some math probs...

[MEChoir]

hi guys, i'm really figurin' how to make another step higher regarding my "choir teaching". well, my real problem is:

may 7 would be our brgy fiesta...

patron saint : moras dela paz del bien? viaje

i'm starting to recollect my singers and i'm thinking of these songs as my lineup(not really line-up, i'm fond of concentrating on offertory and communion) for the upcoming novena

Inay - hangad arrangement (really challenging and i like it!)
Inang Mahal - hangad arrangement
Stella Maris - (? im not sure if i can handle to make an arrangement)
Mariang Ina Ko -

.. and other kapampangan marian songs..

I would like to hear some song suggestions from you guys, i have 9 days of mass, plus, a mass on the feast day. i would like, if possible, to have my 9 days with 9 different songs... 

real problem is..

I have a teen choir composed of 4 Sop's, 5 Alt's, 5 Tenors and 3 newly adjusted basses.. i would like to hear your opinion if it would be possible for them to be split into S1 and S2, T1 and T2, and so on.
by the way, the numbers would be the "most active one's" but if i would include the "lulubog - lilitaw" members  ...

i'm really looking up to your opinions and suggestions plus songs for, let's say another 5 days... thanks for reading.

[meechee]

hi tj,

whew. ok. will try to help you ha...

1. about the splitting of the voices, well it depends on the members. if kaya nila at confident sila, at confident ka din na kaya nila, why not di ba?

2. as for the mass songs, what parts of the mass ba ang balak nyo kantahin? at ano na bang mga songs ang naisip nyong kantahin?

[titopao]

Akala ko naman, math problem sa school ito (hehehe )

Splitting voices...ah, the bane of every amateur/church choir master/leader First things first...the splitting of the voices will depend on the vocal quality of your singers. Unfortunately, this isn't something that I can help resolve online because this is something that can be best resolved by listening to your singers But I'll still give it a try anyway....

Let us assume that you have the same number of singers for all voices (e.g. 4 each of S, A, T and B). Does this automatically mean that you'll be able to divide each voice? No. That's because---let's face it---not all singers are made alike. For example, your altos may sing too strongly than your sopranos. Or your tenors may have a tendency to overpower the others. In my case, I often sing bass or tenor in my chapel choir (because my singing voice is louder than the 6-9 girls who regularly make it to the mass hehehe)

In this case, your role as a choirmaster is to balance your singers. If a section as a whole can't sing louder than the others, best bet is perhaps to not split them at all (so that they can be heard. If an alto can sing a bit louder than the rest of her companions, then maybe you can give her A1 while the rest sings A2 (or better yet, have that alto sing A2 and the rest A1).

Imagine you're a recording/mixing engineer in a, well, recording studio. You're the guy who tinkers with the mixer (the giant board that has plenty of volume controls, one for each microphone). As the recording/mixing engineer, your job is to make sure that each instrument blends well into the final recording...the bass shouldn't overpower the guitars, the rhythm guitars don't obscure the keyboards, the drums don't crash the speakers too much, etc. etc. Same thing with the choirmaster, you determine how to make voices sound equal (or rather, you make sure that they blend well in any dynamic), and reassign singers to another part as needed (or at least tell one singer to sing louder or softer). If you know your singers well, including how their voices sound and how loud they sing, this should be easy.

If you'll be using microphones on the actual masses, your job will be easier, you only need to reposition your singers to create that blend (say, have one soprano step forward, one alto back, the tenor behind both of them, etc.)

Anyway, going back to your other question...some Marian songs that you might consider:

1. Memorare (Ryan Cayabyab, from "Mass for Peace")
2. Ave Maria (attr. to Jacob Arcadelt. This is a very easy piece. IMO, every choir should learn this piece by heart )
3. Pastorale (the Hangad version, although it's an SSAA piece )

Let me know if you have other questions as well

[MEChoir]

ohayou~

I like your analogy tito pao about the instruments. I'm planning of splitting my altos first since I'm very confident that their voice would stand up, even in a very small number. I would have a practice at 3:00pm and I hope I can make it right "baby steps".

