Hello Everyone,
What fun to run through our concert music last night. It was good to have a sense of where we currently are with our repertoire and be happy with all we have accomplished but also work toward strengthening our weaknesses.
I think that we are singing well on some of our pieces considering it is the end of November…but we have much room for improvement and plenty to work on during our remaining rehearsals. I’m looking forward to us working together to see how much we can grow musically before January 27th!
One thing we can all work on that does not involve notes and rhythms is quiet page turns!
Here are some aspects, in general, for us to think about:
-Listening to yourself and others is important. Deb offered a good suggestion – practice listening with your eyes closed to free you of visual distractions. Please especially listen to the reference recordings of Ave Maria and Through the House Give Glimmering Light.
– Intonation – our sound sometimes lacks sparkle and vibrancy. Are we taking that singer’s breath every single time we breathe…or just at the beginning of the piece? All of our a cappella pieces have downward pitch drift without the piano to pull us back in key. I hope that singing in mixed formation (which we will do in December) will help…but only if everyone’s singing is fueled by an energized breath.
– Rhythmic accuracy – As an ensemble we need to tighten up so that the underlying pulse is felt in every beat of every measure and that we feel it together.
-Diction – Consonants! We need more! And when we do sound them, they need to be together in the right place (especially the final S).
I am going to listen to the recording that I made at rehearsal last night over the next few days and create a priority list for our December rehearsals. Deb also made some excellent notes that she shared with me.
For now, please practice the places in which you had challenges as best you can on your own but definitely bring those questions to your section leader and/or the upcoming sectional rehearsals.
For Monday’s rehearsal, we will focus our attention on:
Love is Welcome Here – mm. 33-end
– Work on singing in tune and together
Ave Maria – all
– Work on phrasing, dynamic contrasts, and overall singing with vibrancy and energy. It would be helpful if you listen to the reference recording in our practice files.
Though the House Give Glimmering Light
– Work on singing in tune and tighten up the ends of phrases and transitions into the next section. It would also be helpful for you to listen to the reference recording of this piece – see what you hear and notice with your eyes closed.
Sparks of Divinity – all
– Please spend individual time with the practice files and see if you can correct wrong pitches. We also have, in general, intonation challenges throughout.
Spes – mm. 59-end
Mah Dodech Midod – mm. 21-27, mm. 51-58, mm. 84-89
You’ve Got a Friend in Me – mm. 36-end
– Work on tuning chords and gaining more rhythmic precision
If we have time, we will work on other pieces/sections…especially as I continue to review the rehearsal recording and pinpoint the spots needing our attention.
Thank you to those who sent audition recordings. I started listening to them today and have so enjoyed hearing you sing individually. I will finish listening in the next few days and send an email to those who submitted auditions with the solo assignments.
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy rest of your week,
Laura