Dear Intermediate Singers and Families,
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have all enjoyed a delicious meal and time with your families and loved ones.
Next week is Concert Week! Wow, time has flown by! To ensure that you perform your very best, please continue to practice your music as much as possible between now and next Wednesday, so that you have all music fully memorized! The best way to do that is by watching the choreography video (below), and downloading ALL practice recordings (below or via email) and listening to them over and over!
In this week’s blog are practice instructions and important updates about upcoming events. Please read carefully all information below:
Holidays With Cantabile
Dress Rehearsal and Concert Information
Wednesday, December 3 Dress Rehearsal – mandatory for all singers!
Where: Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, San Jose
Where: Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, San Jose
Call time: 4:30pm sharp in the church pews - please allow additional time for traffic/drop-off
Release time: 7:30pm
Wear: warm clothing and soft-soled shoes (eg. Sneakers)
Bring: water bottle, nut-free snack, coat
Bring: water bottle, nut-free snack, coat
Sign in: with Choir Parent at the curb - Cantabile volunteers will walk your child into the church
Sign out: with Choir Parent in the Vestibule - Cantabile volunteers will walk your child down to the curb to meet you
Saturday, December 6 Concert
Where: Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, San Jose
Call time: 11:00am sharp
Concert: 1:00pm
Uniform: arrive wearing FULL Cantabile concert uniform including black socks (boys)/stockings (girls), black dress shoes (no boots please!), and hair neat/off the face
Sign in: with Choir Parent at the curb - Cantabile volunteers will walk your child to Parish Hall.
Sign out: in Parish Hall with Choir Parent - at the end of the concert, please follow the choirs to Parish Hall. Prep 3 singers should be picked up from downstairs.
Sign in: with Choir Parent at the curb - Cantabile volunteers will walk your child to Parish Hall.
Sign out: in Parish Hall with Choir Parent - at the end of the concert, please follow the choirs to Parish Hall. Prep 3 singers should be picked up from downstairs.
Uniform
Please ensure that you have already ordered your Cantabile uniform, Children without the proper uniform won't be able to participate in the concert. Thank you for understanding Cantabile’s concert policies.
Practice Recordings
NEW: "Solstice" now available for download!
You have now received practice recordings for ALL of your pieces by email. I have also placed all recordings in a google drive file available for download at any time. Click HERE to access the files.
You have now received practice recordings for ALL of your pieces by email. I have also placed all recordings in a google drive file available for download at any time. Click HERE to access the files.
Listen to all recordings as many times as possible between now and the dress rehearsal!
O Sifuni Mungu Choreography Practice Video
Click HERE to watch me sing and perform the choreography for O Sifuni Mungu. Practice with this video as many times as possible!
Important Rehearsal Notes – Please Read Carefully!
Kalanta of the New Year
The recording will really help you learn the Greek text – please use it!!
O Sifuni
Check out my choreography video! Then use the practice recording to make sure you know your notes and words – really listen to and practice the lines “thou fire so masterful and bright that giveth man both warmth and light” and “praise the father, praise the son, and praise the spirit three in one”. Those lines are the most unique – use the practice recording to help you learn them.
Sh’ma Yisrael
On the last page, those in Intermediate A singing the bottom two lines will come in together first, then those in Intermediate Honor who sing the second line from the top, and finally those in Intermediate Honor who sing the top line. Once we add the top line, we will repeat one last time with everyone singing, and diminuendo (get softer) all the way to the end. WATCH THE CONDUCTOR at the end because the tempo will slow down!
Solstice
Memorize where all the fermatas (pauses) are and make sure you are watching the conductor
Walking in the Air
When memorizing, pay careful attention to the text - make sure you know when you’re “walking” vs “surfing” vs “swimming”, etc. Watch the conductor for the big crescendo into the final, strong verse.
Cool Yule
All phrase endings are short, short, short! Keep it cool and jazzy. :) Watch the conductor for a reminder on which phrases go “down” and which go “up”. Page 6 (scat section) will be an Ensemble solo. We will crouch and snap as we practiced at the workshop. After this section is over you come back in with the next verse – we need a strong entry here! Be confident! Eyes glued to the conductor for the final phrase, “you’ll have a Yule that is cool” – make sure you follow the conductor’s tempo and watch for each note to be cued. Don’t forget the hand motions we added at the end!
Star Carol
All verses memorized! The “see he lies” verse is especially important because it is a Prep 3 and Intermediate solo. Unlike the other verses, this one is smooth and gentle because you are singing about the sleeping baby Jesus.
Silent Night
Please make sure you have all three verses memorized by the December 3rd dress rehearsal.
Happy Practicing and Happy Thanksgiving! See you at the dress rehearsal!
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