[Menvi-discuss] question about hearing part in choir

[Miranda]

Hi,
I agree that you should be able to know your part independently. Since you
can read Braille music, I am wondering if it would be at all possible for
you to play your part on the piano so you can have a way of hearing it?
Also, could you work individually with your choir director or another
student singing your part to record just your part so you can use it in
conjunction with your Braille music as you practice independently outside of
class? Keep in mind that usually when a piece is introduced in choir for the
first couple times of going through it in rehearsal, each voice part is
played/sung to help all choir members (whether sighted or not) to learn
their parts. This is an opportune time for you to record rehearsals so you
can refer back to them at a later time outside of class. It is important to
discuss recording rehearsals with your choir director prior to doing so, but
I will say that I have personally not had a choir director tell me I could
not do this for educational purposes.

While I do not agree you should be given preferential treatment by being
allowed to stand between two people of the same voice part as you, I do
believe these suggestions I gave above could be given to any student,
whether sighted or not. If the choir director allowed you to stand between
two people of the same voice part as you, then why not allow every student
to do this? If this were the case, the learning experience would be lost and
growth would not be accomplished.
I have had to sing in choir mixed up, and I am also an alto who has done
various alto voice parts. Remember, if you are singing alto 2, you are most
likely (not always though) singing a lower part than the alto 1 voice part.
So, pay close attention to the notes being sung around you as you listen for
your part. I believe this is a great way to know whether or not you know
your part and to also listen to those around you. It can be challenging, but
it will grow you as a vocalist and in your ear training skills.
I hope this helps, and have an awesome semester!

In Christ, Miranda


-----Original Message-----
From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of
Kelsey Nicolay
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 10:51 PM
To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org
Subject: [Menvi-discuss] question about hearing part in choir

Hello,
I write with another choir question.  This semester, my school's women's
chorus is singing two Renaissance pieces a capella.  The director wants the
choir to sing them mixed up, meaning that you have to stand by someone who
sings a different part than you.  In order for me to get my part, I need to
stand between two people who are singing the same part of me and I mean the
exact same part.  For example, my director has me singing alto 2 in choir
for 4 part singing.  If there's an alto two on one side of me but I also sit
next to an alto one, I can't get my part no matter how hard I listen.  My
question is, is it unreasonable for me to tell my director I can't mix up
like the other choir members because I can't get my part without having
people around me singing it in my ear even though I do read Braille music? I
would appreciate any help anyone could provide.
Thanks,

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