TMEA/TMEC Handout:
Fundamentals of the Choral Rehearsal
Denise R. Eaton, Spring High School
Work: 281.355.2175   E-mail: chodirect@aol.com
TMEC:  February 8, 2001

 

All choral rehearsals should be: interesting, fundamentally enriching, varied, challenging, well-paced and address the varied learning styles of our students.  Hands-on, kinesthetic, learning should ALWAYS occur: students should be physically involved through pulsing, conducting and/or using solfegge hand signs.  Physical involvement promotes brain involvement.

I.    Fundamentals

a.  Warm-up: tone / vowel production
b.  Sight-reading: intervals
c.  Rhythm

II.    Resources

Spacial recognition of intervallic distances:
Whitlock Vocal Connections, Southern Music Publishing
   (Must purchase male and female vocal tapes with the outstanding voices of
   Amy Allibon & Danny Detrick)

Rhythms: Ed Soueta Rhythm; Vocabulary Charts
  
Macie Publishing (ask your band director!!)

Warm-ups:  The Complete Warm-Up Book
   
Robinson/Althouse, Alfred 11653

Tried and Proven Choral  Warm-Ups
  
Southern Music Publishing

Group Vocal Technique, Haasemann/Jordan - Hinshaw Publishing
   Recommend getting the accompanying warm-up cards for VARIATIONS

FRIENDS and COLLEAGUES - go observe and get new ideas!  Have your students make up some different, FUN warm-ups

Sight-reading:

1.  Oxford Books I - VII
2.  Jenson Sight-singing Series - I highly recommend this for ALL
     levels.  It systematically approaches sight-reading without
     distractions.  You MUST purchase teacher's guide and
     cassette tape that EXPLAINS the reasoning behind the series.

     Hal Leonard:  Student Edition - 478-19012
                           Teacher's Edition - 478-19029
                           (cassette tape comes with teachers' guide) 

3.  DeWitt Sight-reading series Musical Literacy for Singers  
     (Patti has a booth at the convention!!!)    
     Tenor-Bass - 2 part
     Three Part (SSA)
     SATB

4.  Vandre - 3 part and 4 part ( great for beginning treble and
      mixed choirs)  

5.  Songs without Words - AMC Publications, SSA, TBB and 2       
     SATB books
    
These are more challenging and accessible for advanced
      mixed, women and mens' choirs       
 
6.  Keys to Sightreading success Book 1 - 2 pt.,  AMC
     Publishing

7.  Keys to Sightreading Success Book II SATB, AMC
     Publishing
     Excellent for chord progressions and 2nd mixed choirs

8.  Renaissance Sight-singing Series
     SATB Volume I - Step-wise motion
     SATB Volume II - Incorporates 3rds
   
Call Masterworks Press: 1.800.300.9229
     Fax:1.360.943.6808
     Also available in SSA Volumes I & II


Music used in Denise Eaton's session:

My Spirit Sang All Day
By Gerald Finzi
SATB
Oxford University Press
M-060-03039-0 

Cool of the Day
Arr. By John Ratledge
SATB a cappella
Alliance Music Publications, Inc.
AMP 0176

Sonatemi Un Balleto
Jim Leininger
SSA/TBB
AMC Publications