• Sign In
  • ACDA.org
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
ChoralNet

ChoralNet

The professional networking site for the global online choral community.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • ACDA News
  • Events
  • Community
    • Announcements
    • Classifieds

Mouthing the Text: The Advantages and Disadvantages (Part 2)

May 18, 2020 by Amanda Bumgarner Leave a Comment


_____________________________
The May 2020 issue of Choral Journal features an article titled “Mouthing the Text: The Advantages and Disadvantages” by Micah Bland. This is a fascinating interview, and you can read it in its entirety online at acda.org/choraljournal. Below is the first question of the interview.
_____________________________

What are some of the advantages to mouthing the words?

Jeffery Ames: Memorization.

Hilary Apfelstadt: Perhaps if the group is uncertain in a homophonic texture, it could be helpful to mouth as a reminder.

Jerry Blackstone: Mouthing can improve vowel formation, and can facilitate conductor/ensemble connection, especially with younger singers. Mouthing is simply another tool for conductor/ensemble communication. Used too much, it loses its effectiveness.

Joey Martin: Mouthing can be a visual reminder of appropriate vowel shapes for developing ensembles. It can also be crucial for reinforcing memory of text (or lack there of…). I’ve found that the younger/older the membership of an ensemble, the more mouthing is needed to achieve ideal results.

Tram Sparks: One advantage of mouthing could be the perceived security and increase in empathic connection between conductor and ensemble. I say “perceived” since it is usually merely a perception on the part of the conductor, and not an expressive or musically effectual connection that actually elicits a corresponding sonic or emotional result. That said, very specific, limited, and intentional mouthing could help a conductor to feel a stronger rapport in a given moment of music making.

Carl St. Clair: Not quite sure that there are any. Having an orchestra or chorus watch your mouthing of words could detract from their focus on your body and hands, which are communicating the essence of the music in one’s heart. Mouthing certainly does nothing to add to the quality of the sound or musical output of an ensemble, choral or otherwise.

What are some of the disadvantages to mouthing the words?

Jeffery Ames: In my opinion, mouthing the words, without any apparent need, prohibits proper preparation for the cue. Oftentimes, I see my choral conducting students mouthing the words. When this happens, they cannot properly execute the shape of the vowel needed in the following word. Of course, the “prep” prepares the next beat by indicating inhalation, vowel shape, dynamic, and character. But one or more of these elements will be missed when mouthing the words, which occurs as a ‘real-time’ event.

Hilary Apfelstadt: The biggest is that the group does not watch the gesture but rather focuses on the conductor’s mouth. It becomes a crutch, I think.
_____________________________

Read the rest of this article (and more!) in the May 2020 issue of Choral Journal, available online at acda.org.


Filed Under: Choral Journal Tagged With: CJ Repla, Conducting, Interview

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • ACDA.org
  • The ChoralNet Daily Newsletter

Advertise on ChoralNet

On This Day
May 23

Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera, “Fidelio,” was staged successfully in Vienna’s Kärntnertortheater on this day in 1814.

Would you like to submit a blog post for consideration?

Are you interested in becoming a regular ChoralNet blogger? Please contact ACDA Director of Membership & Communications Sundra Flansburg at .

RSS JW Pepper

  • Community Choir Spotlight: Virginia Beach Chorale
  • Community Choir Spotlight: The Wilmington Children’s Chorus
  • Community Choir Spotlight: The Sycamore Community Singers
  • Community Choir Spotlight: Allegro Choirs of Kansas City
  • Community Choir Spotlight: Turtle Creek Chorale
  • Community Choir Spotlight: The Central Dakota Children’s Choir
  • Community Choir Spotlight: The Women’s Chorus of Dallas
  • Vocal Health Tips: How Choral Directors Can Help Students
  • Community Choir Spotlight: The Mankato Children’s Chorus
  • Pepper Spotlight: The David Johnson Chorus

RSS NAfME

  • NAfME Endorses the Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act
  • Using Technology to Enhance Your School Concert
  • Retirement Prep Top Ten Treasures
  • Legislative Priorities for Fiscal Year 2023
  • “My Students Make Almost All of the Musical Choices for the Ensemble” 
  • Six Renowned Conductors to Lead the 2022 NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles
  • Getting the Most Out of Your Band or Orchestra Method
  • NAfME Members Named CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence
  • Three Tips for Teaching Music Online, from Teachers College, Columbia University
  • How You Can Make a Difference for Music Education in the Federal Appropriations Process

Footer

Connect with us!

  • Home
  • About
  • Help
  • Contact Us
  • ACDA.org

Recent Blogs

  • Rejuvenating France’s Choir School Tradition: An Interview with Mark Opstad
  • Memorial Day Performance? Keep It Simple!!
  • Finding My Voice with Brittney E. Boykin
  • Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Try Mind Over Matter–If You Don’t Mind, It Doesn’t Matter
  • Best. Interview. Ever! “Doing whatever it takes” with Superstar Deke Sharon

American Choral Directors Association

PO Box 1705
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
73101-1705

© 2022 American Choral Directors Association. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy