Our director Craig Sparks teaches by example and by word.
Words - instructive,
funny, baffling, touching - do get written down. Below are a
few memorable "Craigism's".
Spring 2008 Season
"Right or wrong notes are irrelevant if we don't have the right
rhythm."
[After the chorus gave Craig the crescendo he wanted - the one missing the
previous time through] "This just goes to show you. If
you do what I say... You'll sound wonderful."
"Sing it with some soul. I know you aren't heartless
people."
"There's no meat to those bones. Give me some HOLY-MOLY to
it.
[Rehearsing "In The Still Of The Nite] "Every note has to
feel special and loving. We aren't a high school group just
going through the motions."
"Drive the sound into the mask. Use the hole in your head."
"Sing strong even if you sing wrong.
Fall 2007 Season
"No two notes should be sung alike...even if they are the same
note. One may be 'coming from' somewhere, the other 'going
to.' It's the shapes of phrases that makes music come alive."
"Panic, fear, and dread don't project well."
[In your music,] If you are looking at the note you are singing,
you are late. You should be looking at the next note.
Then you have a shot at getting it right.
"Vitality is the product of participation."
"You must sing like you know what you are doing even when you
don't."
[Craig gave a special warm-up exercise to our soprano section.]
"We will be diva's today. We will be diva's today.
We will be diva's today. We will be diva's today..."
[To our alto section, after a timid performance:] "Sing it again.
I want you to sing it the worst that you can - the worst."
[The altos oblige singing off-pitch, off-rhythm, no blend, nasal,
screechy, ...] Craig: "Now when you sing you can
be sure it will never be worse than what you just did. You're
getting scared to sing, afraid of hitting a wrong note. We
screw up all the time in here. What's the big deal?"
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NOTE: This page will never be complete.
Chorale Members - send your favorite Craigism to
Ted Tuck. You may see it on this page. Heard one
this week? Send it in.)
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