Here are my top five recommendations for people new to being in front of an ensemble in rehearsal.
These are the ones I say over and over to my students when they are starting out running sectionals or portions of rehearsal. (I do my best to sit in the corner for our Monday rehearsals, allowing them to learn by doing.)
- Don’t sing when you’re rehearsing. Especially at the beginning, this will dramatically decrease the performance of your ears. Sing less so you can hear more.
- Drills, not scrimmages. Don’t just run pieces straight through, then offer some advice. Stop, rehearse small sections, and then keep going.
- Be specific. Have a short and specific suggestion whenever you stop. Immediately, before chaos develops.
- Know the first notes. If you can’t play the whole piece, or even one part at a time, that’s fine. That will come. But at least be able to roll the opening chord of whatever you’re rehearsing.
- Talk less, say more. The more time we’re singing, the better. That means, you make your suggestions efficient and get right back to the music.
There’s always more to learn about being effective in rehearsal, but these are the sine qua non skills that high school students need to keep front-of-mind as they begin their careers in front of ensembles.