We are getting some good "grunt" work done on the music, but we have a long way yet to go artistically. I can't wait to hear us sing all this music with great confidence and expression. To that end, here are several things you can do before next Monday.
Psalm 1 - mark accented syllables as you speak each verse naturally out loud. Know how the chant fits with the words as "pointed," or marked.
Amaryllis - at least speak the words of each verse in rhythm. Mark beats in the measures where the rhythm is tricky. Use the half note = 1 beat to help you.
Greensleeves - go over your "la" part in the last section.
Sumer - read the text so that the strange syllables make sense to you when singing the music.
On the others as well as those above:
Take one piece each day (or carve out time to look at them all at once) and be sure you know where the phrases begin and end for your part (marked by breaths or rests). Also make sure where the "high point" is dynamically so you know how to shape each phrase. At least speak each phrase's text in rhythm. Know when to come in after a rest (know how to count the silences as well as the notes).
If everyone - yes everyone - would spent about 30 minutes this week doing all of the above, we will rock at our next rehearsal, which is already October 1. Not everything will make sense alone, so come prepared with your questions about those places in your music. Let's try to get to every piece next week to know where we stand.
You can sing this music - WE can sing this music together. And, I am looking forward to it!
Have a wonderful week!
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