Where does the time go? It seems the semester just begins and in the blink of an eye it is time to start counting, yes, literally counting the number of rehearsals until the Christmas Festival. Each semester, as time grows nearer, I will put on the blackboard of the rehearsal hall a countdown of the number of rehearsals until our next performance. This countdown may seem inconsequential, but it is a very useful and easy tool to help you and your singers remain focused.
The pacing of rehearsals is crucial in insuring that all the repertoire is polished and ready to be performed at the assigned time. As a choral director, one must be careful not to let a piece languish in rehearsal to the point where the director is playing catch up during the last few rehearsals. On the other hand, when a piece is learned and polished too early it will lose its "bloom" so to speak and will sound ordinary instead of extraordinary. In many ways it is the same process an athlete goes through when preparing for a very important athletic event. An athlete strives not to peak too soon. The same must be true for a choir.
Fellow choir directors, be mindful of the attention you give to each piece you are preparing for your upcoming program to insure that the music you present is alive and vibrant. Like I have said to my choirs many times -- "any choir can sing the right notes and rhythms." We want the music to be alive with beautiful phrasing, subtle colorings, and an expressivity that will make the program vibrant and memorable.