Okay. Here's the deal. I'm new to working with a choir. I am the Organist but it's seems like I need to start really working with my church choir.
I have about about 11 in the adult choir. They have been used to singing every song in unison. Four of whom are really good singers. Then there are two who can sing but have no ear and will switch keys in a hot second and not know. The rest are, I'd rather not say. 1 soprano, 3 to 4 altos, and 6 tenors. They all have strong voices. so size isn't the problem.
After a lot of work the Sopranos (cuz there's only one lol) and Altos will have their parts. No matter how low or high, my tenors struggle with it being to high or low and not gettng the note out. I think they are lazy or self conscience! We'll work really hard and actually sound like singers in rehearsal and when it's sunday they go to a loud unison. The director has a "Datta do" attitude so she doesn't care how it comes out.
My questions are as follows:
How do I get them to remember their parts and sing them on Sunday with authority?
What are some techniques for warming them up so my tenors can sing their parts?
How do I work on a good smooth sound with the unbalanced membership that I have?
First, meet with the Director - if there's a "Datta do" attitude, that's where you need to start. If the choir director is in charge of the church's music ministry, there may be little you can do without their cooperation. But if you are the MOM, giving out parts, then it is your responsibility to work it out with them and the musicians.
The ideas of doing warm-ups and preparing CD's for the choir are good. You can also do some "mah-meh-mee-mo-mu" type warm-ups to help the group's voices blend. Also have them practice singing harmonies on chords or some easy song (like Tye Tribbett's 'Everything') so the tenors can get used to singing a third above the melody. Like this:
Sopranos (melody):
E Ev-
F# -ery-
G# -thing,
E You're
A Ev-
G# -ery-
F# -thing,
E to
E me.
Tenors:
G# Ev-
A -ery-
B -thing,
G# You're
C# Ev-
B -ery-
A -thing,
G# to
G# me.
Altos:
B Ev-
C# -ery-
E -thing,
B You're
F# Ev-
E -ery-
C# -thing,
B to
B me.
Some guys' voices may not get high enough for the tenor part - so let them sing melody an octave down, for now (if there is no written Bass part). But separate them from the tenors, so they won't be thrown off their part.
You may have to lower keys on some of the arrangements if the tenor parts are still too high. And if after a month or so things aren't getting better, then it may be time for some judicious pruning. Church politics aside, tell them if they can't learn to sing and stay on key, they can sing in the congregation, but not upfront with the group...
