CHORAL WORKSHOP

Introduction
 The Vocalist’s Instrument
 The Heart of Worship
 2 basic elements of singing ~ (i) breath control (ii) pitching
 Spirit of excellence

FUNDAMENTALS OF VOCAL TECHNIQUES

A) Posture of Singing
B) Warm Up
 Importance of Warm Up/ Warm Up
 Physical Warm up
 Vocal Warm up

C) Breathing
 Breathing from diaphragm
 Breath support
 Breath Management

D) Vowels
E) Diction

F) Tonal Quality
 Sound quality of our voice
 Variety of tonality
 Resonance
 Throathy Voice
 Chest voice
 Head voice

CHORAL TECHNIQUES
A) PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT
 Importance of coming to practices.
 Punctuality
 Personal relationship with God

B) SINGING TOGETHER / BLENDING

 Pitching
 Breathing & Phrasing
 Many different tonal quality - Choir director to decide what kind
of sound is desirable for what style
  Listening to each other and sing the same tonal quality
 Active listening – making constant adjustment while you sing.
 Inflection / Emphasis
 Style / Genre
 Rhythm & Tempo
 Dynamics – do it together
 Diction / Articulation – do it together
 Vibrato

C) DICTION
 Pronunciation, articulation, clarity of words.
 Words need to be understood
 Lips, tongue and teeth needs to be doing the tight thing at the
right time.

D) SATB ~ CLASSIFICATION OF VOICES

 Soprano 1 High Bb / High G / C
 Soprano 2 High G / High Eb / Low Bb
 Alto 1 High D / Bb / Low A
 Alto 2 Bb / G / Low F
 Tenor 1 High Bb / High G / C
 Tenor 2 High G / High Eb / Low Bb
 Bass 1 High Eb / C / Low Ab
 Bass 2 C / Ab / Low F – G
 Basso (Profundo) Bb / Low G / Low D

E) CONDUCTING
 Conducting Patterns and Gestures
 Elements in Conducting
i. Preparation
ii. Attack
iii. Control of the Line
iv. Release
 Interpretation in Conducting
i. Legato
ii. Staccato
iii. Marcato
iv. Dynamics

SING YOUR NEIGHBOUR’S SONG

Prepared by : Benedict J.C. Lo (0128886243)
St. Joseph’s Cathedral Kuching, Empowered Ministry Kuching