Dear Singers and Parents,
Thank you all for your attendance at this week's parent meetings. You should all have received an email from the office following the meeting regarding forms and upcoming events. Please be sure to check your inboxes! A few extra-important things:
Commitment Form
It is extremely important that we know well in advance when singers will be absent for both regular rehearsals and major Cantabile events. The deadline to submit the commitment form is September 13th. Please click here fill out the form online if you haven't already submitted it.
Fall Retreat
Our annual fall retreat is coming up fast! Be sure to submit all retreat forms received in person at the meeting or by email as soon as possible. Please note that attendance at the fall retreat is mandatory. If you have a scheduling conflict that cannot be resolved, contact Elena Sharkova immediately at elena@cantabile.org
Additional reminders:
- Parents, let Laura know if you did not receive the snack list. If you are a singer reading this, please remind your parents to do so!
- Singers, bring in your outgrown, gently-worn, clean concert uniforms (black pants and shirt for boys, black palazzo pants and blouse for girls) and give them to Laura to pass on to other singers.
And now, for the section of the blog you've all been waiting for...
What to Practice
ENSEMBLE
Jingle Bell Swing: This is coming along nicely! Review the solfege we wrote from the bottom of page two to the middle of page three and use it to help you practice. Then go ahead and write in the solfege for the rest of the piece. (There may be one or two accidentals that you' aren't sure how to label, but don't worry about those - just work around them and do what you know how to do.) Remember that "do" is Bb! :)
Donkey Carol: One of my favourite carols! Don't worry about the notes this week, just practice speaking the rhythm. Circle the measures where the time signature changes from 5/8 to something else! Then check out the video below - a cool SATB orchestrated version of the whole piece:
Adult Choir Donkey Carol with orchestra on youtube
The Angels will guide you home: I have recorded your parts for you - coming soon to your inboxes!
VOCALISE
Call of Wisdom: Below is the performance that Elena was talking about during rehearsal. Listen and follow along with your score:
Call of Wisdom on youtube
Vivos Vico: Practice speaking the rhythm on page 6 by tapping the beat in 8th notes. Keeping the beat in 8ths will help you transition from 4/4 (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +) to 7/8 (123-45-67) and back to 4/4 at the bottom of the page. You're getting pretty familiar with the notes - your next job is to sound confident singing them! When you go over your part at home, sing slowly at first to make sure you are secure, then speed up your part as much as possible so you become comfortable with it. Those who have been asked to sing the descant at the end, have a good look at that part before the next rehearsal because we'll want to put it in!
Salve Regina: Speak the text of the entire piece very fast. During rehearsal, it can feel like the piece gets "stuck in the mud" - that you are dragging because you're still getting used to the words. The notes are doing well so just focus on the words this week!
Aria by Bach: There are two youtube clips to check out. The first is a recording with strings and harpsichord (one of the keyboard instruments that was used during the Baroque period). Listen to which instrument is performing your part and think about what qualities you will want to give your voice in order to imitate the sound of the instrument (i.e. how can the soprano 1s sound more like a first violin?).
Aria Instrumental Version on youtube
And the second clip is of the Swingle Singers performing the piece:
Aria by Swingle Singers on youtube
And finally, this week's secret word is allegro. ;)
Happy practicing and see you next week!
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