17th June 2018

3rd June 2018

This piece needs the following:
  • ​​More eyes up to follow direction.
  • Basses need a little more confidence - check your lines..
  • Sharper words, make them sound exciting!
  • Remember the change I've made to the move into the last "so though I'm not a great romancer".
  • DYNAMICS (louds and softs - and gradual changes) - please put them ALL in and WATCH me for guidance when performing.
This piece needs the following:

Circle Of Life
  • A little more energy would be better.
  • Lower part - make sure you know where your notes change from the tune! 
  • Make sure you know the difference between the first "through faith and love" (page 1) and the LAST "through faith and love" (penultimate page)
They Live In You
  • ​Make sure you all sing the opening phrases IN UNISON - no change in notes. Basses KNOW when you change and when you unison. 
  • "And A VOICE" must be correct.
  • Chorus was good - just watch on the "everything we see" bit.
​Can You Feel The Love
  • ​​Lovely - and harmonies working well!
​Just Can't Wait To Be King
  • ​Sing it with more excitement!! You know your harmonies really well now: put some oompfh into it!
  • Don't forget to drop down on the last "wait" and build through the long note so it sounds really cool! Then BE REALLY REALLY LOUD AT THE END OF THIS NOTE!! :)
​Hakuna Matata
  • ​Keep this VERY bright! Especially Sopranos. 
  • Watch out for the triplets on "what a WON-DER-FUL phrase"
  • Be confident coming in on “It’s our problem free”
  • Remember the second-from-last “Hakuna Matata” is the jazzy-long one
​Circle Of Life Reprise
  • Lower voices – remember your parts!
  • You should be watching me throughout the whole of this last piece. Learn it off by heart if you can.
  • LOVE is only 2 beats – no longer. The second “faith and love” in the piece KEEPS on GOING – don’t make “love” the same length as the first one. This is what is meant, as I said before, - know which one is which AND Watch!
  • Well watched at the end. Make it as loud and as proud as you can.
This piece needs the following:
  • ​​Second sopranos need to have more confidence in their part. They know it! Sing up and go for it.
  • Make sure the tune comes out (you should know when you have it...)
  • DYNAMICS! Don't start too quietly but DO make sure that we have contrasting loud parts in the piece. Look out for the "f" sign (loud) and the "p" sign (soft).
This piece needs the following:
  • Lovely start – always keep it legato.
  • Second sopranos must be more sure of their chorus parts. As shown in this rehearsal, it’s only one or two notes which are not 100% confident...get them right and all will be well.
  • 1st Sopranos – make sure your timing is really good on the 2nd verse. Don’t come in too early.
  • ENDING – WATCH ME for the beat – you cannot listen to the piano as it will not help. Make sure of your individual lines – especially the 1st Sopranos.
  • Susan, take a breath (not too slow) as soon as the choir sings “cease” then crack on with your ending. Don’t slow too much – remember everyone else has a long note to hold!
​This piece needs the following to be addressed:
  • Overall I was very pleased with this, as you might have gathered on Sunday.
  • Can I have all the altos ready and raring to go together in the opening phrase?
  • Lower voices – please listen to each other for tuning on the notes in opening section. Very good dynamics and well watched.
  • “Scarce heard” could be a tad quieter but really good crescendo. I know it’ll be more dynamic with the orchestra...
  • We are the dead. Very good! Just make sure the “d” at the end of each “dead” is TOGETHER – especially the last one.
  • LOWER VOICES DO NOT SING THE TUNE ON “SHORT DAYS AGO”. If you are not sure where to start, please do not sing until you are sure of where you are.... or sing very quietly so you can hear the stronger singers in the section.
  • Altos & Sopranos did great in the middle section.
  • Altos – don’t worry about not holding on the longer “lie” but do come in together on “in Flanders Fields” – keep the note in tune... I’ll try to give you some tips on Sunday.
  • “Take Up Your Quarrel” – very good!! It will be louder and more dramatic with the orchestra. Make sure the word “torch” is finished. Also – lower voices – be careful on your tuning on the word “high”.
  • Last section – really well sung. It might be a touch slower but otherwise very good.
  • Lower voices – careful of your tuning in this last section.
  • Please wait for me to bring you in on “Grow”.
  • Final “IN FLANDERS FIELDS” should REALLY REALLY QUIET FROM EVERY SINGLE VOICE!
  • Do not move AT ALL until I relax. After this piece is sung we will be having a silent few moments to remember all those who fell in the Great War.
This piece needs the following:
  • ​​Greater dynamic contrast.
  • ​Greater confidence over the ending
  • A little more of an American accent - more open vowels and relaxed consonants on most Ts and Ds. 
  • Make it sound a little happier. Think back to the beautiful black hills rather than the dull and boring ones.... 
  • Lower parts - Paul - you'll be OK, just check a couple of the notes in the "And when I get".. sections. Bass parts - try not to sing the tune if possible - you sing quite a bit lower than the Sopranos and with different notes.... please check the guidetracks and learn the parts a little more securely. Thank you! :)
This piece needs the following:
  • There will be accompaniment in the first verse but ALL solos need to spend time with me going through each verse! We need to have the verses characterfully amusing....
  • Good notes for the chorus in every part – well done! Could be a little zippier – you were a little behind the piano. It doesn’t need to be sung like a church choir -  not too legato!
  • Remember the chorus is repeated after Verse 3.
  • Sing happily!
  • Don’t forget there is NO slow down at the end!
​This piece needs the following to be addressed:
  • Make sure you start piece with a cheeky smile!
  • Lower voices – make sure you know on what note you are starting on. Once started it sounds very good.
  • Chorus - some of the lower voices are singing the tune an octave lower – please don’t!
  • SOPRANOS - make sure your AAHS in the chorus is on the D (the lower note) not a higher note. If you sing the wrong note it will clash with the youth choir part.
  • Remember the chorus repeats! When it repeats you MUST WATCH me for when to come in! Count 4 after finishing the note for “smile” at the end of the penultimate chorus.
  • Remember that this whole piece is about being happy! Spit out the words that are on the quicker notes a little more as it’ll help the piece zip along a little more.
  • SMILE, SMILE, SMILE – use your eyes to show you’re happy about singing this..... see me if you’re unsure what I mean.

20th May 2018 - Upminster Baptist Church

I hope you enjoy listening to these recordings : you've all come along way since Easter.  My Director's notes will (hopefully) follow in the next few days.... - Tom.

22nd April 2018: Wherever You Are, Bewitched, Lion King, Pack Up Your Troubles, Tipperary

6th May 2018:
​A Farewell Blessing, Keep The Home Fires Burning, In Flanders Fields, Pack Up Your Troubles, A Long Way To Tipperary
It was a really good rehearsal today. I felt we made some good progress in each piece especially as we were not "note-bashing" but working on "how" to sing each piece. Generally, the advice would be is to keep listening to the guidetracks and rehearsal recordings (including the extra session ones).  The concerns I have lie in the lower voice sections, as I vocalised toward the end of the rehearsal; the general shape of your lines are more-or-less there but the biggest issue is finding your first note for your entries. I think that you'll be OK once you have a stronger singer next to you but you cannot rely on that. You need to know your lines for "Pack Up Your Troubles" and "Tipperary" better, in particular.