Part 3 – Working the Plan. How to Listen, and What to Listen For A couple of hypothetical rehearsal scenarios: A. Director leads the group through each piece, beginning to end with no stops. For pieces where there were problems, the director says that they should work on it. B. A group plays several measures […]
Have a Plan A large portion of confidence when leading a rehearsal is knowing what you need to accomplish, and having techniques prepared to help you get there (covered throughout the blog series). Orchestra seating/set-up A vital principle should be utilized in orchestra set-up. Louder/lower instruments should be in back, and softer/higher instruments in front. […]
Whatever else we do as church musicians, directors must know how to solve musical problems during rehearsals and help get our players ready for service music every 7 days or so. Over a series of several blogs, We will unpack the subject of leading rehearsals and deal with it in detail. Confident and Productive Rehearsals […]
Looking and Planning Ahead God is merciful in what He does not disclose concerning our future. If the news is good, our imaginations run wild and the event is a letdown. If the news is bad we battle a sense of dread. Though we do not know what awaits in the coming year, we do […]
Places to Go, People to See Or How to Get Your People to Come to Rehearsal – MUSICIANS INSTITUTE The case (As if you didn’t already know) Think back over the last week, then the last month. How crowded was your day, your week? How busy were you? The members of our groups – our […]
WARM-UPS FOR YOUR INSTRUMENTAL GROUP – PART 2 – HOW? Jeff Cranfill Using short pieces, exercises or scales is ideal for beginning a rehearsal. Before the demands of many orchestra pieces, these warm ups give the orchestra an opportunity to focus on these aspects of performance. They help set the course for how they will […]
WARM-UPS FOR YOUR INSTRUMENTAL GROUP – PART 1 – WHY? Jeff Cranfill How does your usual day begin – I mean what are the first things you do? Perhaps it goes something like this – you open your eyes, jump to your feet and run 5 miles. As difficult, harmful, and crazy as that seems, […]
ORCHESTRAS IN CHURCH MINISTRY TODAY From time to time I get involved in conversations about orchestras playing in worship services. Musical instruments are included as part of the worship services in many churches in many parts of the world, as they have been for decades. There are some people in these conversations who question if […]
Experience can be bad and good… In churches today, what a person experiences is being equated with scripture. The emotions we feel are very real, and can make our experiences seem more “real” than truth we know and read from God’s Holy word. A person doesn’t need to have an emotional buzz to worship. Emotion […]
Sunday worship in orchestra Getting one’s heart ready for worship is a focus of mine on Saturdays. Whatever else I do, I am thinking and looking and praying ahead about services tomorrow. I set me heart to give to God the worship He deserves. I also try to make sure I get to bed at […]
