SGS Voices in the Garden

Monday, July 31, 2006

Pre-Exam Jitters (No?)

Hi Voices in the Garden,

I bet you're both excited as well as nervous as it is just 2 days away from the choral singing exam. I just want to tell u that it's alright to be nervous, because it's normal. From now till Wednesday, I'd like you to go over your music on your own and think about these things:

CHING-A-RING CHAW
1. Take care of pitching
- The 'mi' notes has to be on, 'octave' jumps must be precise, no gliding please (e.g. I hear them harps a STRUM-min)
- Last page, the high notes must be on, practice singing
soh-doh-soh-mi soh-doh-soh-mi" (the high "doh" not the low one)

2. Clear words
- Please spit out the initial and end consonants of every word, also flip or roll your 'r's and bite the 'ng's of all the "ching-a-ring-a-ring ching ching"s
- Please drop your jaws at ALL times, especially for the "AH" vowels. (e.g. "there you RAHHide in STAHHH-yle")
- Please also take care of all the 'th' beginnings and make sure you don't sing 'dere' you ride in style or one to 'TREE' four courses.

3. Articulation
- "Nights we all will dance, to the harp and fiddle, waltz and jig and prance, cast off down the middle" is to be sung staccato, lighten the notes, float and not sit on them.
- "When the morning come" is very strong, open mouth big big, drop your jaw and go "WEHHH"!!! in the beginning of that phrase.

BENEDICTUS
1. Different sound from Ching-a-ring, make the switch immediately

2. Corners of your mouth to be as narrow as possible, focus and sing through your eyes.

3. Baritone at Bars 17, 23 and 24 please listen to piano for your note and not go flat. The same goes for bar 35.

4. Soft singing is not the same as airy, think of screaming quietly, it's uses a lot more energy than you think. Remember to support your soft notes and keep mouth in a narrow / vertical position.

5. Stagger breathing when there are long-held notes, keep the pitch constant, make sure it doesn't change. especially bars 81-end.

GAO SHAN QING
1. Strong opening, please switch mode. Deep breath, Open Mouth, FAT sound.

2. Spitch out all the beginning consonants, i.e. the 'g' for 'gao', 'sh' for 'Shan' and 'shui', 'q' for 'qing', 'j' for 'jian' and 'l' for 'lan'

3. Remember to hum on all nasals 'n', 'ng'

4. Please observe the natural accents of the language. (e.g. Letter B - GU niang he na shao nian, Letter C - GAO shan qing, Letter I - BI shui chang)

5. Sopranos have to sound as FAT if not fatter than the altos as you're carrying the melody most of the time, and especially when singing in a canon with the other sections.

6.In the Dreamy Section, please remember to drop your jaws for the "AH" vowels, baritones, check pitching, please yawn and get on top of those notes and not flat.

7. Bar 78, watch the conductor for your cues, do not rush. For a dramatic end, I may slow down slightly and make the notes even more emphatic. Keep your eyes on me please :)

In general, please be calm before and during the exam, if you do your homework you'll have nothing to worry about. Remember to put on your biggest SMILE and not to fidget on stage, the slightest movement can be seen from the audience, keeps your hands by your side at all times, have them hanging and not stiff, unlock your knees and hips, stand tall and be proud. From now till Wednesday, have lots of sleep and water. Don't abuse your voice for these two days, that means no shouting, screaming, squealing, or coughing to clear throat, if your throat is irritated, try to swallow instead. Also eat carefully, stay away from deep fried, greasy and spicy stuffs. Please also abstain from chocolates, cookies, potato chips etc. junk food and heaty fruits like durian. Please sleep well, no late nights please, esp the night before the exam. Take good care of yourselves and see you on Wednesday!

ALL THE BEST!

-Corcovado20

Our Voices Raise As One
One Heart One Choir