24 Tools for your Bag of Rehearsal Tricks

• Posted by Frank Eychaner October 17, 2013 - Filed in Other - 9,666 views
  1. Rehearse at a faster pace- When learning a slow song, pitch and line suffer because of vocal fatigue.  Speed up, or even double the tempo to learn notes.  You’re reinforcing good pitch and line!  Slow down the fastest tempos.
  2. Rehearse on a neutral syllable/vowel- Rehearse pieces with a bright affect on a bright vowel, darker affect, a dark vowel.  Removing text improves intonation and choristers learn the correct ‘color’ for the piece.  Adding a plosive (b, p, t, d) or fricative (f, v, z, s) consonant before the vowel improves rhythmic accuracy and support.
  3. Count Sing- Count singing has almost unlimited applications.  It is ideal for sight-reading.
  4. It’s a Snap- Having students snap cutoffs (or entrances or consonants…) is an excellent tool allow you to both see and hear each individual’s understanding of the rhythmic issue.  Also, students have both an auditory and kinesthetic cue along with their cognitive choice and are immediately made aware of problems.
  5. Combine Count Singing, Solfege and Neutral syllables- Have half the choir count sing while the other half uses a neutral syllable or solgege.  Combine count singing and text to teach skills to emerging learners.
  6. Do a warm-up in the middle of rehearsal- Isolate a difficult musical, vocal or other concept and develop ‘warm-ups’ to address the issue.  Perform the warm-up at the beginning of the rehearsal then repeat the exercise immediately before addressing the repertoire where the challenge occurs.
  7. Step in Time- Step in time to the rhythm.  You’ll experience an immediate increase in vitality.  This kinesthetic exercise is especially effective in triple meter.  Not just for Spirituals!  Posture and tone will improve.
  8. Hold Hands- Yes, it is corny, but it works.  Have students join hands and sing a slower selection.  You’ll be amazed at the improvement in intonation, support, line, etc.  Holding hands is an inherently vulnerable activity that increases awareness, commitment and attention.  Try it.
  9. What next?- Simply ask the ensemble what they would like to work on next.  They will improve faster because they will have ownership of their own suggestions.  They also are improving their higher level thinking.
  10. Music Critic- Have half the choir sing while the other choir ‘critiques’.  At least one positive for each negative comment is required!  Reverse the roles.
  11. Guest Conductor- This can be a student, parent, administrator or fellow music teacher.  You’re job is to listen!
  12. Video Taping- Students can listen to themselves, you can evaluate your conducting…it can go up on YouTube…
  13. Problem Reduction- Essentially, you remove issues to focus on a challenge.  For example, remove notes and just speak rhythms.  Go between two difficult chords a number of times out of tempo. Etc.
  14. Focus Surplus Attention- Give very specific directions on what students are to accomplish.  Ex. Intonation!, articulation!, dynamics!, rhythm!, tone!, etc..
  15. Never just repeat…- Always give some indication of why you’re doing something again.  Ex. ‘Improve tone quality’, ‘That was great…memorize’, ‘This time crescendo to ms. 8’. ‘That was EXACTLY RIGHT! Do it AGAIN!’
  16. Move it, Move it- Incorporate movement in warm-ups then ask students to do the same movement to overcome a technique issue in the literature.  Illustrate staccato, tenuto, marcato
  17. Conducting Gestures- Have students conduct themselves.  Introduce and have choristers use a specific gesture that you intend to use to communicate during performance…they learn exactly what it means and how it feels to perform it correctly.  When they stop doing the gesture, they will still sing it correctly.
  18. Metaphor/Analogy/Proverb- Move from what students know and have experienced to application of those experiences in choral situations.  This is especially good for helping students master the affect of repertoire.  ‘Sing it with the support you’d use to yell at your little sister…’  ‘Sound like you have just fallen in love…’ 
  19. Catch them being good- ‘Yell’ at a student when they’re being good…ex. ‘That’s EXACTLY right!’  This is especially effective with students that work hard to get your attention, even if it is negative attention.
  20. Point out the Good- In the midst of challenging rehearsal, taking a moment to point out and reward progress is motivating and encouraging.
  21. Have the entire choir sing a difficult part- This builds sight-reading skills and keeps the entire choir engaged when note chasing is required.
  22. Students Models- Have an individual student model a vocal or musical phrase. Affirm, Affirm, Affirm.
  23. Out of the Comfort Zone- Leave the front of the room or step from behind the piano, walk into the choir. 
  24. Countdown- Minimize time lost in transition by counting down…’Be ready in 5, 4, 3, 2, give the downbeat!