Tonal Tuesday - Now What?

The last practice for the season is approaching.  We have a date to sing O Canada and God Save the Queen July 1.  We sing next on September 14th at the Embro Fair.  That leaves a couple of months in between.  How do we keep up our sound and remember the words?  I am certain that many of you have tricks to make that happen for you.

It would be great if you would share those ideas.  Please click "comment"  below to do just that.

Here are some of the things we do.

1.  Recordings - As I have mentioned before, Damon records all of our rehearsals and then makes a practice CD's by recording the best of our efforts for each piece.  This way all parts can sing each song while hearing all parts together.  I don't recommend that you use other recordings of your songs.  It may be a different arrangement or even just a different vision than yours.  I am not certain that learning parts from recordings of each part recorded independently is the best way.  We did this in one choir I belonged to.  It is a lot of work and you don't always hear how your part fits in.

2. Pot Luck  - Feed them and they will come.  We start practising again at the end of August with a pot luck dinner and practice after.  It serves to get us back together for practice but is also a great way to get to know each other better.  It was suggested by a choir member and we have done it ever since.

3.  Don't Sweat the Small Stuff - And besides it is all SMALL stuff.  I know it is hard sometimes to let things just happen.  I don't mean you should let down your expectations at all.  You will practise thoroughly with the time you have.  Having a deadline often increases attention and attendance.  Obsessing over something will not make it better.  Go with the flow, work at your best level and let the music happen. 

  Will you please share your ideas?  We learn so much from each other.