The Longest Rehearsals

Today I was thinking about how to help my students.  I know, I know, we ALL think about our singers.  We think about how to inspire them, how to teach them concepts, how to get them to a place of personal satisfaction and smart musicianship... I leave all my rehearsals and reflect on what went well.  But, when I ask my students to lead sectionals, I am asking them to take time to think through how to present music to their peers (even if it's "just" one line, they still thinking about so many concepts).

So, that begs the question: what can I do to help them?

The first, and perhaps most obvious answer, is to set a good example.  I strive to be the best teacher I can be at every rehearsal, every class.  If I am not, I leave and reflect on why I wasn't on my "A game."  I recognize we all have off days, so I don't beat myself up, but I do expect more from myself next time.

The second thing that came to mind was: Be available for questions.

Yet, that doesn't seem to be enough, because how do they know what questions to ask?  So instead, I asked them to give me feedback on how they felt sectionals were going.  I asked them pointed questions: Do sectionals feel slow?  Do they feel their peers are focused?  What are they doing that is having success?

Based on their responses, I gave them some ideas to "break up" the monotony of sectionals.  Let's face it- no one loves pounding out notes.  So I gave them ideas of how I might address a few issues (some articulation concepts, some rhythm concepts, etc).

I know sectionals are not always the most awesome.  But as mentioned a few posts ago, Mozart can be difficult, especially if you have not sung Mozart.  What's also not good is JUST pounding out notes and rhythms.  What about text stress?  Articulation?  Dynamics?  Direction of line?  So much of that is my job, so there's a delicate balance of teaching notes/rhythms without allowing things to be incorrectly entrenched in the brain (it's hard to unlearn a bad habit!).

It's hard not to want to micromanage everything sometimes.  With that being said, I am glad my section leaders have the chance to lead sectionals.  Leading sectionals and being in front of a group was so helpful to me as a young(er) conductor.