[HANASHIR:2291] rehearsals

[goldenberg <goldnbrg...>]

Dear Rachelle,  Working with a volunteer choir is great fun.  don't ever lose 
your sense of humor.  and don't ignore warm ups.  It is a time to build skills 
as well as warm up the voice.  You can build a lot into that time such as 
teaching vocal techniques, breathing, phrasing, diction, special effects, etc. 
You have to plan it in.  For instance, I once spent an entire warm up period 
teaching our choir  how to produce an effective sforzando. what a great game it 
became-inserting them in strange places just to practice sforzando. You can 
also do simple sight reading for those who are non-readers during this time by 
excerpting bits and pieces of the song you are going to work on. start with 
passages that are step intervals, then progress from there. The art of choral 
rehearsal is very personal-depending on the conductor, the time of day, and the 
choir. every condutors dream is to have a group of fluent sight reading, part 
balanced, attentive members. ( and soprano's who can control their vibrato's 
when needed) may our dreams all come true.  ellen goldenberg , conductor 
Rochester Jewish Chorale  rochester, New York