Vocal Development Parts 1 & 2 - A Response

     This week in Choral Methods, we also read "Vocal Development Parts 1 & 2" by Kenneth Philips.  This reading is great for the introductory choral conductor as it is very in depth and concise.  However, within each part I did have some questions and some parts really resonated well with me. The following are my questions and comments about the reading:

Questions:
1)  When in the school system, we have to pick a length of time for rehearsal. The chapter discusses that directors of the choir need to be vigilant of vocal fatigue to avoid strain, which of course makes sense. However, when starting a young choir, what length of time should we expect a choir to be able to sing? As in, when we're telling the administration how long we need for choir rehearsal, how long should we start with? Half and hour? Can we really accomplish anything with a group in half an hour? An hour seems too long, however?

2) Would rap be considered Sung-speech diction or rhythmic diction? I am inclined to say rhythmic because of all the syllables that need to be articulated. However, popular music is thought to be sung-speech? But the syllables aren't really blended together by the best artists? Hrmm.

Comments:
1) I think it would be best to change up the warm ups quite often when rehearsing and utilize the many options that Philips gives in the first chapter.  If we consistently do the same warm ups, we aren't reaching any new areas, and the body will become very accustomed to the routine.  When this happens, we aren't really warming up the same extent anymore, our body is just going through the motions as we are creatures of habit.

2) I think it's interesting that most people speak in their lower or almost in their lower register of vocal range. I personally think I speak at the higher end of my range, and my singing voice can go much lower from where it is than it can go higher. Maybe that's because I'm an alto? But it's interesting that there is really this whole upper portion of the vocal range that most people are not tapping into at all.