There will always be a range of focus in music rehearsals. Some singers will be ultra-focused and some will have consistent trouble staying in the moment.
The solution is not to dictate a specific level of focus that will work for all singers; this will always fail. Better is to mentally establish three tiers and approach them individually.
- Less focused. These singers need help staying engaged. Discover what works for their brains and incorporate it into your rehearsal technique.
- Average focused. Match these singers’ focus and provide them with the feedback that keeps them there.
- Most focused. Help them not get frustrated. The most focused members of any group have a high risk of resenting the less-focused members around them. As a leader, you must find ways to engage them, whether that’s in supporting the people around them, getting rewarded for their engagement, or providing enrichment inside your rehearsal that specifically targets them.
It’s going to be part of your rehearsal; the only thing you get to decide is how you react to it.