Stick Time: What’s Working?

Sometimes it seems that we spend all of our time in rehearsals (particularly in the later stages of the semester) focusing upon what’s going wrong, rather than celebrating what’s going right.

 

Yes, absolutely, we are supposed to identify areas that require attention and devise methods for helping our choirs continue to improve.  When was the last time, however, that you took a moment to acknowledge singers for things they are doing well? Positive reinforcement is a powerful part of the development of any relationship.

 

That said, let’s consider just three basic items from this selection recorded during an ACDA divisional conference.  What is working well here? (Please bear in mind this is a necessarily brief commentary and the present writer’s opinion is barely worth 2¢.)

 

The first thing we notice is the repertoire. Our colleague has decided to program solid, historically valuable choral literature for these young singers.  Repertoire selection is an area of some concern among many in the profession.  We also note that they are performing the work in its original language.

 

Then there is the matter of tone.  Our colleague has cultivated vocal production that seems at once healthy and age-appropriate while still fitting for the performance of a work by Brahms.  Another positive element is the apparent upper-body freedom exhibited by the singers.

 

Finally, we note that attention has been given to the structure of the phrase.  The performance has an organic sense of “breathing” as it ebbs & flows with regard to tempo, dynamic, and text declamation.

 

Even though it is early in the season, what do you hear in your own choir’s singing that deserves a word of positive acknowledgement?