Peter Manzi

7/5/11
Concert Chorus
6/30 Concert Reflection
Rehearsing and performing with Concert Choir has een a new and interesting e!perience
for me" #his is the first time that $ ha%e e%er sung in a chorus efore" $ was surprised how much
we do in chorus can e applied to the instrumental world" #wo things that $ can mo%e o%er to
m& instrumental ensemles are singing chords during warms and creating %owel shapes with
&our mouth"
$ alwa&s struggle with new wa&s to help m& students listen for chord tuning across the
ensemle" $ thin' if $ added more singing into our warm ups( it would egin to help train their
ears more effecti%el&" $ could ha%e the ensemle first sing a phrase of a chorale( and then ha%e
them pla&" )& doing this( students would not onl& ha%e a etter idea of where their line fits in
with the ensemle( ut also understand that *ust as the& ha%e to raise or lower their %oice to sing
in tune( the& ha%e to do the same on their instrument"
$ can also ta'e the %owel singing e!ercises and mo%e them right into the instrumental
ensemle" Man& times we as' our students to form an +oh+ or +ee+ sound" M& students gi%e me
an odd loo' when $ do this" $f $ taught them to sing %owel sounds first( $ thin' this would e an
easier transition" ,or e!ample( on ooe( we need them to change the shape of their oral ca%it& &
raising the tongue in their mouth" $t would e a lot easier to as' them to sing an +oh+ and then
+ee+ sound to help them guide them into raising their oral ca%it&"
-%erall m& first e!perience in choir has een a positi%e one and $ loo' forward to
learning more techni.ues that $ can use in m& dail& and rehearsal"