Concert time!

The concert is upon us. Please make sure to listen to each piece before we meet on Tuesday. Remember: concert call is 6pm for the 7pm concert.

Concert dress is all-black. You must have a black binder.

Our 6pm call will only be a warmup, during which we'll start and stop every piece. That said, it's really important for you to keep this music in your head before the concert so that the concert itself isn't the only time you're thinking of this music during the coming week. So, make sure to listen to each piece before we meet on Tuesday!

Last night's rehearsal was a little weak at times--but that's usually a sign that we're going to have a great concert. I am confident that everyone will be really focused and ready to sing really well!

Have a good week, stay healthy, and look forward to having some fun next Tuesday night!

Agenda for OUR LAST REHEARSAL

Last night was a total blast. I hope you had as much fun as I did. There was a bit of fatigue factor going on at the end of rehearsal, so we'll begin our review work next week from the second half of the program and then work our way forward.

Please listen to all of the music at least once this week!

7-7:10 warmup
10-15: It's my desire: how can we sustain the phrases?
15-25 We are one

• This is still sloppy and feels too unfamiliar
• Watch for cutoffs

25-35 This little light: went quite well!

35-45 Give me Jesus: went well, need to coordinate soloists

45-8pm Leaning: quite sloppy, this needs the most work in all parts!

8-8:05 BREAK

5-10 Didn't it rain: review

10-15 Sometimes I Feel: the only issue is the beginning

15-25 Happy Day: need to work the soprano-to-alto parts

25-35 All my trials: review all refrains

35-45 Order my steps: transitions need to be smoother

45-50 Walk in the light: review

Agenda for 4/15

What a fantastic rehearsal last night! I arrived at FSU in a pretty glum mood, and you all lifted me up out of the depths. Thank you.

It's pretty obvious that some of you have already been listening to the recordings. It's also pretty obvious that some of you still need to do some listening. Please do so before 4/15, since we'll be running the entire program non-stop for this rehearsal.

All recordings are linked to the right====>>>>>

We missed three pieces yesterday, so we'll start by working them:

• Walk in the light
• Didn't it rain
• All my trials

After that, we'll run the entire program non-stop. Be ready to sing!

Till Tuesday...

Agenda for 4/8

As requested, here's the video of the Indian choir. They've received the music I sent and send along their greetings! Ring those Christmas bells!



With only three rehearsals left, I ask you all again to not miss any more rehearsals. It's almost game time! This is our last week to work on minor details; the following week, we run the program; then we have one more week to tweak the music.

Please use this week to listen to the music, all linked to the right===>>>>

Here's the plan:

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 We are one, working in reverse order

• 10-end
• 8-10
• 6-8
• beginning to 6

20-25 It's my desire

• sing through, working dynamics & form

25-35 Give me Jesus

• sing through with soloists

35-45 O Happy Day

• pitches are a problem, work them in reverse order
• 10-end
• 7-10
• beginning to 7, w/o soloist

45-55 Order my steps

• needs dynamics!

55-8pm Didn't it rain: review

8-8:05 BREAK

5-15 Sometimes I feel

• working in reverse
• 11-end
• 7-11
• beginning to 7

15-25 Leaning

• dynamics & enthusiasm are lackluster!
• review this w/ dynamics

25-35 All my trials

• sing through w/ soloist

35-45 This Little Light

• review

45-end Walk in the Light

• dynamics!

Agenda for 4/1

Thank you for your patience with last night's rehearsal in the lousy venue. Fortunately, we're back to home base next week. (Or so we think!)

I also thank you for your patience with my rehearsal style. We had a lot to cover last night, especially after spring break, and it was necessary for me to check in with the status of a number of pieces--instead of teaching every note.

As it is, we have only four more rehearsals till the concert. That said, please do not miss any upcoming rehearsals.

Regarding questions about notes, I would much prefer that you raise your hand to ask a question about a note while we're on that particular section than, instead, to ask a question after I've already moved on to another piece or another section. If you raise your hand while we're singing/working, I'll see it and address it ASAP instead of not being able to once we've already move on. If you have note questions, it's easiest to address them in the context of all of the voices--and that's hard to do if I've already moved on.

By the way, how do I know it's time to move on? Because I publish this weekly agenda, and I try to follow the timings. That all said, please try to come to rehearsal with questions, especially about the works that we'll be working. Of course, this requires that you look at your music and the agenda before Tuesday rehearsals. That's not a bad idea, considering we have only four rehearsals to go!

I'm still getting questions about the concert date. There is a calendar linked in the right column of this blog. The syllabus is also linked there. Both indicate the concert date: April 29 at 7pm (6pm call). The concert dress is also in the syllabus: all-black. Please bring any questions to rehearsal. It's best if you ask them during break!

Here's the plan. We're going to touch on each piece:

7-7:10 warmup
10-20 Order my steps

• p. 6-7 bass part
• sing through

20-30 Walk in the light

• sing through, check descant on p7

30-35 Oh Happy Day

• sing through, hoping that the altos will be happy

35-55 This little light

• review all parts & run

55-8pm We Are One

• sing through, check top of p7

8-8:05 BREAK

5-10 It's my desire

• sing through, noting form

10-20 Give me Jesus

• work through with soloists

20-30 Leaning

• check alto/sop parts p.7-10
• review vamp p.14

REVIEW:

30-40 All my trials

40-50 Didn't it rain

50-9pm Sometimes I feel

Agenda for 3/25

Next Tuesday is Spring Break, so we will meet on next on March 25. Here's the plan:

7-7:10 warmup
10-25 We are one

• work p.7-end, then top-p.6

25-35 Its my desire

• pp.4-6 & CODA

35-50 Didn't It Rain

• review

50-8pm Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

• review

8-8:05 Break

5-10 fix any issues with Leaning

10-25 Sometimes I Feel w/ soloist

25-40 All my trials w/ soloist

40-55 Oh Happy Day w/ soloist

55-9pm conclude by reading thru Order My Steps

(skipped tonight: Walk in the light; Give me Jesus; This little light)

Audition results

Thank you to everyone who auditioned. It's so good to hear each of you individually and to know that you really care about this. I am honored by your effort!

Obviously, this wasn't an each choice (it never is), and I hope the results don't discourage anyone from trying again next time. My original intention was to divide up some of the solos, but a couple of them fit certain voices so well that I chose to assign entire pieces to those voices.

The results:

O Happy Day: Cynthia Nelson

Sometimes I Feel: Chelsea Hastbacka

Give Me Jesus: Kimberly Marcum (v. 2); Raymond Hanna (v. 3); Raymond Hanna (p.7 solo)

All My Trials: Juliana Coughlin (incl. mm.9-16)

Congratulations!