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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Choir Warm-Up Exercise”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2022

ERE’S A WARM-UP exercise I wrote for my choir. Some may wish to download it and try it out with your singers. This exercise—when sung properly—should reinforce the following : (1) Correct intonation; (2) Proper Choral Vowels [“Faw” not “Fah”]; (3) The relationship and function of different pitches of the scale; (4) Blending with the other singers; (5) Watching the conductor [during the final section].

Give Us Time • We tried it out for the first time last night at rehearsal. It came out fine, but I will record it again in a few weeks—after we’ve had a chance to let it “sink in”—and I guarantee it will be pristine. Here’s our first attempt:

*  PDF Download • Jeff’s Warm-Up Exercise [color]
—1.3MB free download • Vocal Warm-Up for Volunteer Choirs.
—You can also download the Black & White Version.

The volunteer choir I’m blessed to conduct attempted this warm-up exercise for the second time on 15 September 2022.

You can also stretch out different chords and make sure every singer is in tune.

Here’s a live recording of one of the choral warmup exercises we like to do, taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023.

Update (11-10-2022): My volunteer choir has felt the repercussions of this year’s (particularly severe) flu season. Nevertheless, I believe in always—always—giving your best as a choir director, even when many singers are absent. You can hear by this brief recording that our singers are starting to blend very nicely.

Addendum • I have a very obnoxious ‘teacher’ voice. I became aware of this when I heard the video. The warm-up exercise currently has a place next to our “opening prayer” with which we open every meeting, and which our choir members quickly memorize:

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: Choir Warm-Up Exercise, Proper Choral Vowels, Vocal Warm-Up Last Updated: January 29, 2023

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“A flawless harmonization of Gregorian chant cannot be created by improvisation, no matter the competence and ability of the organist or harmonist.”

— Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (circa 1940)

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.