BGM minutes 14.1.25
Chair: CS
Venue: Golden lane community centre
Time: 18.45 for 19.00 start
Attendees: CS , JL , JB , LS , MM, MR , PS , RM , WT
• 1) Treasurer’s report – audited by Robin , no queries
• 2) Guest Singers , proposer Max . All agreed with the proposal to welcome ex-members for guest slots . Annie , Kathy and Jo all interested . Daniel and Duncan also to be asked . Some discussion of how it would work in terms of suitable songs , and rehearsal opportunities .
Action – Max to co-ordinate .
• 3) Daniels repertoire suggestions , proposer Max . Rep gang have approved possible songs and have sent them to DD.
( correction made to this by Robin – “ As far as I am aware,this is not the case, but we have said we would look at the songs and report back this year for possible inclusion of some/all for the winter 2025 gig” .)
• 4) song leaders giving guidance during rehearsal , proposer Colin .
Idea is for song leaders , prior to singing the song , to update choir with any points necessary from previous rehearsal .
Parameters are that this is not intended to open a discussion , or to go into the song in detail , but just to refresh any issues with the song that the leader thinks necessary
All agreed
Action – this to happen from the next rehearsal , chairs to give the leaders the opportunity as we go through
• 5) following on from previous , issue of website and admin efficiency , proposer Julianna .Some discussion of need for agendas , if chair is organising , but several voices feel them to be useful , and particularly for non-musical items in the AOB
Action – Song leaders to record any key points / decisions re songs on website , on song page , with an entry date .
• 6) Re-establish vocal ranges with Rob , proposer Robin
Action – organise a time for this with Rob
• 7) on second run through of songs do in small group format , proposer Robin .
Idea is to make us learn songs more speedily so that we can get off book .
Each person would sing at least once , and there would be doubling up for some parts .
General agreement in principle if it can be efficiently organised.
Action – song leaders to work this out in advance for their songs
• 8) key teaching points and how we progress , proposer Louli .
Rob is having to say the same things over and over , and we need to find ways to learn
from what he is saying . So a discussion started on the main things that Rob is
repeating , and came up with a list .
( I have put some of these together , with the ideas generated on how we action them )
“ sing to the end of the line “ – personal practice / Song leaders reminder before we sing
“swooping “ and “ intonation “ – personal practice , and recording oneself against start and finish notes to identify where the notes are dropping
“ enunciation “ , Rob often tells us where he wants consonants sounded etc – song leaders to note this and do a refresher in rehearsal on passages and lines where needed
“think about the word meanings “ , again Rob often asks us to think of word significance , and mood . As above , song leaders to note and emphasise
Time , and rhythm , including note length , we often sing notes too long , and too short .
Wendy intro’d an idea from her other choir , which they do each week and which she recommends , clapping to rhythm cards . We decided to try it out at next rehearsal
Posture – we should build in time to practise this each week , and also think about smiling when needed for note production
• 9) jobs list update , proposer Julianna
Action- Janette to take on the Staging role
————————————
Overall general point–
• Spend longer in the warm up sessions to work on some of the things highlighted above ,