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The Planning Starts Now For Next Year's Contest!

Region 15 Team Coordinator and Long Island Sound Director Peggy DiSunno has graciously shared an outline that she uses with her chorus with an eye toward improving contest scores. Your ensemble may not use exactly the same format, but maybe you can walk away with at least one new idea -- whether you're a director, musical leader, chorus member or quartet singer. Here's the Long Island Sound plan:

A. Give each member a copy of the score sheets. Set up a chart and have chorus members list the pros and cons of each category and pick two areas to work on. Display a chart of expectations of the judges for each category and keep that chart out all year. For example:

1. Sync
2. Accurate notes and intervals

B. Set up and distribute a schedule for the year. (Peggy gave her 2008 to 2009 schedule out on the bus ride home from contest!) She breaks it into three sections.

1. April – June
2. July – December
3. Jan- March (contest)

C. Decide on contest music as soon as possible. Long Island Sound's plan:

1. Music and learning tapes ordered before contest.
2. Give out tapes and music soon after contest.

D. Hire and book coaches for the year, focusing on areas you want to work on.

1. Send contest scores and tape to coaches.
2. Send sheet music and learning tapes of new songs to coaches
• If coaches have music, they will arrive prepared to help.
3. Peggy has three coaches who visit two times each.
• Three Wednesday/Thursdays in the fall.
• One Wednesday and two weekends in the winter.
4. Confirm plans for a winter retreat.

E. Encourage Personal Commitment

1. Give members prescription for stamina.
2. Have regular music team meetings, getting section leaders ready.
• Use DCP materials at music team meetings.
3. Build in section rehearsals.
4. Establish vocal exercises to do at home, PVIs during the year.
5. Have stamina exercises each week at rehearsal.

F. Performances

1. Book as many performances as possible to gain performing confidence
2. Distribute calendar of the entire year to all members and keep it updated on web site.

G. Communication

1. Establish e-mail connection with chorus. Create e-mail buddies for those without e-mail.
2. Send out e-mail after each rehearsal reminding them what to work on during the week.
   

H. Contest schedule

1. January – March
• Sections
• Dueting
• Run through five times
2. Extra rehearsals last 5 weeks
• Choreography review each extra rehearsal
• Front row choreo review

I. Improvement ideas from coaches

1. Vowel matching exercise
2. Sing with confidence
3. Understand pitfalls of interval singing
4. Examine pitfalls of contest songs that could interfere with sound category
5. Mark all octaves on sheet music and concentrate on perfect match during rehearsals
6. Share Showmanship ideas from Pitchpipe
7. Display judging categories all year.
• Have each section choose a category and tell about it.
• Explain Jim Arns’ method of keeping members aware of judging categories

J. Enjoy

•   By following this plan, you are ready to compete. So have fun!

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Copyright 2007 Greater New York Region 15 of Sweet Adelines International
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