United Church of Christ in the Philippines

Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City

Basic Choral Seminar
Program Flow

Registration
Welcome
Opening Prayer
Opening Remarks

Part I: Introduction to Choral Music

Choral Music - A choir is a group of people

who sing together. They rehearse together and sing
at concerts or for religious services. Some choirs
are professional (the singers are paid for their work in the choir).
Other choirs are amateur choirs. Some amateur choirs let anyone
who is interested sing with them, others may ask people
to audition to see whether they are good enough before allowing
them to join. Parts of a choir
include soprano, alto, tenor and bass.

There are many kinds of choir:

A mixed choir is a choir with men and women.
A male-voiced choir is a choir for men.
A ladies choir is a choir for women.
A childrens choir or treble choir is a choir for boys and girls.
There are also boys choirs and girls choirs.
A male choir may just be for men or for boys and men.
Children and adults do not often mix as adults have more
powerful voices, but some mixed choirs may have children as well,
especially if the choir is a more social group,e.g. the choir of a small
church.

It is important to remember that being a member of a church choir

involves a certain amount of dedication. It is vital to use your best
church choir etiquette to show your level of commitment to your
director and other members of the choir.

Communication
Whether you are the director or a singer in a church
choir, communication is key to successful practices and
performances. It is vital that each member of the choir knows the
time and location of the practices. It is a good practice to have a
schedule of practices and performances for at least a month ahead of
time. This allows all members to arrange their lives accordingly. If by
chance a change needs to be made, make sure that all members are
notified quickly.
Sometimes things come up and members are not able to make it to a
practice. It is good church choir etiquette to call the director. This
allows them to make the necessary adjustments. The same courtesy
applies if you are going to be late.

Practice
Church choir practices are vital to the success of the choir. It is
imperative that you practice together to learn the songs, listen to each
other and follow the director. The practices are when the director will
change the arrangement of the song or placement of the members.
This fine-tuning gives the choir its voice.

Punctuality is a wonderful display of good manners. Be on time, if not

early to your practices. This will give you the chance to help with
chairs, warm-up your voice and get situated.

Attendance is so important. You need to be to the practices to know

what is going on. This shows your level of dedication to the choir.

Be prepared. There are times when changes will be made to the

songs. It is a good idea to have a pencil to make the necessary notes
on your music.

Voice Preparation. Take care of your voice. It is work to sing and like
all muscles your voice needs to be properly warmed up and cared for. If
your choir does not do warm-up exercises together, take the time to do
so on your own. Avoid the foods and drinks that cause problems for
your voice. Make sure you have water nearby incase you need it.

Cell Phones. Turn them off or silence them. It is good church etiquette
any time you are in church, whether it be for services, choir practice or
taking a silent moment. It is appropriate to check your phone during
breaks, however during practice leave them alone.

Talking. Leave the chatting for before, breaks and after practice. It
shows respect when you give your director your full attention. Ask
questions if you have them.
Dress Code
Many choirs have robes that they wear during their performances. This
creates unity and a visual beauty in the choir. It is a magnificent sight
when a choir is dressed appropriately and similarly as they share their
voices.
 As a member of a choir, maintain good grooming. This means that
when you are practicing and performing, look your best. Wear clothes
that are appropriate in church, simple and modest. Avoid wearing
strong perfumes, colognes and lotions. Sometimes certain scents can
trigger reactions in the voices and throats of those around you, making
it difficult to sing.

Performing - When your choir has a performance, whether it be a

Sunday service or a concert, use good church choir etiquette. Arrive
early, with your music and voice ready. Be sure that your robes or choir
outfit is pressed and looks nice. Stand with good posture and smile.
Show your respect to those around you by maintain an air of reverence
and dignity. Most important.... sing with your heart. Music has a
beautiful power to touch the hearts of many. It is a wonderful honor to
be a part of a church choir and share this power through your voice.

