Keeping the Room Alive - Reigniting Rehearsal Energy
Every conductor knows that moment: it’s the second half of rehearsal, energy dips, and things start to drift. The singers are flat - not pitch-wise (though maybe that too) - but in focus and spirit. The good news? You don’t need a magic trick. You need a change of gear.
One of the most effective ways I’ve found to re-energise a rehearsal is a simple device called “pickup song”. You divide the choir into small groups, arrange them in a semicircle, and then ping short sections of the piece between groups. It’s musical pass-the-parcel. The fun is in the unpredictability - and the pressure. The moment you don’t know exactly when you’re coming in is the moment you start listening harder.
There’s also value in letting singers decide who sings when. Give them ownership. Let them choose the moment to come in or the next phrase to pass on. Suddenly, the room is alert. People are smiling. They’re involved again.
Another good tactic is shrinking the group. Ask a random quartet to stand up and sing a section. Not to catch them out, but to wake everyone up. Everyone leans in when only four voices are exposed.
These moments don’t just refresh the atmosphere - they reinforce the core skills we want: awareness, ensemble, focus, and responsibility. And they keep the session moving forward without having to resort to “Come on, concentrate!”
Energy management is part of our role. It’s not just about discipline; it’s about flow. Building in varied activity - listening, movement, challenge - keeps the room fresh. If the singers know you might throw them something unexpected, they stay present.
And one final tip: laugh. Don’t underestimate the power of humour to lift a room. A joke, a self-deprecating aside, even a shared groan at a tricky passage - all of it helps bind the group together.
A well-timed change of pace, a small shift in activity, a bit of silliness - all these things keep a rehearsal alive. And a rehearsal that stays alive is a rehearsal that gets things done.
