How to Prepare a Choir for Competition
Not every festival is suitable for every choir. One of the most common mistakes conductors make is entering a category because it appears prestigious rather than because it is appropriate.
Rehearsal Room
Choir Rehearsal Techniques That Actually Work
Conductors are often highly knowledgeable musicians and teachers. They naturally want to explain, describe and analyse. However, singers generally learn most effectively by singing rather than listening to lengthy lectures.
How to Recruit Tenors and Basses
Few topics generate more discussion among choir committees and Musical Directors than the challenge of recruiting tenors and basses. Across Ireland and beyond, many mixed-voice choirs face the same reality: a healthy number of ......
Why Conductors Should Never Stop Learning
The strongest conductors are usually those who remain students of the craft regardless of age or experience.
What Good Musical Directors Do During the Summer
The summer months are also an ideal time to think about people. Choirs are made of individuals, and every conductor knows that personalities influence musical outcomes.
Where Should They Stand?
The argument for pairing contrasting voices is that singers learn to listen and adapt more actively. Rather than blending naturally because they are surrounded by similar sounds, they are required to make conscious adjustments.
The Conductors Who Cannot Bear Silence
The strongest rehearsals often contain surprisingly little talking. Not because the conductor lacks insight, but because the conductor understands that timing matters.