Sir David Willcocks, Music Director Emeritus, King’s College Choir, King’s College, Cambridge University, UK, used three rehearsal strategies which differed from rehearsal strategies used by other choral conductors, with whom I have sung.
The first strategy was teaching releases. Many times, in dealing with choral-orchestral works, he would tell us to “clear the beat!” The idea was to release a phrase before the downbeat of the next measure, or a beat within a measure. This was certainly different from what I had been taught! To teach the concept, he would have us say “1-2-3-4- ONE!” Then he would have us whisper the “ONE!” Finally, he would have us say silently say the “ONE!” Worked every time. Anyone out there use this rehearsal strategy?
The second rehearsal strategy was the use of the piano in helping us to learn a difficult line, He would play the part an octave or two higher to help us hear the articulation he wanted and the sound of the line. Anyone out there use this rehearsal strategy?
The third rehearsal was to have everyone in the chorus sing a particular line, for example, a line in Renaissance polyphony, such as a Palestrina motet. Anyone out there use this rehearsal strategy? I’d love to hear from you!
Carl Smith says
Ruth Bergstrom Jones says
David Almond says