Today is the day that I start running rehearsals this way! I especially like the "start by singing a song" idea. I find that often a song is the best warm-up anyway, and then to do a couple (under 5 mins) specific warm-ups only if necessary.
This is the single most important video on TH-cam today. I don't think I've ever agreed with someone so much. I was in a couple groups who only met once or twice a week. Lateness, unnecessary discussions, irrelevant talk, etc. plagued us. Adhering to the step in this video would have helped us so much. Except warm-ups. Some of us lead very quiet lives outside of a cappella. I hardly talk all day in school until I get to rehearsal. The muscle simply hasn't been warmed up yet. I'm not exaggerating when I say I need my warm-up. Thanks for posting this.
Yes!!! Thank you! I have a fifth step that I love to use. Set a timer for 30 minutes during which there is ABSOLUTELY NO SPEAKING ALLOWED. Do this once per rehearsal. Make it a special event, if necessary. After a couple of times of trying (and failing) everyone will notice how much you get done when you simply don't talk. At All. ;-)
wonderbadger Well, that does wonders for group concentration, so yes, at times. Also, then it becomes a game to follow direction exactly. I wouldn't do it every time though, because group and director aren't equal. There's only one leader.
Mr. Sharon, you wrote a book of warm-ups. Some of those warm-ups would actually take time to teach. So can you help me understand your current thinking about this topic? Thanks!
Any warmup that involves improvisation or focus can be a very good thing, it's the auto-pilot, brainless ones that reinforce the idea that music can/should be without focus and emotion
Whichever member of your group knows the melody steps forward. If it's the bass, someone else needs to cover bass, and if it's the VP then someone else needs to cover that. The melody is most important
So I'm probably an outlier. My personal experience taught me that I do no need much warm-ups in the early morning 'cause I'm relaxed: very short humming just to wake up the chords is more than enough. In the evening, instead, I've accumulated a lot of stress and I really need the warm-up time in order to relax down my body and forget the problems of the day: if I start singing straight away it sounds strained and terrible.
Deke, I love this!! I am the assistant director of Stockholm City Voices (you know Mo, our director) and I direct the Vocal Vikings (60+ year old singers). Gotta ask you about step 2. We try not to make it warm-ups, rather skill-building time, that also "warms up the ensemble", that is, focus and ears, as well as relaxing the instruments. Getting out of bad habits... You still consider that as "warm ups"? Would love your comments on this. Thx.
Skill building is great - I recommend weaving it unexpectedly into rehearsal when it's specifically needed (work a rhythmic exercise when you're having trouble with a rhythmic passage, etc). That way no auto-pilot, no checking out, everyone is engaged and focused so there's greater impact and a specific musical reason and grounding for each skill building moment
Deke Sharon Thanks a lot! I will try that.. But what about the other stuff - warming up the ensemble: focus, EARS, energy, getting your instrument ready, breathing? Especially with my guys, they seem to sing at a much lower level if they dont tune their hearing with their breathing first...
VivekaSCV You have an atypical choir in that they are amateurs and elderly, so there might be some needs they have that are different than most singing groups (filled with younger, loud, active folks). Always good to try new things but then go with your own proven best practices
Today is the day that I start running rehearsals this way!
I especially like the "start by singing a song" idea. I find that often a song is the best warm-up anyway, and then to do a couple (under 5 mins) specific warm-ups only if necessary.
This is the single most important video on TH-cam today.
I don't think I've ever agreed with someone so much. I was in a couple groups who only met once or twice a week. Lateness, unnecessary discussions, irrelevant talk, etc. plagued us. Adhering to the step in this video would have helped us so much.
Except warm-ups. Some of us lead very quiet lives outside of a cappella. I hardly talk all day in school until I get to rehearsal. The muscle simply hasn't been warmed up yet. I'm not exaggerating when I say I need my warm-up.
Thanks for posting this.
Yes!!! Thank you! I have a fifth step that I love to use. Set a timer for 30 minutes during which there is ABSOLUTELY NO SPEAKING ALLOWED. Do this once per rehearsal. Make it a special event, if necessary. After a couple of times of trying (and failing) everyone will notice how much you get done when you simply don't talk. At All. ;-)
Does the "no speaking" apply to the director, too?
wonderbadger Well, that does wonders for group concentration, so yes, at times. Also, then it becomes a game to follow direction exactly. I wouldn't do it every time though, because group and director aren't equal. There's only one leader.
Thanx Deke, very inspiring! Gonna try it right away.
Mr. Sharon, you wrote a book of warm-ups. Some of those warm-ups would actually take time to teach. So can you help me understand your current thinking about this topic? Thanks!
Any warmup that involves improvisation or focus can be a very good thing, it's the auto-pilot, brainless ones that reinforce the idea that music can/should be without focus and emotion
@@DekeSharon Thanks for the quick response. Good clarification.
Deke can you tell me who will be the first to sing the melody or bass or percussion or the background??plssssssss
Whichever member of your group knows the melody steps forward. If it's the bass, someone else needs to cover bass, and if it's the VP then someone else needs to cover that. The melody is most important
GOD BLESS THIS VIDEO OMG
i hear you and love you!!
So I'm probably an outlier. My personal experience taught me that I do no need much warm-ups in the early morning 'cause I'm relaxed: very short humming just to wake up the chords is more than enough. In the evening, instead, I've accumulated a lot of stress and I really need the warm-up time in order to relax down my body and forget the problems of the day: if I start singing straight away it sounds strained and terrible.
Deke, I love this!! I am the assistant director of Stockholm City Voices (you know Mo, our director) and I direct the Vocal Vikings (60+ year old singers). Gotta ask you about step 2. We try not to make it warm-ups, rather skill-building time, that also "warms up the ensemble", that is, focus and ears, as well as relaxing the instruments. Getting out of bad habits... You still consider that as "warm ups"? Would love your comments on this. Thx.
Skill building is great - I recommend weaving it unexpectedly into rehearsal when it's specifically needed (work a rhythmic exercise when you're having trouble with a rhythmic passage, etc). That way no auto-pilot, no checking out, everyone is engaged and focused so there's greater impact and a specific musical reason and grounding for each skill building moment
Deke Sharon Thanks a lot! I will try that..
But what about the other stuff - warming up the ensemble: focus, EARS, energy, getting your instrument ready, breathing? Especially with my guys, they seem to sing at a much lower level if they dont tune their hearing with their breathing first...
VivekaSCV You have an atypical choir in that they are amateurs and elderly, so there might be some needs they have that are different than most singing groups (filled with younger, loud, active folks). Always good to try new things but then go with your own proven best practices
Very timely. Weekly, we were losing one hour out of two because of too much talking and not enough singing. That's two full rehearsals per month lost.
I love you. :)