Page  7                                                                                                                                                                        Member’s Handbook

Rehearsals

Attendance Guidelines

Regular rehearsal attendance is critical to preparing and performing choral music of the highest caliber, and to ensure effective use of rehearsal time.  The quality of the chorus’ performances, the development of musical artistry, and the morale of the ensemble absolutely depend on regular, quality participation at rehearsals.  All singers are expected to attend all regular rehearsals, all relevant sectional rehearsals (i.e., those convened for the respective singers’ voice parts), and all dress rehearsals.  In general there are 15 to 20 total rehearsals during each series.  Absences are discussed below.

Rehearsal Requirements

A full-day rehearsal retreat is held from 9:30 AM to 3 PM on a Saturday prior to the beginning of the concert series.  The retreat includes continental breakfast, two read-through sessions including music for the upcoming series, lunch, fellowship and a short business meeting.  Board elections may be held at the fall retreat.  All singers are expected to attend the rehearsal retreats.  Singers who join the chorus after the rehearsal retreat has occurred are excused from this requirement for the current series.

Regular rehearsals take place on Sunday afternoons from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM during the concert season (i.e., September through June of the following year), with a holiday break during the month of December.  The rehearsal venue for the 2006-2007 season is Eastern Shore Chapel, located at 2020 Laskin Road in Virginia Beach.  Some deviations from this regular schedule are anticipated to accommodate the availability of the Artistic Director, holidays and long weekends. A schedule of exceptions will be distributed to each singer at the first regular rehearsal he/she attends.  All singers are expected to attend all regular rehearsals.

Sectional rehearsals may be scheduled at the discretion of the Artistic Director.  All singers are expected to attend all relevant sectional rehearsals; that is, those sectional rehearsals convened for their respective voice parts.

At least one dress rehearsal is scheduled for each of the two major concert series prior to the first performance.  This rehearsal normally takes place at the first scheduled concert venue.  All singers are expected to attend all dress rehearsals.

Rehearsal Preparation

Any written rehearsal notes provided by the Artistic Director are posted in the “Members Only” section of the chorus’ web site and disseminated via email.  Prior to each rehearsal, singers are responsible for reviewing the material requested by the Artistic Director in the notes and/or at the previous rehearsal.

Schola Cantorum normally conducts rehearsals a cappella; therefore singers should prepare the repertoire to a sufficient level of mastery to feel secure rehearsing unaccompanied.  The Artistic Director may provide pitches or occasional line support at a keyboard.

Rehearsal Roster

Singers are personally responsible for signing an attendance roster upon arrival at each rehearsal they attend, including regular, sectional and dress rehearsals.  This roster will be used as the official attendance record should a singer’s attendance come under scrutiny.

Rehearsal Etiquette

The Artistic Director will start and end rehearsals at the scheduled times.  Singers should arrive at the rehearsal venue sufficiently in advance to resolve any pre-rehearsal matters and to be in singing formation with music ready at the designated start time.  Cell phones and other audible electronic devices should be powered “off” or set to “vibrate mode” for the duration of the rehearsal.

Because a chorus is a cooperative, creative effort, singers are expected to willingly participate in all musicianship drills led by the Artistic Director.  This may include, but not be limited to:  physical/vocal warm-ups, music theory instruction, rhythm exercises, diction lessons, eurhythmics.

Rehearsal time is budgeted carefully.  Out of courtesy to the Artistic Director and other singers in attendance, every member is asked to exhibit good listening skills at all times.  Talking out of turn or during the music disrupts the rehearsal.  Even quiet comments can cause others to miss important information.

If sections are being rehearsed individually, “idle” sections are expected to study their own music quietly, and/or to follow along and listen critically as a learning opportunity.  Singers posing questions to the Artistic Director should first ask to be recognized, then indicate the page number and/or relative score on the page and/or measure number as appropriate to enable the quick location and resolution of the issue.

Singers arriving late (after the scheduled start time) or leaving mid-rehearsal should do so quietly and discretely, to avoid disturbing others.  In addition, they must note their arrival/departure time after their signature in the attendance roster; otherwise the Secretary will do so.

Due to close physical proximity to one another during rehearsals, singers are asked not to wear heavily scented products such as perfume, aftershave, hair spray, deodorant (unscented varieties are okay and highly desirable!), or body lotion.  Singers are also asked to avoid smoking, eating pungent foods (e.g., garlic) and drinking alcohol before rehearsal.

Rehearsal Cancellation

In case of severe inclement weather or other emergency cancellations of rehearsals, singers will be contacted via email and/or by telephone.  Alternatively, singers may contact the Secretary directly, using the contact information on the first page of this Handbook, for updated rehearsal information.