Archive for October, 2009

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Singers! Help Your Listener Be Vulnerable To The Message

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Singers! Help Your Listener Be Vulnerable To The Message

If An Audience Is Going To Receive Youre Message

If an audiend is going to receive your message they need to be comfortable with you.  That means they need to be vulnerable, mentally available and ready to hear what you have to share.

The Areas You CAN Control

Anything you can do to help them believe you is worth doing.  This can be done in the way you promote yourself, the way you look and the way you sing your message.  Those are all areas you can control.

The Areas You CAN’T Control

There are other areas that you may, or may not be able to anticipate, and this means you need to be ready to make things right in real-time.

* If the listeners are tired, it’s your job to revive them.  This may mean adding a song that gets them up on their feet, singing, clapping and getting some much needed oxygen.  Once they’re mentally and physically refreshed you can get to your message.
* If they’re distracted, your job is to get them focused . . . on you and your message. This may take a bit of personal story telling that engages then personally.  Do your homework and know what your audience it likely to be interested in. Using name/stories from their community, sports teams etc. will draw them into what you are sharing.  Remember: It’s about them, not you.
* If technical issues are getting between your message and the heart of the listener you need to do something about it. If they’re cringing or leaving because the sound level is too high, or look like they’re hearing more track/band than words do what it takes to change things. When in doubt ask the audience between songs. “Is the sound a little loud?” or “Are you hearing more instruments that vocals?” Then, in your most friendly tone ask the sound person to lower the accompaniment, or overall sound level.  Better to offend one sound person than several hundred in the audience. You can also have a trusted ear seated on the isle in the middle of the house who can go back and suggest some changes to the sound person. (This, of course, should be pre-arranged to avoid an awkward moment.)

Summary

Your job isn’t just to get up there, sing your songs and then sit down. You are responsible for successfully communicating your message. Do what is necessary to get that done well.

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Singing In A Circle

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Rehearse your singing groups in small circles. It’s one of the quickest ways to get everyone on the same page.

Let’s face it: The biggest challenge in getting singers to blend, and be “one voice with many parts,” is that everyone tends to do their own thing. They do what in their minds is good singing, and it may be. But, it also may not fit in with what the others singers are doing.

The Setup:

I suggest having no more than 5-6 singers per circle for the best result. Having at least one strong, accurate voice in each circle is a good idea. You can start them in circles with their own parts, but that should be quickly moved to mixed-parts circles as soon are they are able. Instruct them to look at one another’s faces and mouths, even though this will cause nervous laughter at first.

What Can Be Accomplished:

Fine-tuning pitch. As singers are able to actually hear each other it’s amazing how they naturally tune up. Unifying diction. First, they will become diction-aware in a good way. Then, as they watch others working on pronouncing clear vowels and consonants they will fall into line.
Dynamics. Be sure to use exercises and songs that have varying dynamics so everyone can learn to move together. You should also have them lip-sync the words (no sound) during this exercise.

Proof of Success:

I use the circle technique in professional groups, church choirs and worship teams, high school and junior high groups. It always works!!!

I am betting that after even one extended session of working the circle you will have dramatically improved your singers’ sound. The proof will be when you let them back in their normal arrangement. You, and they will hear the difference, and this will likely become a regular discipline in your rehearsals. Let me know how it works for you at moc.hcaoclacovnull@sirhc.

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Posted in Blend, Choir Directors, Duets to Groups, Singing Subjects, Worship Team | 1 Comment »

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