As we prepare for an in-person Christmas Revels, with a shorten than usual lead up from start of rehearsals to performances, you will need to intensify your at-home practice and music learning. You should be practicing with the recordings that are available on the Music Scores and Audio page. Use the following tips to advance your practice, music learning and memorization.
Tips on Learning and Memorization
- Always have your MP3s/Practice CD with you – play it in the car, on your Walkman, on your stereo, on your computer, on your MP3 player — make copies for home, work, the gym, dog walking, etc.
- Take the music, words and rhythms apart – break up the music into digestible pieces, work the rhythm, put notes with rhythm, repeat words without music, put them together… mix it up!
- Find a technique that works for you, and use it – check out the Web resources below which include lots of helpful hints and techniques, then use them!
- Find a friend – buddy up before rehearsal, on week nights or weekends and work parts with someone in your own section, or with someone in another section (ever better).
- Make the most of rehearsal time – just because I am working with the tenors, doesn’t mean that the sopranos, altos and basses are off the hook — take this time to focusing on your part; repeat the words to yourself, think the pitches and rhythms in your head… it really is better than spacing out!
- Use it or lose it – once you get something learned or memorized, you will need to run it at least once a day in order to keep it fresh and in your head. So, use it or lose it!
Useful Web Links
- Learning Lyrics for Singers (musicroom.com)
- How to Memorize Vocal Music, by Bruce Schoonmaker
- How to Learn Vocal Music, by Bruce Schoonmaker
- How to Practice Voice, by Bruce Schoonmaker