Response to
Twenty Thoughts on rehearsal
by Mike Brewer
We all need to be reminded occasionally. This is a true saying.
Brewer provides a checklist of reminders for the beginning conductor and seasoned conductor alike. As I read through this list, I am amazed at how many of these things I do by instinct and instruction, and alarmed at how many I know to do but have let slip, or worse yet, have ignored in my rush to “get things done.”
The author makes several gentle points. Among them:
· vary the pace of the rehearsal through changes of tempo, volume, seating arrangement, standing/sitting
· create engaging and fun beginning-of-rehearsal exercises which directly relate to the music being rehearsed that day, and don’t hesitate to use similar exercises to introduce or shore up musical elements during the course of the rehearsal
· know your singers as people too
· separate elements of the music for ease of learning, and so that singers will retain information more readily
· encourage memorization by frequently learning short passages
· isolate problem spots rather than sing large sections over and over
· enjoy yourself and let it show so that the singers will do the same
· enter every rehearsal with a plan, and then be willing to change or revise the plan on the fly
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the idea of “pacing.” As I read the article, one thought jumps out at me in light of three rehearsals this week. Rehearsal pacing is not just a matter of which pieces to do in what order. Rather, pacing deals more with which elements of any given piece are going to receive emphasis at the rehearsal, weaving a continuous instructional theme throughout the rehearsal. Pacing refers to the manner in which a conductor encourages, demands, suggests, jokes, relaxes, tenses, and calls the singers to their best through his or her own actions, words, gestures, and smiles. Pacing refers to a balance between more familiar sections of works and less well-known, and how each of these are approached, worked, and polished.
I didn’t find a single suggestion on this page with which I couldn’t agree. I’m chagrined to say that I don’t do even half of these things on a consistent basis, though. This single sheet of “thoughts” is the type of page to keep on the top of the desk or in the notebook. Refer to it often. Check on application of these simple suggestions and be willing to revisit habits and practices frequently. Where we all get caught up in the moment and the music, these twenty suggestions are a reminder that there’s more to the rehearsal than simply getting through the music.
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