Knowing When To Talk More

Timing your talking is tricky.

I am a big proponent of “talk less” in rehearsal. Singers don’t need a soliloquy – they need simple, clear, concise guidance followed by singing the passage again. And again. And again.

But on occasion, you need to deliver more words. Maybe it’s logistical instructions for an upcoming concert, or attire clarification, or a life lesson that needs to be delivered. How – and when? – do you fit that in.

I aim for one of three distinct spots in my rehearsal.

  1. The last 5 minutes. We’ve finished rehearsal, and now I’ll give some instructions.
  2. A bit after the midpoint. Come to think of it, it’s right around the golden mean of rehearsal – between 60 and 65% of the way through. It’s peak productivity, which is a good time to talk for a few minutes and then lean into the last third.
  3. Right after a high energy song. Singers might need a moment to rest their voices, rest their minds, catch their breath. Sit down and just listen for a couple minutes.

You can of course talk at any point in a rehearsal. But these three points are the ones I go back to, again and again, as effective moments to pause the singing.