Teaching Techniques & Tools To Help Your Choir Sound Great

As a choir director or instructor, you understand the importance of creating a unified and harmonious sound among your singers. To truly make your choir sound great, it requires a combination of effective teaching techniques and the right tools to enhance their performance. In this article, we will explore some proven techniques and tools that can help your choir reach new heights.

1. Vocal Warm-ups

Before diving into complex musical pieces, it is crucial to warm up your choir's voices. Vocal warm-ups help loosen up the vocal cords, improve breath control, and enhance vocal dexterity. These warm-ups can include exercises like lip trills, tongue twisters, and vocal sirens. By incorporating vocal warm-ups into your choir's practice routine, you can help your singers produce clearer tones and increase their overall vocal range.

2. Proper Posture and Breathing Techniques

Teaching your choir proper posture and breathing techniques is paramount in achieving a unified sound. Emphasize the importance of standing tall with relaxed shoulders and an open chest. Encourage your singers to take deep breaths from the diaphragm, ensuring proper airflow and support while singing. By focusing on these fundamental aspects, your choir members will have better control over their voices, resulting in a richer and more resonant sound.

KEY CHORAL CONCEPTS: Teaching Techniques & Tools to Help Your Choir Sound Great (Techniques For Teaching & Conducting High School & Adult Choirs Book 1)

by Duane S. Crowther(Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	99069 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	243 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

3. Pitch and Intonation Accuracy

To achieve a harmonious sound, it is essential for your choir to sing in tune with accurate pitch and intonation. Use exercises such as vocalizing in unison, singing intervals, and practicing scales to improve pitch accuracy. Additionally, encourage your choir members to listen intently to one another and adjust their voices accordingly. Using pitch pipes or electronic tuners can also aid in training your choir to sing with precision.

4. Dynamics and Articulation

Teaching your choir about dynamics and articulation is crucial to adding depth and emotion to their performances. Help your singers understand the importance of varying volume levels (such as piano, mezzo-piano, mezzo-forte, and forte) to create tonal contrasts. Emphasize the use of legato (smooth and connected) and staccato (short and detached) to enhance the phrasing and musical expression.

5. Sectional Rehearsals

Dividing your choir into smaller groups for sectional rehearsals can be highly beneficial. This allows you to focus on specific vocal parts and provide more individualized attention to each section. During sectional rehearsals, choir members can practice their harmonies and work on any challenging sections. It also promotes teamwork and camaraderie within the choir.

6. Technology Tools for Practice

Advancements in technology have made it easier than ever to enhance choir rehearsals. Utilizing technology tools like choir rehearsal apps, vocal training platforms, and sight-reading programs can significantly improve your choir's overall performance. These tools provide additional practice resources, better visualization of music scores, and instant feedback on vocal technique.

7. Performance Recordings

Recording your choir's performances can be an invaluable tool for improvement. Listening to recordings allows you to identify areas that require more attention, analyze vocal blend, and refine the overall sound. Encourage your choir members to listen to their individual recordings as well, as it helps them become more aware of their vocal strengths and weaknesses.

8. Collaborative Workshops and Masterclasses

Arrange collaborative workshops and masterclasses with experienced vocal coaches or renowned choir directors. These sessions offer your choir members opportunities to learn from industry professionals, gain new techniques, and receive valuable feedback. It can also be an excellent way to expose your choir to different musical styles and broaden their repertoire.

By employing effective teaching techniques and utilizing the right tools, you can help your choir sound great and achieve remarkable musical growth. Whether it's through vocal warm-ups, proper posture and breathing techniques, refining pitch and intonation, emphasizing dynamics and articulation, conducting sectional rehearsals, incorporating technology tools, analyzing performance recordings, or participating in collaborative workshops, each aspect contributes to the collective harmony of your choir's sound. With dedication, practice, and the use of these techniques and tools, your choir will continue to captivate audiences and elevate their musical performances to new heights.

KEY CHORAL CONCEPTS: Teaching Techniques & Tools to Help Your Choir Sound Great (Techniques For Teaching & Conducting High School & Adult Choirs Book 1)

by Duane S. Crowther(Kindle Edition)

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	99069 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	243 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

KEY CHORAL CONCEPTS

Key Choral Concepts is a goldmine of valuable information for choir directors and members of choral organizations. It draws from the resources of the author’s Teaching Choral Concepts curriculum which has been used with great success by many high schools and university groups across the nation. The book includes basic principles for more than thirty essential aspects of choral singing, presenting them in a concise format that can be easily understood. Every page includes key concepts choir members should utilize to improve their personal singing abilities and musicianship.

UNIT 1 focuses on correct sitting and standing posture for singing; the breathing mechanism; controlled breathing; voice-part classifications; vocal ranges; the reed-flute tone continuum; change-of-color points; and audition preparation and techniques.

UNIT 2 covers the objectives of vocal training; the singing mechanism; open throat; personal warmup; care of the voice; vocal resonance; good singing tone; attacks and releases; and effective practice.

UNIT 3 deals with dynamic levels; extending vocal ranges; head resonance and head tone; humming; basic musical styles; correct phrasing; vocal flexibility; intonation, and use of the phonetic alphabet.

UNIT 4 discusses the concepts of balance and blend; lip and tongue positions for singing vowels; dipthongs; articulation; singing consonants; enunciation; and pronunciation.

When the Teaching Choral Concepts curriculum was first prepared, valuable quotations from distinguished music educators were assembled on each of the above topics. Those indispensable quotations are reproduced in this book. Also, the extensive materials prepared for teachers to use in reviewing each of the four units has been reprinted here, as a help for those who are using this book as a personal study guide.

Many of the materials presented are accompanied by valuable diagrams. Every concept is an essential building block for constructing a fine choir, and this book presents them in a precise and orderly manner. It’s obvious that Key Choral Concepts truly contains a wealth of valuable knowledge every choral musician should acquire!

The author, Duane S. Crowther, graduated with high honors from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts composite major in choral and instrumental music education. He completed the course work for a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Utah. His doctoral dissertation formed the basis for the popular Teaching Choral Concepts curriculum which is widely used in secondary schools and in church and community choirs across the nation. He also earned a master or Arts degree in Old and New Testament from BYU and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Mr. Crowther has taught music in the public schools, taught choral conducting on the college level, led high school and junior high symphonic bands and orchestras, coached student stage and dance bands, and directed a variety of choral groups ranging from congregational choirs and barbershop choruses to large massed choirs and community choruses. As a music store owner and proprietor, he introduced hundreds of youth to their band and orchestra instruments, teaching each one personally to give all of them a solid start in music and performance fundamentals. He knows what basic knowledge is needed.

Throughout his adult life he has successfully combine his love of music, his love of teaching, his business interest and acumen, and his unique ability to write with clarity and precision to benefit many thousands of people.