Notes for Sun Nov 2 (3rd last rehearsal until Recording Weekend)

Hi everyone!

Thank you all for all the effort you put in last week to help us push forward in our preparation for the CD. The love, positivity, and energy was so palpable and so vibrant in the room. We certainly felt it and we know that if we keep working away on this project with the same levels of dedication, enthusiasm, and care for one another, we are going to make something magical together.

This week's notes from Christina:

• The level of musical readiness now expected for every piece is "one step from memorized". This means that you know the music so well that you should be able to go a full page or two without looking down. Your scores are for reference only and to help you with particularly trick sections. Right now, many singers still have their eyes predominantly on the music with brief glances up at me. This ratio needs to be inverted. We need maximum communication from this week forward!!

• Go [back] over the detailed blog notes for each piece from last week. ALL of these notes are to be integrated by this Sunday.

• Remember to rehearse your vocal technique, not just your notes and rhythms. You need to be reinforcing your muscle memory when it comes to vowels, your breath control, your stagger breathing, etc. 

• A tip for practicing tricky pieces (ex. Lullaby): listen to the reference recording with one earbud in and the volume relatively high. This way, you feel like you're singing with a choir but you can also hear yourself really well, enabling you to check your own vowels, pitch, etc.

• Even if you aren't inclined toward using the reference recordings, I STRONGLY suggest that you do for Lullaby, Winter, Day Dawn, and Kiurun Tie (only if you have sung the latter two with Xara in the past, are those not necessary).

Here's the rehearsal plan for this Sunday:

1:15  Yoga (bring your mats or a towel!)

1:35  Vocal Warmup

1:45  Music:

• Snowforms
• Songbird
• I'll Give My Love an Apple
• Pseudo-Yoik Lite
• Snow

3:30  Break
3:40  Fundraising Check-In

3:45  Music:

• Here On These Branches
• Heaven Will Rise
• Lullaby

4:30  ScotianAires Prep:

• Stage formations walk-through
• Our set (run-through):
• Songbird
• I'll Give My Love an Apple
• Pakkanen
• Choreography for Be Like the Bird
• One Voice

Alto 1s are on snack duty!!

This Sunday, you must bring all your ScotianAires ticket money and any unsold tickets and return them to Erin.

Christina has posted on the Facebook group regarding an additional "dress rehearsal" for the CD weekend on November 20th. Please respond to the poll ASAP so we know whether this will be viable.

Thank you Tenille for organizing our Christmas wreath fundraiser!! Remember that NOW is the time to start selling wreaths before other groups get the jump on us! Let the good-hearted competition grow and become fierce this year! 400 wreaths is the goal! We'll be doing a check in each week at rehearsal to see how sales are going.