Interpreting Conducting in a Chorus?

Category: Jam Session

Post 1 by mat the musician (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 21:30:32

Hi,
I'm going to enroll in the Honors Classical Choir at my High School. I know a rather large part of Choral music involves watching the Conductor and following his leads on everything, tempo changes, comming, cutting off, etc. I was wonder whether anyone knows of any strategies of dealing with such gestural cues. I was thinking a sighted friend could tap me right before coming in or cutting off.
Any suggessions would be greatly apreciated.
Thanks,
Matthew

Post 2 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Sunday, 10-Mar-2013 21:35:08

Actually conducting is only a small part. You should be able to sense entrences by hearing everyone breething around you. Just memorize your music so well that you have it down and make sure you are always listening. Having someone tap you on the shoulder is a great ideas as well for sudden tempo changes, but you might not always be able to count on the other person as they will be involved in their part too. I wish you the best of luck.

Post 3 by mat the musician (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Monday, 11-Mar-2013 17:32:25

Thanks so much, Your advice was very helpful, I'l take that into account.
Thanks so much.
Matthew

Post 4 by sjtaylor (I can't call it a day til I enter the zone BBS) on Tuesday, 19-Mar-2013 22:54:15

Mat, If you are a musician as your name implies, following a conductor without sight won't be at all challenging for you if you simply listen to those around you.
I would advise against the tap on the shoulder method. The person would firstly have to process what the conductor is doing and then, he or she would have to pass that onto you, by which time you'll be at least a second behind everybody else.
The key is to listen to the breath, or any other anticipatory noises of your fellow choristers.
Best of luck, and have fun, for singing in a choir is truly rewarding.

Post 5 by mat the musician (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Wednesday, 24-Apr-2013 21:25:46

Sjtaylor,
Thanks for the tips, I thought the tap-on-the-shoulder would not be very reliable, but put it out there nonetheless, to see whether it helped anyone ele.
Thanks for the tips regarding listening for anticipatory noises, that will be quite helpful.

Post 6 by Dolce Eleganza (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 25-Apr-2013 11:50:19

Another thing that can help would be knowing the piece so well, every beat, tempo and dinamics as well as where everyone is too, alto, soprano, baretone tenor metzos etc...

Post 7 by mat the musician (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Sunday, 28-Apr-2013 18:07:57

Thanks, but That will be super difficult, since the choir director has no idea what we're going to sing next year, and everyone will be reading from lead sheets while I'l be standing there kind-of-knowing what to do.