ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly publication for choral conductors and teachers at all levels. It is published online, and each issue contains four practical articles. If you are not already a member of ACDA, you can join as an Associate for $45 per year and receive access to ChorTeach and the Choral Journal online.
The Summer 2012 issue contains the article “Key Concepts in Choral Singing” by Edith Copley. Following are a few of the concepts from the article.
- No two consecutive notes, syllables, or words should ever receive equal emphasis. The music is always going somewhere and then returning. (Robert Shaw)
- Always breathe in the shape of the initial vowel.
- Inhalation, regardless of dynamic, should always be silent, low, and expansive.
- Stay on the vowel sound as long as possible.
- Almost all vowels are tall vowels—“space between the molars.” The exception is “eh.”
(Sigrid Johnson) - Consonants are almost always short and ahead of the beat.
- Consonants do not need muscular strength. They need air turbulence. Let the air carry the consonants, especially with the letter K.
- Long notes are either < (cresc.) or > (decresc.) or < > (messa di voce). Long tones never “sit.”
- Dynamics are not just a question of volume. They are changes of breath intensity
Read the rest of the article by clicking here and looking in the Summer 2010 for Scott Buchanan’s article. If you are not already an ACDA member, you can join as an Associate for only $45 per year and receive online access to all ACDA publications. Go here to learn more.
preciousjerry says
Hi. I have a major problem with singing-it doesn’t sound like music at all and I am sure it is because of the rhythm. I am totally out of the beats. I make the rough rhythm of the song and everyone thinks that I am perfect in rhythm but I am not. I can post my song to hear. Any tips to improve?? I go to 15 different music teachers and drummers and no one even notices my timing problems they said stupid things like I don’t put emotions and so on… but my problem is the rhythm.