PDA Summative Reflection 2013 I observed a number of groups this semester in rehearsals.

One group dynamic that specifically peaked my interest from a teachers perspective was the few Williamson Voices rehearsals I attended. This is a group comprised of graduate level students as well as undergraduates coming from a variety of musical backgrounds. They rehearse three times a week in Bristol chapel and are conducted by Dr. James Jordan. While I have worked with Dr. Jordan in Schola Cantorum, it was interesting to see how he worked with Williamson. I attended one rehearsal in early November as well as the dress rehearsal before their first concert. In the regular rehearsal Dr. Jordan discussed a number of issues in each piece. One that seemed to be a common point in all the pieces was that the 3rds tended to go flat and needed to be tuned and present in the sound. This is specifically important when addressing harmonic rhythm and sound. He made sure to address this in each voice part naming specifics. Another important note that I took away from these rehearsals was how important it is to breathe together. When faced with something such as the Gregorian chant, breathe and other characteristics are really valuable to make a sound authentic. Dr. Jordan asked a fellow choir member Belle to come up and work with the ensemble specifically on the style of singing chant. She mentioned a few things regarded word stress and rehearsed with the group effectively. This idea of bringing an informed choir member up to rehearse caught my attention as well. To have a sense of trust for others around you in a choir makes the learning process simpler. We are all very talented musicians and it is important for a conductor in front of a group to trust that everyone in the room will make a collective, unified sound as well as display their individual artistic capabilities. Also this semester in Music Education Lab, we experimented with splitting off into specific student led groups. Being involved with a more chamber style ensemble proved to be quite a challenge. Few students had the opportunity to lead and rehearse a chosen song. This to me gets someone who hasnt had much experience in a classroom setting to have an opportunity to conduct and play with a certain sound. Throughout the semester, each facilitator portrayed different conducting ideas and techniques. However, with a student run group, we dont often display as much attentiveness to the leader. While it is important as a leader to have your technical house in order for a specific piece, I have learned from my time in Fundamentals with Dr. Jordan that its also important to listen. This allows for a conductor to be connected to the group. When a conductor is present in contacting sound, the group is often very responsive and more attentive. You must remain on time with your music in order and a pencil ready to mark what various comments a person has about a specific piece. Student- led ensembles have to remain regulated and kept in order. A facilitator needs to constantly be making changes in order to improve things like articulation, vowel modifications, and breathe support; moreover, they need to be able to provide a unique artistic interpretation. With various things I attended during this semester, I caught a glimpse of what it is like to be inspiring and to motivate. When the Suwon Civic Chorale visited

to give a concert and to work with many graduate level conductors, I noticed how the group this group from Korea was trying to express an authentic performance of American songs. This was quite inspiring and showed me how important it is to build a community through music. This master class changed my views on what it is like to actual be a conductor and music teacher. While a rehearsal will not always go how you want it, you must remain engaged and positive; moreover, figure out what you need to go back and do or rethink to create the sound or idea you envision. Change up your beat pattern to be more expressive or give a simple yet strong downbeat. These little things make all the difference. In summary, the experiences I gained through observing rehearsals, being in a student led ensemble, and attending various master classes and events contributed to my understanding of what it feels like to be a music teacher. I was able to understand some collective things to address when working with a group of singers. I also grew as a musician personally. Fundamentally, I learned various effective rehearsal techniques. Everything regarding sound benefits me being able to work with a group of students; furthermore, this can potentially inspire and motivate students in understanding the importance of music in the classroom and in a community.