André's Rehearsal Notes for September 17th, 2025

Hey everyone! See, I told you it would take me a long time to get this done....and I changed computers and lot the site, but Adriana to the rescue! Thanks Adriana. For those new to Choral Evolution, WELCOME. You will find this blog is useful for upcoming event information, reminders, and general suggestions for all members. Remember, the password given is a temporary one and shouldn't be shared with anyone outside of the current choir lists. The new password will be shared either this Wed or next. The Choral Evolution website ( choralevolution.ca ) is full of information and I suggest that everyone have a look at it as we have updated quite a few things, and more will be coming soon. In the members area are links for Schedule, Practice Tracks, Members List, Attendance, Policy and Procedures and Code of Conduct. Click through each button to see the functionality. Choral Evolution (CE for short) publishes to ONLY the choir names and phone numbers of fellow choristers. If this is not something that you would like shared, please email choral.evolution@gmail.com; the list is used to contact fellow members for sectionals and car pooling. The list is published on the website members area under the Members List. You will find the Practice Tracks link which we want everyone to review and download (instructions on the site by Sue!). These practice tracks allow us to rehearse at home, in our car, out for a walk, etc. so that when we come together, we can work together, rather than picking out notes for sections. This is a tried and true method, and works incredibly well. The CE choristers have historically done an incredible job of using these tracks. Reading along in your paper music while listening to the tracks allows you to see your part as it moves thought the song. Sue suggested reviewing the all voices (SATB) to get a feel of the song. The attendance button will take you straight to the email of attendance.ce2023@gmail.com . You can also put that in your email so that you have it available. We request that you use this email if you will be unable to make a rehearsal. The policy and procedures, and the code of conduct areas hold info that we should be aware of so I would encourage everyone to read through them. As we all want to learn, and Andre is a great teacher/instructor/artistic director, it is great to be able to hear him give direction, so please remember to keep silent unless it is your time to sing. Raising your hand if you have a question is a perfect way to have him see and acknowledge you, and it is possible that others have your same query. We are very fortunate to have Andre Clouthier as our Artistic Director and Gabe Lagos as our "piano man" or by his proper title: collaborative pianist. They both bring a wealth of musicality to the rehearsals. We will introduce the board on Wednesday. CE is a volunteer organization, including the board, so everyone will be encouraged to share their talents and perform some type of volunteer task though the winter session. We appreciate everyone's willingness to help us be a success. We will be meeting in Langford on Wednesday, 10 Sept at 7 pm at the Masonic Lodge on Bryn Maur Rd . This is a new location for us, and it is a brand new building, so I for one am excited to see the space. See you soon!

Hello Choral Evolutioneers! Thank you for joining us Wednesday for our 1st rehearsal. Welcome to our new members, we want you to feel comfortable and at home with your new musical friends. I know it was hard to read the music cold as we did, but you made a fine start shaking off the summer reading and singing cobwebs. I know how much you all love singing so you’ll enjoy studying and singing through your parts. Then we can make great music together and wow our audience. I have no doubt! Reminders: ✓ We have Excellent New music, mark lightly with pencils only. You will have to erase it all at the end of the session when you return your music. ✓ Please bring a pencil to rehearsal. Mark your parts, make lots of notes – the score is a road map to beautiful music but we have to all agree on how we will perform it. ✓ In long passages, decide where you will breathe, mark it down and practice it. For instance, the opening phrases of “Away from the roll of the Sea” should be sung in 9 bar blocks and you need to be sure where you will sneak a breath ✓ Practice – know your parts – use the practice tracks. While it’s great to listen to the tracks, it’s even better to follow them with the music in front of you. We will be stopping and starting a lot at rehearsals, and you’ll be able to follow better if you have been looking at the score as you sing. ✓ Sing out loud in a big room as often as you can. As you learn a tune practice singing as you would in a show. This will strengthen your voice and our choral sound. Start your practice every day: ✓Neck massage, shoulder rolls, head rolls, Jeanie-arms torso twists ✓ Complete breath – Low – Med – High, then all 3 sections in one smooth movement. ✓ This will Coordinate – innervate – strengthen your breathing. Do this often as you practice to relive tension ✓ Keep chest high – sigh to start tone – start relaxing right away ✓ Check your Jaw, tongue, shoulders, let them hang in a natural way ✓ Now you are ready to start singing . There is a file called “Warm up with Andre” that will help you get started. We’ll put one of our rehearsal warm ups here for you to work along with. This week we will work on: Away from the roll of the Sea Solstice Carol Locus Iste All the Little Rivers (section E to the end) Festive Christmas Trilogy ( here is link to the complete recording: https://www.jwpepper.com/a-festive-christmas-trilogy-11564439-2200822/p) scroll down and click where it says preview Refresh your memory on “Royal Hudson” and “Carol of the Bells” If you are interested in joining our small group, please prepare “Sing the Winter Away” section D to E. The tracks for this one may not be up yet. Here is a link to a complete recording. Scroll down and click where it says preview https://cypresschoral.com/composers/robbie-smith/sing-the-winter-away/ Here is a link to "Thank you" that the small group will perform: https://www.jwpepper.com/thank-you-11398435-13127/p#.ZF0r2hHMJD8 I will see you all Wednesday, September 10 th at the Westshore Masonic Centre in Langford at 7 pm. André ♪ 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.