Questions and Answers: Ask Marie

START A CHOIR

Ask Marie, Newest Page

August, 2007

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Dear Readers,

As always, I’ll pray for you,

Marie

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Dear Marie,

What are the basic exercises and techniques in conducting that I should learn as a beginner conductor?

Beginning Conductor

Dear Beginner,

You can do most basic conducting by learning 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 meter conducting patterns and how to do a cue. A cue is done by exagerating the beat before the choir is to sing and also breathing WITH the choir during the cue. Breathing exercises and vocalizing will improve the quality of your singers' voices and sound, but the basics are the most important.

I'll pray for you,

Marie

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Dear Marie,

Thanks for the suggestion and ideas shared with me. I'm so eager to know more about breathing and vocalizing exercises which could improve my choir's voices and sound. Do you have some more ideas or examples on breathing and vocalizing exercises?

Eager Beginning Conductor

Hello again, Eager Beginner,

Go back to the Start-a-Choir website, the Free Music page, and ask for the "Choir Starting Kit.” There are breathing and other vocal exercises in the kit.

I'll pray for you,

Marie

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Dear Marie,

I was recently appointed to get the choir at my church re-instituted, and I wanted to know what is the best way to find times that are convenient with everyone and would allow us to rehearse at least 1 to 2 times a week?

I Want to have Convenient Rehearsals

Dear Convenient Rehearsals,

You've asked a very good question; churches that have never had choirs or have allowed their choirs to be disbanded often have had severe scheduling problems. Your first priority needs to be getting scheduling support from the church's governing body. They absolutely MUST understand that choirs cannot function without practice. (Groups that don't make practice a priority aren't choirs; they're a group of people who present public sing-alongs.) The church pastor and governing body must agree never to schedule conflicting meetings/activities.

(Continued in next column.)

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(Continued from previous column.)

(Irregular rehearsal times and conflicting obligations can very quickly "kill" a choir.) After getting their approval, you need to find a good compromise time for rehearsals. Using a survey is an excellent way to ask, or just phone, email, or ask singers in person. After you've found out what times work best for the majority, be sure that your strongest and most dedicated singers are able to attend at those times. The best singers/musicians ever will be useless to you if they don't bother to show up for the majority of rehearsals. Keep communications open to both the church and the choir members; you may need to make a few adjustments as your choir grows.

I'll pray for you,

Marie

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Go to:

"How to Annoy & Alienate Your Choir" compiled by Judy Shultz, Marie Adams & Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke

"How to Alienate Your Pastor and Church" compiled by Judy Shultz, Eurydice Osterman, Marie Adams & Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke.

"How to Kill a Choir" compiled by Judy Shultz, Marie Adams,

& Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke

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