“In an analysis of five choral conductors’ rehearsals Thurman (1978) found that an average of forty per cent of rehearsal time was used for verbal communication by the conductors.” (Choral Journal, January, 1980, page 11)
FORTY PERCENT? As an average? Some conductors talk more than forty per cent? What conceit! Do those choral directors feel that their gems of spoken wisdom are worth the same or more than the experience of singing great music? Does that mean that out of every hour of rehearsal, 24 minutes are talk and only 36 minutes singing? Do we enjoy the sounds of our own voices that much? Or are we just careless? Or do we have so many details to take care of that we just can’t sing much?
Forty percent of rehearsal time spent in verbal communication by the conductor is too much! At least TWICE too much! Something has to be done about it, ere we be conductors without choruses.
Obvious truism: the major purpose of a choral group is to sing. Truism No.2: the verbal expressions of any conductor, living or dead, are not a satisfactory substitute for experiencing great music by singing it.
Consider the conductors who you have worked under and admired. What you remember about them may be opinion(s), favorite phrase(s), anecdote(s). It is safe to say that you do not remember anything they said that took more than 25 seconds to say!
FORTY PER CENT IS TOO MUCH! Sing more and talk less! And your groups will sing better for it!
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Ronald Richard Duquette says
Stephanie Henry says