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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

10 Ideas for Practicing Choral Music

Andrew Leung · September 15, 2015

CTL Choral Singer N ARTICLE came up on my Facebook today and I just want to share it. The article is entitled: “Practicing Choral Music: Ten ideas the singer who doesn’t think they can practice on their own”, was written by Doreen Fryling, who also happened to be a “lifelong practice avoider” according to herself. In her article, she listed ten ways or methods to help singers practice on their own. Even though this article is written for, I believe, professional musicians, music students and those who can read music, but some of her methods can be helpful for ordinary parish music programs, where half or most of the choir members don’t read music.

For those who read music, you should try all ten methods; for those who cannot read music, you should at least try the first three methods and always bring a pencil to rehearsals (method 9). The first three ways to rehearse on your own can be done by anyone, whether you have musical background or not: (1) Start with the text, (2) Listen to a recording and (3) Analyze your music.

The text of a piece of Sacred Music is the ”soul’’. Singers must understand the text in order to make the Liturgical piece a prayer to God. With the technology nowadays, translations and recordings can be found easily. Try to listen to a good recording and that should help you get an idea of the melody and the basic structure of the piece. And don’t forget to mark your music for any repeats, dynamics, special rythms and notes from the director. Doing the first steps should help you learn a new piece easier and quicker.

If you are a director, consider taking an extra step. Send an email with links to good recordings or even make your own recordings. Choir members always appreciate the extra efforts. But make sure you also spend some time at the beginning of the rehearsal to help your singers to read music, so they won’t just rely on the recordings. I have been doing it myself ans it makes my rehearsals more efficient and enjoyable. Share the article with your choir members and encourage them to at least do the first three steps on their own. The other steps become the responsibility of the director in most parish situation and that’s why we have rehearsals.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

By far, the event that caused the biggest increase in requests for indults from the morning Mass requirement was the Second World War. The unusual requirements of providing Mass during wartime led to some unique legislation accommodating the time of Mass. Already in 1940, Pope Pius XII issued a motu proprio addressing the situation of holding Mass in countries where a “Black-out” had been ordered.

— Father Shawn P. Tunink

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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