Singing in a choir is a big responsibility with important objectives. Singing in a choir is a tough responsibility with many objectives to maintain and observe. Choir singers have unusual restraints placed on their personal lives since the decisions made outside the choir directly affect the overall choir sound. Learning about these objectives ahead of time helps the director to organize rehearsals, and students to know what is expected.
The choir’s main objective is to perform concerts for audiences. Concerts should seek to entertain and inform the audience. Program notes included with each concert should explain to the audience what each piece in the concert is, the composer that wrote the piece, the date of composition and some background information about the choir. For a more complete and entertaining program, the choir should include additional historical information about the music performed. All choirs must fulfill this objective. Without concerts, the performers never get the chance to sing publicly and develop performance skills.
Members of a choir, especially college and high school choirs need to learn the most famous pieces in the literature. Choirs in college should perform classics such as Handel's "Messiah," Mozart's "Requiem" and, at least, one piece by Bach; these are considered standard works. Each of these works stretches the choir's ability to perform as a cohesive ensemble. School choirs also typically rehearse student works at least once per year. Learning the repertoire is an objective of all serious choirs.
Choirs must not overlook the objective of developing musicianship. The goal of the choir and the director is to provide guidance on how to interpret, maintain consistency with syllables and improve the singer's vocal sound. Musicianship training involves learning to read complex rhythms, singing music at sight and blending with the rest of the choir. All of these objectives can be developed and maintained with proper direction from the conductor.
Choir requires each member to have a high level of professionalism. Missing rehearsals, arriving late, missing music and being generally unprepared for rehearsals is not acceptable in a choir. The director of the choir needs to explain what is expected of the students and how to deal with emergencies. Many choirs even make the overall health of the student a requirement; abusing the voice, drinking alcohol, smoking and not getting enough sleep affects the overall sound of a choir.
Concerts
The choir’s main objective is to perform concerts for audiences. Concerts should seek to entertain and inform the audience. Program notes included with each concert should explain to the audience what each piece in the concert is, the composer that wrote the piece, the date of composition and some background information about the choir. For a more complete and entertaining program, the choir should include additional historical information about the music performed. All choirs must fulfill this objective. Without concerts, the performers never get the chance to sing publicly and develop performance skills.
Repertoire
Members of a choir, especially college and high school choirs need to learn the most famous pieces in the literature. Choirs in college should perform classics such as Handel's "Messiah," Mozart's "Requiem" and, at least, one piece by Bach; these are considered standard works. Each of these works stretches the choir's ability to perform as a cohesive ensemble. School choirs also typically rehearse student works at least once per year. Learning the repertoire is an objective of all serious choirs.
Musicianship
Choirs must not overlook the objective of developing musicianship. The goal of the choir and the director is to provide guidance on how to interpret, maintain consistency with syllables and improve the singer's vocal sound. Musicianship training involves learning to read complex rhythms, singing music at sight and blending with the rest of the choir. All of these objectives can be developed and maintained with proper direction from the conductor.
Professionalism
Choir requires each member to have a high level of professionalism. Missing rehearsals, arriving late, missing music and being generally unprepared for rehearsals is not acceptable in a choir. The director of the choir needs to explain what is expected of the students and how to deal with emergencies. Many choirs even make the overall health of the student a requirement; abusing the voice, drinking alcohol, smoking and not getting enough sleep affects the overall sound of a choir.
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