@ate meechee: I'm planning on making a good line-up on our feast day. with...

-Pagbabasbas (Opening)
-Luwalhati sa Diyos (I'm assuming that May 7 still covers the easter celebration)
-Alleluia (any "grand" suggestions?)
-Offertory (a marian song, suggestions pls...)
-songs from "Gloria" up to "Our Father" would be our own kapampangan songs
-Inay and Inang Mahal (Communion)
-still thinking of a good recessional piece (suggestions pls )

I'm still studying Pastorale and Memorare. We already practiced Ave Maria years ago, but I would consider looking up to the Jacob-Dietsch arrangement. later would be a good time to recall these songs.

uhh too bad that we still don't have enough mics in our chapel, so this would really mean that i should go the hard way... haha

I have exactly 1 month of practice with 3X a week frequency before the novena and feast day. I like the rush, at the same time, filling my head with doubts about their attendance. Come to think of it, the age range of my singers would be 13-15, and they're still playing (literally Playing) every now and then.. ugh

should I be a little rough?

[titopao]

Urp...13-15 years old!!!  I should have asked you earlier pala hehehe. That's because it's an age group of developing voices. Take care that you don't over-stretch or over-stress their vocal organs

Suggestion: Bigyan mo siguro sila ng incentive after one month? Like an outing or a team building or any fun activity  after May 7. (If your choir budget can afford it, that is ) Something that they can look forward to, something that can keep them motivated to persevere with the practices. Reminder, just a suggestion, you don't have to do it if circumstances will prevent it.

Kung hindi lang super mahirap, I'd suggest you try "Magnificat" (Hangad Acappella) or "Praise Be To God" (The Easter Journey) for the recessional. Or even "The Easter Journey" (The Easter Journey) or "Walang Ibang Hangad" (Hangad Noon at Ngayon). These are very stirring songs and can stir inspiration in your choir and even in the community who will be hearing your group sing. (On the other hand...I think you can do "Walang Ibang Hangad", it's not a difficult piece, really If your choir will concentrate, I think it'll take them not longer than a week to learn it (assuming that you'll have other practices within the week, before Sunday comes.)

One more thing: technically, after Lent and Holy Week is over, you no longer have to worry about whether the Gloria should be included, because the Gloria is never omitted from Easter until Christ the King (just before Advent) Of course, the priest may opt to begin reciting (instead of singing) the Gloria (which would mean you won't sing it), but then again...mas mabuti na yung na-practice n'yo na rin yun kesa naman sa hindi, di ba?

[MEChoir]

~A tiring day~

good evening guys, just implemented almost all of your suggestions kaninang practice, and you are right about the confidence regarding splitting the choir. i was blinded by their age and childishness. kaya pala nila if they would really concentrate. i had 3 sopranos, and i've divided them into 3 (S1, S2, S3), isang boses per person. they are not yet used to be "separated" from each other, so i gave it a shot. ginamit ko yung "Inay" hangad arrangement. teaching this piece really drained my creative juices, but it was worth it. the same goes for alto, tenor and bass, i've divided them. after 3 hours of practice, natapos lang ang practice hangang sa 2nd stanza. haha

i've come across some songs that tito pao suggested, and i'm filled with ideas. sana maturo ko lahat sa kanila, hehe. btw, we're having saturday evening mass in our chapel. sunday morning masses are held at the central parish, and i am serving as an ordinary choir member there(tenor/bass).

regarding the age range, nang nagtanong tanong uli ako sa choir ko, 14-16 years old na pala sila, 13-15 was their age last year. haha, kaya pala ang bilis ng araw, nagkakaroon na sila ng mga suitors. . pero kahit na ganun pa din, mahirap magturo sa mga ages na ganito, they have an active schedule na pinaghahatian ng maraming bagay (barkada, family, "puppy" love, etc.). kaya nga minsan i would rather choose my words really carefully,

i've just remembered...

may outing ang choir (swimming) na gastos ng mga nagmamanage sa church, it is scheduled last week ng April, nagiisip ako baka kapag after ng swimming biglang magsiwalaan nanaman ang choir. haha

btw, about stressing the vocal organs, i would like your opinion tungkol dito. kasi i've always thought that habang bata pa sila, you should exercise their singing muscles so they would grow flexible to any tone range? hmm...

