Audition Material Breakdown

Here is a listing of the breakdown of the songs at each audition this 09-10 year.

District Auditions:
Coronation Anthem: Mvts. 1 & 3
Abendlied
I'm Seventeen Come Sunday
Girls: Cantate Domino
Boys: Ave Maria

Region Auditions:
Coronation Anthem: Mvts. 2 & 4
Buccinate in Neomenia Tuba
Wie der Hirsch Schreit
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
Girls: Pueri Hebraeorum
Boys: Blow Ye the Trumpet

Pre-Area:
Coronation Anthem: ALL
Wie der Hirsch Schreit

All-State Choir 09-10

Please go to http://www.tmea.org/ to get the rehearsal notes for the music. Mark it in red, so you know what is necessary, versus what other teachers/directors tell you to mark in your music. Make sure you look at the "Rehearsal Notes" as well as the "Misprints" on the Audition Material page.

Here are some recordings of the songs for this year's selection of all-state choir music. Some are good recordings, while others are not so good. Again, these are just sample recordings, and something to give you an idea of what they sound like in the performance.

Abendlied

I'm Seventeen Come Sunday

Sanctus

The King Shall Rejoice

Wie der Hirsch Schreit

Pueri Hebraeorum (SSAA) We are in Area D, so learn the Chorus I part

Cantate Domino (SSAA) - you need to type the code in the box, then click "Enable download and listen"

Ave Maria (TTBB)

Blow Ye the Trumpet - this is an SATB recording, but the version we're singing is TTBB

Summer Voice Lessons

Wonderful job on the recital to all my students! I have enjoyed watching each of you take your songs and really make them your own this year.

I have decided to take the month of June off from teaching. I will begin teaching again the week after July 4.
When we begin, I would like each of you to have your own copy of the upcoming TMEA audition material. You can purchase your packet at the Music Rack (www.musicrack.com) OR go to www.jwpepper.com and order your own packet.

Please check out the summer camps at the universities around the state, for your jump start to knowing the music. If nothing else, make sure to at least attend the Klein ISD camp in August before school starts.

Here is a list of camps:

Jun 17-20 University of Texas, Austin TX http://www.music.utexas.edu/campsConferences/Default.aspx

Jun 22-25 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX http://www.depts.ttu.edu/music/SOM/SummerPrograms.asp

Jun 28-Jul 01 University of Texas at San Antonio, TX

http://music.utsa.edu/choircamp/

July 7-11 Baylor University, Waco, TX

http://www.baylor.edu/busmc/

July 09 North Harris Lonestar College, Houston, TX

http://northharris.lonestar.edu/143229/

July 12-15 Sam Houston State

http://music.shsu.edu/camps/

July 15 -18 University of North Texas, Denton TX

http://www.music.unt.edu/choircamp/

July 20-24 Lamar University, Beaumont, TX

http://dept.lamar.edu/cofac/deptmusic/en_chorus_camp.asp

July 19-22 OR July 22-25 Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX
http://www.music.tcu.edu/smi.asp

July 20-23 Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacodoches, TX http://www.music.sfasu.edu/camps_outreach/2009_choircamp.html

Aug 02-04 University of Texas at Arlington, TX

http://www.uta.edu/music/summercamps/

Aug 13-14 Klein ISD Camp @ Klein HS

Sep 11-12 AMC Music Camp at University of Houston

"I Lost My Voice!"

This article is from http://www.vocalist.org.uk/vocal_health.html - a pretty good website for singers.

Colds, Flu, Hoarseness and Voice Loss
There have been several questions about what to do when contracting viral infections and the subsequent hoarseness and voice loss so I thought it would be helpful to include a section here for anyone suffering!! I am Not a Doctor or Medical Practitioner and advise professional attention should always be sought, however as a regular sufferer of Flu, Laryngitis, Pneumonia, and Bronchial complaints I can provide a few tips!! Regardless of the infection contracted or even if you experience hoarseness and loss of voice through strain/stress the following should aid in prevention and/or recovery.

1. Drink plenty of Water.

2. Avoid Tea, Coffee, Cream & Alcohol before singing as these can have a dehydrating effect.

3. Take Vitamin C tablets or eat fruits/vegetables rich in Vitamin C to aid your bodies natural defenses. Hot Lemon & Honey or Blackcurrant both contain vitamin C and anti-viral properties and fresh ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties - grate a little ginger and add it to hot water, sweeten with honey if required.

4. REST!!

5. Severe, violent coughing can injure the vocal folds. Cough Syrup and Lozenges can help.

6. Hot Water Steam Inhalation, with or without a few drops of Eucalyptus, Peppermint or other Essential Oil helps to clear the sinuses. Many proprietry brands like Karvol, Olbas Oil and Vicks Vaporub use aromatherapy oils as their main ingredient but you should be careful using these products as menthol can have a drying effect.... use sparingly.

7. Do NOT attempt to Sing and avoid Talking until all medication is finished to allow the inflammation an opportunity to reduce.

8. On recovery start with some gentle humming for 5-10 minutes at a time and slowly build up to a few vocal exercises in your mid-range gradually expanding the range over several days. The rate of recovery will depend on the severity of illness and how experienced a singer you are. Any recurrance of hoarseness stop and rest the voice for another couple of days.

The National Center for Voice and Speech has an excellent site providing information on Frequently Prescribed Medications and Effects on Voice and Speech with more than 200 of the most frequently prescribed medications in the U.S. listed in alphabetical order with additional information about each medication and any known effect on voice or speech.

The Voice Mechanism

As I was looking for a diagram of the voice, I came upon some pretty cool websites. I'll also be posting pictures of these in my studio at Concordia.

Here is the complete system, including all aspects of creating good vocal sound.

And here is a close-up of the throat and all that it encompasses, regarding the voice.

These are actual photographs of the vocal folds, in the open and closed position.

So the website I got these pictures from is called www.voiceproblem.org. Seems like a very informative website.

Others:

http://www.sil.org/Mexico/ling/Glosario/E005bi-OrgansArt.htm

http://www.vocalist.org.uk/vocal_health_links.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_register

TMEA District Auditions

If you are not already very familiar with the pitches and rhythms of these pieces, you must start rehearsing and practicing daily with the practice CD!!!

When: September 27, 2008
Time: 7:30am - 5:30ish
Where: Klein Collins HS

Auditioning:
(Click on the name to listen to/watch a performance of the piece)
Dan-u-el (Mechem)
Dona Nobis Pacem (Bach)
Gloria (Barnett)
Alleluia (Basler) - GIRLS ONLY
Spaseniye Sodelal (Chesnokov) - BOYS ONLY

Click here for performance notes on these audition pieces.

Your First Voice Lesson

Here is what you need to bring to your first lesson:
1. A pencil
2. Any music you're working on, ie. upcoming audition, recital, performance, competition, choir music
3. Any practice CDs you may have to work with
4. A teachable spirit and a desire to learn and grow


The structure of the first lesson will go basically like this:
~Introductions/interview/news
~Warm-up/vocalise
~Dig into the music at hand