André's Rehearsal Notes for January 21st, 2026
An amazing start to the season Choral Evolutioneers!
So many new, talented faces have joined us. So much promising music. We are going to have a blast with this show.
Don’t be frustrated because things are confusing at the beginning. Here is a breakdown of how our rehearsal process works.
1. Reading through the arrangement to get an idea of the form, the road map, the blueprint. This takes up the 1st few weeks and things will be rough. That is to be expected.
2. Breaking down complicated sections so you have a grasp of the structure when you practice on your own. Same 1st few weeks.
3. Learning your parts! This bit you do at home on your own. We will also have regular sectional rehearsals where you can solidify your parts with your fellow section members.
4. Putting it all together again at rehearsal once the parts are mostly known. Here you will learn what you need to focus on in your private practice. Bring a pencil!
5. Repetition and polishing of the piece getting it to performance level
6. Sharing all our hard work with our audience at a very satisfying concert!
For those of you who missed it, here is our plan for the actual Spring shows:
1. It will called “All Request Radio”. A radio DJ seated at a table with lighting, props like an “On Air” sign and a mic, will be running an evening request radio show on “🎶CJOY FM🎶”. We will find someone with actual radio DJ experience or an actor to play the part.
2. People (fictional) have written in requesting the tunes in our lineup with a dedication. The DJ reads the request then talks a bit about the original tunes as set up. He then introduces the tune and the choir performs it. We may prerecord some of the requests or have planted audience members request the tunes.
3. I will write a stinger: “🎶CJOY FM, All Request Radio🎶”. Most likely performed by the Dinos (my name for the small auditioned group, Dinos – Evolution – my sense of humour)
4. We could also work up a couple of short commercial jingles for real or imagined companies and products.
5. If this brings up any ideas, please feel free to share them with me by email.
Solo Auditions: Please prepare one of the following excerpts:
1. Tenors and Basses: Blinding Lights, solo line bar 11 to 25, where it is written where it sounds on the recording, middle of your voice, not low,
2. Altos: Blinding Lights, solo line bar 27 to 36, as written
3. Sopranos: Biblical Bar 3 to 10 as written
Please focus your practice on the following sections that we’ll look at Wednesday:
Lovely Day We should be able to finish this one! Yay. Practice clapping on beats 2 and 4 at bar 83 and repeat
Blinding Lights Bars 84 to end, very similar to what we worked on last week
Somebody to Love 1st 34 bars
Emotion to bar 32
Good Vibrations to bar 35
Enjoy your week of practice and I will see you all in Sooke at Christian Life Assembly, 6851 W Coast Rd on January 21st , 2026 ready to go at 7!
André ♪
Tips:
· Sing regularly in a large room. Sing high passages on “OO” at first, it will be easier than the words, then move to an “AH” and then add the words without losing the “OO” feeling.
- Focus on keeping the breath flowing, keeping tightness out of the throat
· Don’t worry about cracking or sounding bad, that is part of the process. Over time, strength and coordination will build and you will gain confidence when attempting higher passages.
· Sing those higher passages multiple times and return to them regularly. Sing a comfortable Mezzo Forte at first, then get softer for passages marked Piano.
musictheory.net is a free resource that will teach you all about how written music works. There are theory lessons and ear training for every level of musician. Click on the word “lessons” at the top left and do at least one lesson a day. Each lesson takes just a few minutes to complete and they are fun!. Click on the sentences at the bottom of the page to advance through the lesson. Spending a few minutes a day here will help you become more comfortable with written music.