Saturday, June 7, 2025
Summer Sing Newsletter
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- Katie's Korner
- Rehearsal Schedule
- More Music Scores
- Did You Pick Up The Wrong Folder
- The 10 Golden rules for Choral Singers
- Bring a Pencil
- Links to Music
- Nonconsensual Olfactory Overload
- Voice Exercises and Warmups
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Dear Summer Sing,
Thanks so much for a wonderful first rehearsal! I felt so happy to see all the friendly faces, some very familiar and some new to me, and to hear your beautiful voices. It's going to be a good year.
My thoughts heading into this year's Summer Sing have been all about wanting to create a happy space for all of us. I'd like our group to be a joyful, meaningful, and welcoming place where we can make music together and just sing. And I think that's what Summer Sing is each year - everyone comes when they can, and agrees to both work hard and have a great time. We all sing our best, and don't worry if (okay, when) we make mistakes! The goal is not perfection, it is to create beautiful moments. Unlike so many of our other commitments, if you have to miss a week here or there, things won't fall apart; you can come back and jump right in. As Ed always says, Summer Sing is like a pick-up softball game; you always want to go and have fun, and you're never entirely sure who will be there when you arrive! The one thing we know for sure is that we all chose to be here together, as a weekly escape from everything else going on.
With that in mind, I've picked songs that I feel are healing and uplifting this year. Flower Into Kindness and TaReKiTa, while very different, both have meditative, repetitive qualities in common. I'm looking forward to digging into those more this coming week. Bright Morning Stars is a challenging piece to learn in some ways, but it's one of those songs that feels good while you're singing it. Then there's Crowded Table - it's a musical hug! I love it. And we are probably adding a fifth piece which I'm sure you will all recognize....Ain't No Mountain High Enough! Can't wait.
Ed will be sharing a video of the new song on the website soon, and you should also be on the lookout for practice recordings for "Bright Morning Stars."
If you are interested in coming to hear my high school choir students perform, their POPS Concert is Saturday, June 14 at 6:00pm in the Lansing Middle School Auditorium. It is free and open to the public and is usually high quality and loads of fun! It is a fairly long concert, but worth attending if you have the time.
Have a lovely weekend and week until I see you again.
All the best,
Katie
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Rehearsals begin at 7:00 PM sharp. Please try to be in your seat and ready to sing!
June 11, 18, 25
July 2, 9, 16, 23
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We will have two more music scores for your folders our next rehearsal. Make sure to stop at the music folder table when you arrive and pick yours up.
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Did You Pick Up the Wrong Folder?... |
Someone mistakenly picked up folder #11 when leaving rehearsal last week. Please see Ed when you arrive at rehearsal so we can reurn the folder to the correct person.
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The 10 Golden Rules For Choral Singers... |
Why do millions of singers rapturously join the choir rehearsal each week? It's quite simple: Singing together brings joy, releases feelings of happiness, keeps you healthy and promotes the social togetherness.
To maintain this positive feeling in everyday life, the publishing company "Lugert Verlag" has listed 10 golden rules for choral singers, which we want to share with you. Enjoy reading!
- The choir comes first, even if there is so much to do otherwise. Treat yourself to the choral rehearsal as a wellness oasis.
- Sit up straight on the edge of a chair, relax your shoulders, look ahead and smile!
- Be attentive to the rehearsal, listen to the other voices and postpone conversations with your neighbor.
- Be open to new ideas, although even if you initially resist. Trust the conductor; she/he knows what she/ he is doing.
- If something has been bothering you for a long time, talk with the conductor or the choral board after the rehearsal.
- Be well-organized: arrive at rehearsal on time with something to drink and a sharpened pencil, keep an eye on your choral appointments (in your calendar and as printed version in your music case). Arrange all your appointments with your social environment (family, work).
- Offer support and take on responsibility. Big aims are being achieved together.
- Learn something new every day! Listen to choral music, visit concerts of other choirs or join a singing workshop.
- Keep your voice healthy: drink enough, don't harrumph and whisper. During hoarseness: take a break from singing!
- Sing and practice as often as possible – during cutting veggies, driving a car, with your children and during walks in the forest.
Credit: Forte Notensatz/ Lugert Verlag GmbH GmbH & Co. KG
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Bring a Pencil to LIGHTLY Mark Your Scores!
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Links to Summer Sing Music... |
All of the music we are performing this summer, except for Katie's song from South Africa, can be found by following the links found on the Summer Sing website.
Bookmark this location and you will be able to listen to and practice each song:
Katie has also provided a complete set of learning tracks (11 total!) for Bright Morning Star. Here is the link for that page:
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| Nonconsensual Olfactory Overload.. |
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Please remember to avoid wearing perfumes, colognes, essential oils and other scents to rehearsals and performances as they create respiratory discomfort for some of our singers. Please do shower, however 😁 |
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Voice Exercises and Warmups...
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Looking for a way to exercise your voice between rehearsals? Cyberbass is free website that has a selection of vocal warmups that play on your computer, smartphone or tablet. You can also purchase CD's with various exercises and warmups if you choose. Go to
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Questions, Comments and Newsletter Items...
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If you have a question about Summer Sing, comments or suggestions for the newsletter, or have an item for the newsletter (items should be related to the chorus or the local music community), send it to musicinfo@ACIthaca.org. PLEASE - if you have an item for the newsletter, send it in completed form so we can copy and paste - we do not write material for you. |
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