Okay- so I've been a bit slack about blogging lately. Not that I have been idol- there is so much to blog about but 24 hours in a day a full time job and more music than I can ever learn to play means there isn't enough time!
In the last month I've been taking rehearsals from the keyboard as our Musical Director for The Major Minors Children's Choir and The Hutt Valley Singers have both been away.
Talk about a learning curve!
I've learnt that preparing a rehearsal is so important and so is thinking about the unplanned things that happen in a rehearsal too. Sometimes the choir grasp concepts better than I imagined they would, and sometimes the opposite can be said.
With The Major Minors Children's Choir (aged 4-12) we're teaching them to sing harmonies and to sing in rounds and they are responding well. Being their regular pianist, it has been lovely to be in front of them helping them learn and singing with them. They have done brilliantly and I was so thrilled when we broke a song into 2 parts and the next week got through a round in 3 parts. The children loved it too.
I have learnt that taking a rehearsal from a keyboard is a lot more interactive than from an upright piano. The upright part of the instrument of the piano was a barrier and while my keyboard doesn't sound as wonderful as a real piano it was the best tool I could have had.
I've also learnt that while I don't get to sing in choirs anymore, and aren't skilled in training of vocal technique, that singing with the choir is such a great tool and reinforces the connection and involvement I have with them.
For the first time ever in my whole music career, I took a 4 part adult community choir rehearsal alone. I had diligently prepared warmups- some different to what the current Musical Director does, and I worked specifically with the choir on pitching intervals. The reaction was interesting- some wanted more, some were confused and some were stimulated, realising I'm not just the pianist in the corner who bashes the notes while they learn!
The choir were amazingly supportive. In the 4 years I've worked with them it's always been me on piano with a Musical Director leading the practice so this was a new concept for them too.
The most valuable lessons I learnt were..
1. The person at the front waving their hands about is invaluable.
My lovely choir tried so hard ..but keeping in time was a big challenge. In the end I was like an octopus (only less graceful) ,flailing around playing notes for a full score, singing what I could and stamping my feet to keep in time! What a sight I must have looked!! Next time I have plans to bring a broom and share it amongst the sections to beat time!
2. I learnt the choir respect me as a musician. and as they grow to learn more about me. they value the contribution I make each week.
3. That community choirs are hungry to learn about technique- yes they love to gather together and sing but to learn the how to do it well is also important them too.
One of my fears was that the choir has had a huge year with so many different people leading them at rehearsals. Simply put, I didn't want to let them down. I cannot thank them enough for the respect and encouraging feedback they gave me and I hope they took something from the rehearsal.
My role is pretty defined as their pianist, but if I can learn to upskill and help them when others are away I will. Because of that I am now enroled in a Primary Gestures Workshop taken by the NZ Choral Federation in September to learn some fundamentals about children's vocal development and leadership skills. Next year I think I might do the same with adults. Who knows where this will lead to- it's very exciting!
I'd love to know how regular Musical Directors manage to put the whole thing together alone and hire a pianist for a concert -they must be amazing musicians!
