NOTES for Week of September 1, 2024

Hello friends,

Thank you for a good rehearsal. I appreciate you reviewing the music during the week and coming prepared. Keep up the good work. A few requests about rehearsal:

1. Arrive on time. I begin vocalises at 6:30 and everyone needs to be there. If you want to visit a bit or need time to set up, please plan to arrive early. The room is open by 6:15.
2. Using singing posture. Remember, we are building vocal technique both at home and in rehearsal. The first step is either sitting up straight or standing up straight. Slouching and sitting with your legs crossed does not help your singing. When sitting sit upright sit towards the edge of your seat with your back away from the back of the chair. You can relax when I'm giving instructions or when not actively singing.
3. Mark your music. If I give an instruction about breathing, phrasing, dynamics, or tone, please write it in your score. 

Magnificat

• Write in crescendi starting in m. 6 (mag-) and m. 7 (-cat), and m. 8 (me-a). 
• The 8th-notes tied to a final note in mm. 9 and 22 should be the cut-off.
• Write in cresc. poco a poco starting in m. 18.

Shalom!

• Basses - omit the lower E-flat throughout starting at beginning.  
• Thom, sorry for the late switch, but can you please sing 2nd tenor on this.
• Tenor I, please work on a strong unison for the melody in mm. 9-16.
• Men really clean up your parts in mm. 30-41.

Let It Snow x3

• Repeat from m. 9 beat 4 to the end.
• Keep triplets in mm. 13 and18 clean

I'll Be Home for Christmas

• Sing smoothly, but not too slowly.
• Tenors sing the B# in m. 28, nice and high. Practice that progression in mm. 27-28 as well as 33-end with precise intonation.

Let My Love Be Heard

• Highlight your meter changes.
• It's slow, so work on a beautifully pure sustained tone. 
• Practice singing dynamically from the start.
• Starting on p. 5, women feel the triplet subpulse. 

FOR TUESDAY, September 2, 2024

Magnificat - review and work parts to the end.

Shalom! - review and work parts p. 8 - p. 11, m. 65

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

Ain't That-A Rockin'

O Little Town of Behlehem

NOTES for Week of August 25, 2024

Friends,

Thank you for a great start to our 10th Season. I believe this will be our best yet.

Please remember;

1. Listen more acutely to intonation, blend, and balance.
2. Train your instrument with proper warm-ups and singing with healthy technique.
3. Study your score for notes and rhythms, of course, and also musical nuance. Highligh every tempo and dynamic marking.
4. Sing Actively, using expressiveness even in your practice.

REVIEW:

Let Your Hear Speak Music

• Circle meter changes. Remember that the climax of a crescendo is at the point the dimuendo starts.
• Continue to practice on doo until you can sing notes/rhythms flawlessly while observing dynamics. Then incorporate diction, using rich, pure vowels.
• Breathing: Stagger through mm. 7. There is a luftpause in m. 23. 
• Sopranos keep m. 13 piano with gentle increase in phrase.

Fum, Fum, Fum

• Women, no breath in m. 22. Sing the 16th-notes in mm. 50 (S), 54 (A), 58 (S/A) lightly and articulately. 
• Men, sing the slurred notes in mm. 47-48, 51-52, and 55-56 cleanly and very accurately.
• I will record the Spanish and have Chuck put it on the resources site.
• Begin memorizing.

Caritas

• This song is deceptively challenging. It's about pure, sustained tone, active dynmaic shifts, and flawless intonation.
• It's one word, pronounced CAH-ree-tahs, with a consistently rolled "r". If you can't roll r's, use a latinized (frontal) d.
• Work through the notes and the counting. Remember all note values are doubled.
• When practicing, always actively sing the dynamics.

Il est ne

• Middle divisi women (Vania, Lisa, Brittany, Joanna Mittman, and Cassi). 
• Middle divisi men (Christian, Dana, Jeremy, and Thom)
• I will record the French and have Chuck put it on the resources site.
• Begin memorizing.

FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 27:

Magnificat - Rehearse parts up to page 9

Let My Love Be Heard - Rehearse parts to end (listen to recording)

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! and I'll Be Home for Christmas - Rehearse parts to end

Shalom! - Rehearse parts to top of page 8