The Sanctuary Choir has had an exciting year! First of all, look how we've grown from 12 members last summer to 21 members at Christmas time! We have a great group of enthusiastic singers who are very faithful to the music program and are eager to learn! What more could a director ask of a choir? Take a seat on one of the red velvet pews in the back of the Sanctuary and observe one of our Thursday night choir rehearsals...

Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

7:00-7:10 p.m. - Warm-Ups

• Stretches, sighs, sirens, humming, chewing, facial massage

• Breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, breathe out for four counts

• Me-ahh (starting with a D Major triad going up: 15-4321)

• Vi-va (starting with a D Major triad going up: 1234-5656-54321)

• Vocal Siren

• Reminders: singing through the consonant to the vowel, sitting on top of the note instead of reaching up to it

Opening Prayer

7:10-7:15 p.m. - Sunday’s Anthem

• Prayer for Peace (Lightfoot)

• Reminders: tall mouth-shape, tempo changes, dynamics, cut-offs, more breath preparation before entrances

7:15-7:20 p.m. - Service Music (all a cappella)

• Introit: O Worship the King (Traditional Hymn)

• Prayer Response: Breathe on Me, Breath of God (Traditional Hymn)

• Benediction Response: Amen (Danyew)

• Reminders: breathing together, imagining first note before singing it, singing into the sound around you, enunciate!

7:20-7:50 p.m. - Anthems

• Come to the Water (Hasseler) - new

• Reminders: direction of phrases (most important word of phrase), breath preparation, phrase-shaping

• An Hour of Hallowed Peace (Danyew)

• Reminders: "hushed" text painting (singing the word in a way that depicts its meaning), breath support for soft singing, preparing to sing 5ths, direction of phrases (most important word of phrase), phrase-shaping

• Jesus, Savior, Friend (Glass)

• Reminders: consistent tempo, syncopated rhythm review, tall mouth shape/vowels, confidence, relationship of vocal parts to accompaniment

7:50-7:55 p.m. - Announcements

• Choir picture is up on the website!

• Joke Time

7:55-8:00 p.m. - Talk Break

8:00-8:30 p.m. - Anthems

• You Are the Song (Courtney)

• Reminders: syncopated rhythm review, parts review, relationship of vocal parts to accompaniment

• The Gift of Love (Traditional Hymn) - a cappella, rehearse in circle

• Reminders: look up!, blend with people around you, direction of phrases, phrase-shaping, dynamic contour

Prayer Circle

What does your church choir rehearsal look like?