Brianne started rehearsal with a solfege and rhythm warm-up, having each section do an ascending and descending scale in different rhythmic values. After the mechanics were worked out, they still had a hard time making the exercise work because of a fundamental struggle with tempo. We addressed it with silent counting on a couple of different tempi, clapping sharply on a designation count. At slow tempo, subdivide.
Polar Expressapalooza today. We started at the end and worked to the beginning, memorizing along the way.
After the break came the Lakscevitz Gloria. Those who had not written in solfege took some time to catch up on that while Camp kids wrote in solfege from p. 10 to the end. We solfeged through some, but worked the section starting on m. 62, p.8. The alto there is a bear!
Did a read of Angels We have heard on High on solfege. It wasn't a disaster, be we urged the kids to prepare their scores ahead of time if they have trouble sight-singing the piece.
Housekeeping: Ginny gave a fundraising presentation and we passed out fundraising packets for ads and sing-a-thon.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Week of OCT 17
Ho Ho Ho
That's either Green Giant or Santa Claus. Passed out the Holiday music this week. Grateful to have such great help form the kids!! They took everything in hand and we were done with distribution in record time. Big kudos to Morgan Brady, Joshua Lindsey, Veronica McClellan for compiling folders.
Worked on the program for Sunday's concert (OCT 23), which went very well. The altos are still very unsure about their part on Double Trouble. All tolled, they pulled out some nice expressive moments in Alpharetta UMC--a space that was perfectly beautiful, but a little dry for kids' voices. Last Monday, we also did a read-through of many of the pieces in the Holiday folder: Deck the Hall, Ocho Kandelikas, Kling, Ma'Oz Tsur--no real detail, just a read.
Housekeeping: Last few informal uniforms were passed out between last week and the concert with Choral Guild. almost done!! Ready to start on formals. Need to collect 1st term assessments from all the kids. Sing-a-thon packets this week OCT 24.
That's either Green Giant or Santa Claus. Passed out the Holiday music this week. Grateful to have such great help form the kids!! They took everything in hand and we were done with distribution in record time. Big kudos to Morgan Brady, Joshua Lindsey, Veronica McClellan for compiling folders.
Worked on the program for Sunday's concert (OCT 23), which went very well. The altos are still very unsure about their part on Double Trouble. All tolled, they pulled out some nice expressive moments in Alpharetta UMC--a space that was perfectly beautiful, but a little dry for kids' voices. Last Monday, we also did a read-through of many of the pieces in the Holiday folder: Deck the Hall, Ocho Kandelikas, Kling, Ma'Oz Tsur--no real detail, just a read.
Housekeeping: Last few informal uniforms were passed out between last week and the concert with Choral Guild. almost done!! Ready to start on formals. Need to collect 1st term assessments from all the kids. Sing-a-thon packets this week OCT 24.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
TCC 1st Quarter 2011
What a busy Fall!! The group is substantially smaller this year, but it's a great group of kids--very talented and they work hard. We're finally settled on part divisions and have new students settled in nicely. We have had Tour Choir auditions and plan to have our first Tour rehearsal for the World Choir games on Saturday Oct. 15
Double Trouble- 1st and 2nd sops are in good shape on this piece, but the altos are still a little slow on the uptake. This piece will be performed for the first time on Oct 23 for the Choral Guild of Atlanta Concert
Sound the Trumpet--on schedule for Oct 16 and Oct 23. Cleaning up really well--we've been trying to stick to solfege, especially the ending, so that no one is fudging on the notes. Focused on creating the right line and rounding of vowels
Child With the Starry Crayon - reviving from last season's repertoire and getting new kids up to speed on it. Altos still have a little trouble starting on the right pitch on the initial harmony section. We've split up into sections a couple of weeks on this to solidify the part work.
Sing All Ye Joyful - Using this piece jointly with Choral Guild of Atlanta. Read the first couple of times without solfege, but went back and cleaned everything up using solfege last week Oct 10.
Give Us Hope - for use at Int'l Dinner. Notes are easy, so we've been concentrating on expression, movement, etc.
Sesere Eeye - Learned all the parts at Camp, so recent work on making the movements sharp and presentation elements energized. arms straight, clapping on the correct sides, keeping track of the endings.
A Pescar Camaron--focused on initial rhythmic section. Camp kids analyzed the rhythm by counts, the Mini Camp kids by feel. Combining the two approaches has been great because we have the accuracy of the counting + the groove.
Polar Express - have been hitting this one every other week. The parts are starting to come more naturally now. We'll be going every week on this piece from now on.
Water Under Snow - solfege and part balance done. 2 rehearsals on this
Frobisher Bay - have had one read on this using solfege
Bist Du Bei Mir - worked on this extensively at Camp for diction, phrasing and intonation.
Amen - started all the motives on this at Camp. Worked on descending chromatic patterns. Now need to put all the pieces together and memorize.
Gloria in Excelsis-Camp kids have notes and rhythms down through p. 10. Using for the Holiday Concert, so weekly work on this piece from now through Dec 16
Tshotsholoza-boys learned at Camp and all singers learned it from them.
Agendas have been distributed as well as Singer Progress Sheets and Rubric. Will collect Progress Sheets next week and pass out Holiday folders.
Housekeeping: first couple of rehearsals--uniform checks and measuring. Kids have been turning in Uniform orders, Schedule reports, other forms, and any outstanding registration pieces.
Double Trouble- 1st and 2nd sops are in good shape on this piece, but the altos are still a little slow on the uptake. This piece will be performed for the first time on Oct 23 for the Choral Guild of Atlanta Concert
Sound the Trumpet--on schedule for Oct 16 and Oct 23. Cleaning up really well--we've been trying to stick to solfege, especially the ending, so that no one is fudging on the notes. Focused on creating the right line and rounding of vowels
Child With the Starry Crayon - reviving from last season's repertoire and getting new kids up to speed on it. Altos still have a little trouble starting on the right pitch on the initial harmony section. We've split up into sections a couple of weeks on this to solidify the part work.
Sing All Ye Joyful - Using this piece jointly with Choral Guild of Atlanta. Read the first couple of times without solfege, but went back and cleaned everything up using solfege last week Oct 10.
Give Us Hope - for use at Int'l Dinner. Notes are easy, so we've been concentrating on expression, movement, etc.
Sesere Eeye - Learned all the parts at Camp, so recent work on making the movements sharp and presentation elements energized. arms straight, clapping on the correct sides, keeping track of the endings.
A Pescar Camaron--focused on initial rhythmic section. Camp kids analyzed the rhythm by counts, the Mini Camp kids by feel. Combining the two approaches has been great because we have the accuracy of the counting + the groove.
Polar Express - have been hitting this one every other week. The parts are starting to come more naturally now. We'll be going every week on this piece from now on.
Water Under Snow - solfege and part balance done. 2 rehearsals on this
Frobisher Bay - have had one read on this using solfege
Bist Du Bei Mir - worked on this extensively at Camp for diction, phrasing and intonation.
Amen - started all the motives on this at Camp. Worked on descending chromatic patterns. Now need to put all the pieces together and memorize.
Gloria in Excelsis-Camp kids have notes and rhythms down through p. 10. Using for the Holiday Concert, so weekly work on this piece from now through Dec 16
Tshotsholoza-boys learned at Camp and all singers learned it from them.
Agendas have been distributed as well as Singer Progress Sheets and Rubric. Will collect Progress Sheets next week and pass out Holiday folders.
Housekeeping: first couple of rehearsals--uniform checks and measuring. Kids have been turning in Uniform orders, Schedule reports, other forms, and any outstanding registration pieces.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)