Leading Your Rehearsal (Part 1)

It's time to get practical! Here are a few things to make your rehearsal run smooth and efficient:

· Make sure the room is ready… Have ample room for people and instruments and stands… Check room temperature (not too hot, not too cold, but just right)… Set up "theatre" style… Have extra chairs in place before rehearsal (to accommodate late arrivals or new players).
· Put their music in rehearsal order. It will add musical time to your rehearsal, although your preparation time will take longer.
· Include the congregational packages for the upcoming Sunday.
· Make sure the rhythm and percussion sections stay in balance during rehearsal.
· Interject humor in your rehearsal. Remember: Most of your players have had a long day at the office, school or at home with the kids. Humor also helps to break down "barriers".
· Get a librarian to set up, fill and empty folders. They also need to file music and make copies (legal copies). You need to let it go, let it go, let it go… Either hire someone or find a volunteer… Take the time to train them… This is really important!

Leading Your Rehearsal (Part 2)

Here is a checklist for you as you prepare for your rehearsal:

· Have a full working knowledge of the score.
· Plan your gestures and conducting patterns.
· Mark cues in your score… Mark them so you will not be caught by surprise.
· Recognize potential musical problems and plan your strategy to accomplish them.
· Important: If you make a mistake during rehearsal (wrong cue, etc.), "fess up" to it! It's ok to show some vulnerability. Respond with grace and honesty (and maybe a little humor).

Leading Your Rehearsal (Part 3)

Here are a few practical tips to get more musically out of your group:

· Tune. Tune at the beginning of the rehearsal as a group or pass the tuner before you start… After the group has warmed up, tune again.
· Keep talking to a minimum… That includes you as well as them. 90% of your rehearsal should be non-verbal.
· Read them the lyrics of the piece they are playing. This is so important! Especially those pieces you play as accompaniment to the choir... Read the lyrics for an instrumental piece you may be practicing. The text is very important in establishing the texture of the arrangement… Try having them sing the chorus of a piece one time (instead of playing).
· Swap with the choir director on occasion. You direct the choir rehearsal while the choir director rehearses your group. Obviously, if you are the choir and orchestra director, you are already doing this every week. If that is the case, bring in someone to work with your group(s) every once in a while. You can make it a learning experience for you as well as your choir or instrumental group.