The start of a new choral season is an exciting time filled with anticipation for beautiful music and memorable performances. Whether you’re a seasoned chorister or new to the ensemble, planning ahead can make all the difference in your experience and contribution. Preparing early not only builds confidence but also enhances the overall quality of your choir. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you make the most of your season.
1. Preparation: Start Before You Start
Many choral organizations announce their upcoming season well in advance, which means you can begin preparing before the first rehearsal. This early preparation gives you a head start and sets the stage for a smoother, more enjoyable experience.
- Listen to Recordings – As soon as you know the repertoire, head to YouTube or streaming platforms and listen to multiple recordings of the pieces. Pay attention to different interpretations, tempos, and orchestrations. Some videos even feature an online score that you can follow along with. This will familiarize you with the overall sound and structure of the work, making sight-reading significantly easier during the first rehearsal.
- Research the Composer and Text – Take time to learn about the composer, the historical context, and the librettist or poet. Understanding the background of a piece can deepen your emotional connection and inform your interpretation. Reading the lyrics or text without the music allows the poetry or prose to resonate on its own before layering in the melody.
- Mark the Score Beforehand – Once you have your music, do a quick scan for time signature changes and mark them clearly. Identify difficult rhythmic patterns, key changes, and any unusual markings. Practicing tricky measures in isolation before rehearsal can save valuable time later.
- Count-sing – Speak the rhythms on a neutral syllable (like “ta”) before adding text.
- Text recitation – Recite the words in rhythm without pitch.
- Intervals and accidentals – Pay extra attention to unexpected sharps or flats. Interval training apps or online tools can be helpful to sharpen your skills.
- Language Preparation – If your repertoire includes a language you’re unfamiliar with, translate the text and write the meanings above the staff. Today, tools like Google Translate make this easy. Understanding the meaning behind the words is essential for authentic expression—audiences can tell when a singer truly understands what they’re singing.
2. Practice: Your Instrument
Your voice matters! Your voice is your instrument, and like any instrument, it requires care and conditioning. If you’ve taken a break during the summer, now is the time to ease back into regular practice.
- Consider a Voice Lesson or Two – Even a couple of lessons with a vocal coach can recalibrate your technique and prevent strain. If lessons aren’t an option, commit to a consistent warm-up routine at home.
- Daily Vocal Exercises – Start with lip trills to engage your breath support without pressure. Add semi-occluded exercises like humming or using “v” and “th” sounds to stretch your range gently. Then move on to scales:
- Legato scales to connect notes smoothly.
- Staccato scales for agility and clarity.
Ten to fifteen minutes daily can significantly improve stamina, making those two- to three-hour rehearsals less exhausting.
3. Etiquette: Professionalism Counts!
A great rehearsal experience isn’t just about singing well—it’s about being prepared, respectful, and attentive. These simple habits will make you a valued member of the ensemble.
- Bring a Pencil—Always – Never walk into a rehearsal without a pencil. You’ll need it for conductor notes, phrasing marks, or dynamic changes. Find your favorite pencil, sharpen it, and keep it in your music folder.
- Be Punctual – “On time” means seated with music open, phone silenced, and pencil in hand at the scheduled start. Aim to arrive a few minutes early to greet friends and settle in. This ensures the rehearsal begins smoothly without unnecessary delays.
- Warm Up Before You Arrive – Choir warm-ups often focus on building ensemble sound rather than individual needs. Arrive with your voice already awake and flexible to prevent strain. This is especially important if your choir jumps straight into difficult repertoire.
- Listen More Than You Speak – Pay close attention to the conductor’s instructions the first time. Avoid side conversations—they disrupt focus and waste time. If something is unclear, jot it down and ask your section leader during a break or address it with the conductor afterward.
- Mark Your Music – If rehearsal notes are sent ahead of time, enter them in your score before rehearsal. Arriving unprepared slows down the entire group and can make you unpopular quickly. Respect your colleagues’ time.
- Mind Your Water Bottle – Hydration is essential, but take precautions. If your bottle is metal, use a rubber sleeve or cover to reduce noise if it tips over. Keep it under your chair to avoid accidental spills or clattering when standing and sitting.
Why These Steps Matter
Choral singing is a collective art form. Every singer’s preparation impacts the whole ensemble. When you arrive organized, warmed up, and ready, you create a positive rehearsal environment where music can flourish. These small habits not only make rehearsals efficient—they make them enjoyable.
Ultimately, the goal is simple: to make beautiful music together. By planning ahead, caring for your voice, and practicing good rehearsal etiquette, you set yourself and your choir up for a season filled with rewarding experiences, artistic growth, and the sheer joy of singing.
How do you prepare for rehearsal? Do you have any favorite tips to share? Tell us in the comments. And here’s to your best choral season yet!
Lola Watson, Soprano, has sung with success on both national and international stages. She made her Carnegie Hall Debut, in New York City, singing Mozart’s Coronation Mass. Her Violetta, in Verdi’s La Traviata in San Francisco, Juliette, in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette with the New Jersey State Repertory Opera, and the title role in Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe, are a few of Ms. Watson’s most successful roles. The role of Rossane in Handel's Alessandro, Ms. Watson’s European Debut, with Maestro Nowaskowski and the Sinfonia Varsovia in Warsaw, Poland, can be heard on a live recording released by the Schwann-Koch label. Ms. Watson has been heard with the Minnesota Orchestra singing the High Priestess In Aida and as the Mother in a fully staged production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel which she also performed with the Denver Symphony. She also sang with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus under Robert Shaw and for twenty years was a contracted singer with the Minnesota Chorale under Dr Kathy Romey Salzman, She is currently a staff singer with the San Diego Master Chorale and the San Diego Symphony Chorus, and a member of the La Jolla Symphony Chorus. In addition to a successful music career, Lola also celebrates a 45 year career as a nationally published, award winning interior designer, and former President of the American Association of Interior Design, Minnesota Chapter representing over 500 members. She happily lends her talents to causes that are dear to her heart; Children’s Cancer Research Fund / Dare to Dream Benefit, DIFFA /DIVA Ball and The Alzheimer’s Gala, to name just a few.