*gets ready to duck under his desk* I'm a choral conductor myself, and I tell ya, I used to be in the same boat you are. "Why bother memorizing, when I've got it learned and I use it only as a reference?"
There are performance situations which require memorization (I used to sing at the Minnesota Renaissance festival, and carrying music is very unprofessional, not to mention unhandy in that sort of a venue). This is especially true with small groups. When I conducted DeCantus (www.decantus.com), the music improved exponentially once the books were put away. We felt the music more, we watched each other. The best Barbershoppers I've ever heard are the ones that don't use music (how they get there is another story...) After having worked with a local choir on a tour I have a new angle on this issue as well: Once you know it, you (and in turn your audience) gain *much* more by having your complete focus on the conductor and the active part of music making. I got to the point where I simply held my book open and didn't turn the page, hoping that my music wouldn't spill on the floor, as I am a klutz. Just my .02 A -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Phil Daley Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 12:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Finale] Blowing O.T. At 7/19/2005 11:42 AM, John Howell wrote: >At 10:47 PM -0400 7/18/05, Raymond Horton wrote: >>Perhaps, but that might be supposing too much. I would think it's >>just a term for a tool of the trade. (Personally, I heard "axe" >>years before I ever heard of "woodshedding.") > >And barbershopers have been using "woodshedding" for decades Well, that's because they NEED it ;-) I have been to a couple of BarberShop groups because I like to sing (I also direct a 4-part men's chorus). As soon as they say "You have to memorize the music", I'm outta there. I can sing the music correctly the first time through, obviously, using the music. What do I gain by spending my time memorizing the same music? I can understand that 90% of people in those groups have to learn the music by rote, since they are clueless about actually reading the music. But why penalize me? Phil Daley < AutoDesk > http://www.conknet.com/~p_daley _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
