welcome or unwelcome, constructive or not.

Learning to deal with them calmly and with good humour is an important part of your

rehearsal technique. Here’s a quick précis of ways you can handle the unexpected in

rehearsal.

1. Recognise that interaction is a good thing.

Part of the joy of rehearsing a choir is the interaction between

the choir and the leader. Embrace it as part of building a

collaborative environment.

2. Lots of questions are a warning sign.

If you’re getting lots of questions about something, it’s an

indication that you might need to re-think your approach to

teaching a piece. Don’t be afraid to move on in the rehearsal,

then review the situation afterwards.

3. Learn when to deal with a question immediately, or later.

If a question ties in precisely with what you’re working on, deal

with it then and there. Otherwise, deal with it later. Don’t let your

rehearsal be derailed by constant hopping about between issues.

4. Always stay calm in the face of interruptions.

Remember that people almost never intend to be hostile, even if

their manner comes across as aggressive. It’s probably not about

you!

Remember Don’t take it personally! Questions and interruptions are inevitable, no matter how good a

choir leader you are. You can’t anticipate everything.


Lesson 12 Looking after your voice in rehearsal

You can’t expect your voice to function at its best if you strain or overuse it. Here’s a

reminder of the things you can do to keep you voice in good working order, so that you

can give your best to your choir.

1. Exercise your voice.

As with all muscular systems, exercising your voice will build

strength and stamina. A daily vocal workout, even if it’s very

brief, will help you to perform at your best in rehearsals.

2. Drink plenty of water.

Your voice will function better if it’s well-hydrated. Make sure you

drink water about half an hour before rehearsal, and top up

regularly.

3. Resist the temptation to shout.

Wait for the choir to come to order, rather than raising your

voice to be heard over any background noise.

4. Don’t sing along with the choir.

You probably demonstrate in rehearsals, and you may help out

particular vocal parts during the learning process, but don’t get

into the habit of always singing with the choir, and don’t let the

choir become reliant on you doing it.

Remember Your voice is an essential tool of your trade. Look after it!


Lesson 13 Rehearsal logistics

Here’s a quick reminder of some of the non-musical considerations you might want to

think about when running your choir rehearsals.

1. What happens when the choir arrives?

Where will people ‘check-in’? Do they need to pay? If so, who will

take payment? What records do you need to keep of attendance?

Will everyone know where to go? What if you want to change the

usual routine?

2. How will you order the rehearsal?

Admin and announcements are best avoided at the beginning of

a rehearsal. When will you deal with those? Will you give all

information there and then, or send it later?

3. Will you have a break?

Is the rehearsal of a length that requires a break? Do you want to

give the choir the opportunity to mingle and socialise? Don’t

forget to re-start promptly after the break.

4. Finish on time.

It’s a sign of your professionalism as a leader to finish on time.

Remember the law of diminishing returns. Give the choir time for

a good sing at the end of the session.

Remember Getting the logistics right gives you more time to work on the music with your choir.

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