How rhythmically active should you be when you aren’t singing?
I know a lot of ensemble singers who power down when the other parts are singing. Hard drive put to sleep, screen off. Not even a screen-saver.
The problem is that when we power down, we can wait too long to power back up, and we don’t properly integrate into the rhythm when we enter. The ensemble drags, or it doesn’t sync up properly at those hand-off points.
Better is to approach rhythm the way a relay-runner approaches a baton handoff. They start running, matching pace, well before they receive the baton. That way, they’re already lined up when they enter.
When you’ve got four or eight bars of rest, it’s not enough even to count rests or watch the conductor for the cue. You have to truly engage with the rhythm of the ensemble, even when you aren’t singing. That way, when you do start singing, it’s seamless.
Call it being baton-ready. Whether a conductor’s baton or a relay-runner’s baton, the engagement is the same.