Section rehearsals – Opportunities or a waste of time ??

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Section rehearsals can help the chorus to make big improvements in its overall sound and vocal presentation but more often than not the sessions become note bashing events that leave half the group bored and the other half just managing to get some notes and words out.

For everybody’s sake this should NOT be allowed to happen. If you really want to make progress then insist that notes and words are correctly learned from teach tapes. The best teach tape is the one that has been produced by a quartet with the Chorus Director indicating the interpretation. Failing that use commercial or computer generated teach tapes but get away from them as soon as you can so that the guys do not learn a ploddy or incorrect interpretation.

Some suggestions for a successful section rehearsal :

Sing it through first
No matter what the quality, it is best to give the guys a run at the whole song before starting to work on specific aspects ( see below). Often the quality of what the guys hear will reinforce what the section leader has chosen to work on.

Use other parts in quartet
If you have confident singers in all the parts, put two leads, a Bari and a tenor in with the bass section and the same mix with the other sections and get each part to sing with the quartet. Another of the same part can assist them if necessary.

Use recordings
Get your best lead singer ( ditto bass) to sing the part WITH the chorus director indicating interpretation.

Use the recordings to sing against in the section practice. That way section leaders who do not have directing skills ( they may wish to attend Directors College next January 2/3/4 !!) can concentrate on listening to the result and assist those singers who may be having difficulties. If possible use digital minidisk as the parts that are needed can be more easily accessed than with cassette recordings

The recordings can also be issued to the entire chorus so they have the latest interpretation to practice against at home. Note that it is good to give the leads a recording of the bass section, give the basses, tenors and Bari’s a recording of the lead section. As they become more confident they can then just sing against the lead part.

Concentrate on a few things
Sections should be used to get better unit sound especially forward placement of the voice and better ( taller ) vowel shapes and in line singing to name the most important.

Don’t keep stopping the section because their timing is wrong. If you cannot use a recording of the leads ( or basses) then timing might have to wait until the whole chorus is assembled and the director can indicate what is needed. It is very frustrating to be stopped for a timing issue that is difficult to work on in a section ( for example, lead pick-ups or covering for a part ).

Concentrate on sections of the song
The section leader should work out where the most troublesome bits are and work those more extensively than the parts the sections can sing easily. Remember though to sing the whole song through just before the end of the section work.

Work with smaller groups
Split the section up into two or three bits ( in separate rooms if you are fortunate to have more than one competent section leader) and make sure they sing as a unit. It is difficult to hear and analyse more than 5 voices. You will quickly find those singers who need more help and can arrange separate sessions with them.

Use recorders
Get everyone to record themselves and listen to the results at home. This is often a salutary experience and will usually result in them being more diligent in their efforts. Get everyone in the section to submit tapes recorded in the chorus environment regularly to their section leader ( CD’s allow this to happen without unnecessary stopping the song).

Practise immediately in chorus
Once the sections have done their session, reassemble the chorus and get it to sing what they have just worked on. It can be very frustrating to work for 20 minutes in section and then move on to something else. As harmony singers we need to hear the relationships with the other parts as often as possible so as to try and improve balance and vocal matching.

Record the chorus
Make at least one recording of the chorus each week. The Director and section leaders should listen to what is produced in the week before the next meeting and plan carefully what actions to take in sections and/or with the full chorus.

Happy sections !!

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