On 7/19/05, John Howell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > But I've also known legit choral conductors who insist on > memorization because (a) you don't really know the music inside out > until you've memorized it, (b) you can't concentrate on the > conductor's every gesture and expression when half your attention is > on the page, and (c) you can't really focus on musical matters like > fine tuning, balance, blend, and accurate pronunciation when half > your attention is on the page.
I actually find it easier to focus on things like tuning & balance if I have my score, because I can see what the other parts are doing - I'm always reading my own part & at least one other. Or are you suggesting that all the parts be memorized? > > Joe Gingold (former concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra) > emphasized to the string players at Indiana that you always go to the > first rehearsal with the music completely learned--unless you're the > concertmaster. Then you go to the first rehearsal with the music > memorized, so you can give your undivided attention to the conductor. > That's what the choral conductors i mentioned are after, too. > I wish more choirs would do that - or at least the 2nd rehearsal. I used to always take my music home & have it learned by the 2nd rehearsal, but I stopped bothering, because it happened so often that I would end up getting impatient waiting for the others to learn notes. I eventually moved churches to be in a better choir, because it was just too frustrating. > > Of course they do, and that's typical of recreational singing. > Instrumentalists learn to read music in beginning band; singers too > often don't. They aren't professionals, they don't have advanced > training, and reading music is not high on their list of priorities. That surprises me - learning to read music was just as much part of school choir as it was part of orchestra. Keeners learned to sightread well, but everyone at least knew enough to read simple pieces, and plunk out their lines on a piano if they were having trouble. _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