Role of the Choir

Among the many reasons the choir is vital to the life of any church,
consider these three:

1. The choir is an opportunity for involvement. A churchs ministry

is only as effective as the people in its congregation who choose to get
involved. Small groups, outreach teams, and the arts have provided
great opportunities for congregants to sow into the life of their churchs
ministry, and the choir falls under all three of those categories. Ive
often heard the choir referred to as the church within the church.
When you join a choir, youre not just singing notes together, youre
doing life and ministry together.

2. The choir is an extension of the pulpit. There are so many

fantastic songs that have been written for the Church and many
that have yet to be written. But not all songs are necessarily
suitable for corporate worship. There are songs that teach,
encourage, compel, and call to action, and the choir is a
marvelous mouthpiece for such things. By presenting these kinds
of songs, the choir takes on a pastoral role, and it brings a rich
dynamic to the theme or message of that particular service. This
is especially effective in services with a missional focus or special
services like those during Holy Week or the Christmas season.

3. The choir is a reflection of heaven. The prophet Isaiah gives us

a glimpse into Gods throne room with angels singing together,
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of
his glory (Isaiah 6:3). John paints a similar picture in the book of
 Revelation. There is a heavenly choir that sings Gods praises for
all eternity. When we see our friends and family in the choir loft
singing in harmony of voice and spirit, I believe we are
momentarily transported (even if only in our minds) to the throne
room of heaven. Furthermore, we often see a wide array of ages,
ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds on display in the choir. This,
too, is a reflection of heaven Gods people, of every age and
every race, worshipping together as one body.
We must not discount the richness the choir brings to the churchs
worship experience. I think many would be surprised by the long-
lasting effect a choir program can have on their local church. If your
church is anything like mine, the choir is a long-held tradition, and
traditions enrich the life of the Church. Just because something is
thought of as traditional doesnt mean its not relevant for the body
of Christ today. Lets strive to keep these traditions alive while moving
forward together into a richer and fuller life with Christ!

Part II Choral Basics

a.) Parts of the Music Sheet
b.) Basic Note Reading
c.) Voices
1. Vocal Techniques
Vocal techniques that will help you begin improving your singing voice
fast:

Vocal Tip # 1: Posture

Perhaps theres another secret as to why your mother constantly

reminded you to stand up straight. The truth is it makes you a better
singer. How? Its vitally important to align your body parts and prepare
them to support your sound, while eliminating tension. Tension not only
makes you feel uncomfortable and affects your mood, but can greatly
restrict air flow, making singing a chore rather than pure enjoyment.

Exercise: Find a wall and stand with your back to it. Place your head to
the wall so that your chin is parallel to the floor. Open your shoulders
and roll them back to the wall. Without allowing your spine to touch,
slowly move your back towards the wall to straighten, Arms to your
sides. Feet shoulder widths apart, find your balance. Try to relax. The
only tension you create should be in your abdominal muscles that are
supporting your singing. It is more effective if you do this in front of a
mirror. This can especially help you to visualize your stance after you
see and feel proper posture.
Vocal Tip # 2: Breathing - Try holding your breath and singing or
even speaking. You get the point. Clearly air is a major component to
singing. When singing a melody, the words are expressed quite
differently than if you were to simply recite the sentences aloud. The
volume, the pitch, the tone, and the tempo can have you gasping for
air before you know it. Learning and mastering proper breathing is one
of the keys to instantly improving your ability to sing. Unless we are
exercising, normally our breathing is quite shallow. As we begin
training our body to sing, we need to take deeper breaths in order to
sustain our sound loud and clear for our listening audience. At first you
may even feel a rush of dizziness as the deeper you breathe, the more
oxygen that gets to your brain. But dont stress it! Your body just needs
to get used to proper and more efficient breathing.

