Storytime has multiple uses in rehearsal.
I admit, I sometimes sense that my students think they “got away with something” when I stop active rehearsal to tell a story. However, it’s usually for a good reason – or four!
I like to tell a story because it helps to widen my students’ perspective in some way. Or rather, it places something into a wider perspective.
I like to tell a story because it gives my students needed vocal rest in the midst of an intense rehearsal. A few minutes of silence and hydration can help so much, especially if they’re working hard.
I like to tell a story because it becomes a reference point that’s more nuanced than just a word or phrase. The story I told today, for example, was five minutes of build up for a feeling that perfectly reflects how I want the ensemble to interpret a phrase in a more sophisticated way than the descriptors I had used.
Finally, and less professionally, I like to tell a story because it’s humanizing to share a story. We connect as humans when we learn about each other, and aside from song, story is one of the best ways to connect.