[titopao]

@TJ: Ganito lang yan...

Gusto mong mag-gym para makapagbuhat ng 100 lbs. sa deadlift. Pero wala ka pang prior experience sa page-exercise sa gym.

Which of these is the more sensible approach?

#1. Go for the kill. Lift 100 lbs. on Day 1. Don't do stretches, and don't do warm-ups as well. (And keep the phone number of your chiropractor, PT or orthopedic surgeon on hand).

#2. Take it slowly, but not too much. Start with something lighter than 100 lbs. but with a weight that is neither too light that you don't feel the pressure nor too heavy that you can't do even one lift. Say, 40 lbs. Then as soon as your body can do each rep (repetition) with each gym session, try something heavier (say, add 20 lbs) each session until you can do 100 lbs.



Btw, make it a habit to include some basic warm up vocalises before practice, and cool-down vocalises once you've finished each session. (Cool-downs can be the same exercises as the warm-ups, but technically less demanding.) This will help your singers' voices to be properly conditioned before singing difficult passages

[meechee]

wow. nagulat ako nang makita kong biglang haba ng thread na 'to. ang hahaba naman pala kasi ng mga replies nyo

hi tj,

si titopao would know about the splitting kasi nagtuturo rin yan e

as for the lineup, sorry pero parang wala akong alam na Marian offertory song. for alleluia, sayang di aabot... recessional, ok nga sana ang Magnificat pero dahil may time constraints why not go with umawit kayo or bayan magsiawit?

hi titopao,

salamat muli

[MEChoir]

~From the lights of the south~



@meechee: yikes what do you mean ng "hindi aabot"? magnificat was on my mind a while ago habang binabaybay ko ang timog ave., im still open to suggestions on lineups

@titopao:

yeah, your analogy did really hit the spot, i'm aware of gradual increasing the "workload" of muscles is better than "flooding" (forgot the right term....) of course the #2 action seem very logical and easier, but should be accompanied with patience and determination. anyways, my choir always expect a good 15 minute warmup everytime we start, but.. um... cool down? can you give me some ideas on how to do it? what i'm thinking right now is like doing cool-downs after gym..

out of topic:

i've searched some videos of easter journey, doon ko pa lang nakita kumanta ang Hangad singers and my erector pili (goosebumps) really reacted everytime they sing. its so good when i came across one of their videos about singing APO hits, sarap pakinggan, tapos natuwa ako dun sa nagtetext habang nagppractice   ugali ko din kasi minsan un..

back to topic:

since everyone is aware of how old is my choir, my common headacher is that, everytime they sing in 2's or 3's (e.g. 3 tenors singing the same tone), nakakatuwa at the same time, nakakairita pakinggan ang mga boses na hindi mablendblend sa kapwa nila, guess the only explanation to that is that, it's still a part of their being "teen".. have anyone taught this age group before

[titopao]

@TJ: One good cool down exercise is the first one or two exercise you did in the warm up. Or at the very least, the first few warm ups in reverse

Dapat hanapin mo yung video ng Hangad doing the "Groovy Medley" at the Ateneo High School Chapel last August/September 2009. It was even complete with matching costumes (hehehehehe )

Re blend: for a start, focus on their vowels For one, they might not be doing the vowels the same way. Kelangan pareho ang quality ng vowels nila.

[MEChoir]

haha ang saya naman ng groovy medley.. ganda nung first song nila, its "Just Hang On" by 4 seasons tapos nakita ko sa youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECB2ZJfu3Hk&feature=related

@titopao: naexperience nyo na bang sumakit ang ulo sa kakaturo? haha just kiddin', i think all of us are experiencing this once in a while kpag "bad voice day" ang choir..

time to change topic, hehe