Vocal Tip # 3: Tighten That Drum - It is absolutely essential to

proper singing technique that you understand how the diaphragm,
lungs, and chest cavity affect your singing. Think of these 3 combined
as forming a drum. A drum that is tuned loosely sounds flat and boring,
as it lacks resonance. So the idea is to expand your rib cage by flexing
the muscles that pull your ribs in and out. Effectively tightening that
drum. This will result in better tones in your voice as well as
increasing your lung capacity, allowing you to take less breathes
between verses, resulting in better control. If you a serious about
improving this area, it is suggested that you begin exercising these
muscles.

Whether you join a gym or work out at home. Always consult a

physician before starting such a program. The main muscles to focus
on are your chest, arms, back, and oblique. Keep in mind that building
endurance will allow you to develop a stronger voice as well as last for
longer periods of time. Believe me, after singing 20-30 songs in a
night, when performing, you need to be in good physical condition. Do
not overlook the importance of cardiovascular exercise to increase lung
efficiency. You dont need to become a body builder or a marathon
runner. Just try and keep in shape. Good singing health to you!

Vocal Tip # 4: WaterDrink Tons Of It! - It doesnt matter if you

meet a heavy metal singer, pop singer, or an opera singer. You can bet
any one of these true professionals can appreciate the abundance of
good ole H2O. Itll always be within arms reach whether they are in
the studio, rehearsal, or on stage. Some prefer drinking warm water,
claiming that it better refreshes your throat. Others swear that ice cold
water can aid in keeping swelling down, especially after a killer belting
performance. Regardless of your preference. Just drink lots of it!

Some think that gargling water can hydrate the vocal cords. The
truth is that the no food or water comes in contact with them as they
are located in your windpipe. When liquid goes down, the automatic
flap called the epiglottis closes to protect your lungs from being filled
with water. This also covers the vocal cord every time you take a drink.
What happens when you get water in your windpipe? It causes a
choking gag reflex. So really, the only way to hydrate your vocal cords
is to drink water. Why lots? It is because the water has to enter your
stomach, and is first supplied to all your major organs, like your heart,
kidneys, etc.. Eventually, smaller organs like your vocal cords are
supplied. And supply you must! Note: avoid smoking and foods or
liquids that dehydrate the body.

Vocal Tip # 5: Flex Those Facial Muscles - As with other vital

muscles that support great singing, the neck and facial muscles play
an obvious role. Really the goal is to minimize the effort required to
sing so that you may effectively control your tone and your pitch.
Warming up can not be avoided. There are mainly 10 groups of
muscles in the neck, head, and face. Each consisting of numerous
tinier muscles all working in harmony to create the beautiful sound
making up your voice. Here is a list in order of the types of movements
you can perform on various parts to prepare yourself to sing:

1) Yawn 2) Jaw Stretch 3) The Pucker 4) Silly Smile 5) Eye Brow Lift
6) Eye Roll

Vocal Tip # 6 : PracticePracticePractice - As you move from

the casual singer in the car to progressing toward live performances,
you need to appreciate the importance of practice. Not only your
chosen songs repetitively but your strengthening skills that lead you to
master your art. You need to know: where, when, and how long to
practice. Where is an easy one. Somewhere that you will not be
disturbed and will not disturb others. You should be able to move
around in a comfortable space. Preferably where theres a
mirror. When to practice is based on your own availability and
circumstances.
Have a set schedule. If you write it down on the calendar, youre more
likely to do it. What time of day again is personal. But keep in mind
that you need to remove any and all distractions like the T.V., the
internet, computer, or cellphone in order to maximize concentration.
Also, have your materials organized and ready for each session. How
long depends on your skill level. If you are new, it is recommended to
limit your time to 20-30 minutes per day. As those muscles strengthen,
you can gradually move up to 30-60 minutes per day. Be patient.
Remember that anything worth achieving takes persistence and can
never be rushed. But its so worth it!

2. Vocalization
3. Blending
d.) Dynamics Role of Music Director, Conductor, Accompanist
1. Syllabication
2. Volume
3. Control
4. Memorization
e.) Song Practice
Closing Remarks

Prayer

Fellowship
 Registration

Name Number