[musictlk] Choir-directing

[Linda Mentink]

Hi Jessie,

If you're directing for practice and for the worship service, you'll 
want the members to know what you're doing. If you're not familiar 
with the beat patterns, you can just move your right hand up and down 
to keep the time, but let them know that's what you'll do. If you're 
needed to sing, you could position yourself near the middle of the 
choir so that they can see you nod your head for cut-offs. If they 
know the song really well, you probably won't need to do much.

I, too, am wondering why the assistant choir director doesn't take 
over, as that's what the assistant usually does, hence the name assistant!

Please email me off list if I can be of any further assistance.  I've 
had some experience, and am willing to talk via email or telephone, 
if that would be helpful.   I have unlimited long-distance for just 
such occasions, among others, of course.

Blessings,

Linda

At 07:07 AM 2/9/2010, you wrote:
>Hi list,
>
>         Has anyone ever led a small choir before?  I've been asked 
> to direct my church choir this weekend while the director is 
> away.  We usually range from five to ten members.  I did lead once 
> before, but it consisted only in giving pitches, designating the 
> correct musical settings for the day, and singing loudly enough to 
> keep the tempo.  I'm totally blind and haven't studied conducting 
> motions in any great depth yet.  It didn't seem to be a problem 
> last time but i'm wondering if any of you have found them 
> important.  If I'm not conducting, should I still stand facing 
> everyone in case my pitching carries better?  There are a couple 
> times when the director points out someone to chant alone, but I 
> figured I could assign those ahead of time or have the assistant 
> director point at people during the service.  I was also thinking 
> of emailing the choir this week to see if they have any suggestions 
> about what they'd like me to do, but since this is pretty new to 
> them, they probably won't
>   be much help.
>         The director has no qualms whatsoever about my leading, 
> which is very refreshing, but I'm a little nervous myself.  Any 
> tips or reassurances would be greatly appreciated.  I do know a 
> very talented blind choir director who hasn't needed to conduct 
> much, but I think it's always good to learn from as many people in 
> this situation as I can.
>
>Thanks,
>Jessie
>_______________________________________________
>musictlk mailing list
>musictlk at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>for musictlk:
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/mentink%40frontiernet.net
>
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2675 - Release Date: 
>02/08/10 01:35:00