Chorale Presentation Workshop

Sept 97 IESA Bloomington 2 Sessions, @ 45 min.

You’ve been taught how to do CP correctly over the last few years at this conference. Today, the other side gets equal time.

I admit.. I am a bit of a radical when it comes to this event. Two other more traditional presenters were asked.. both had other commitments. I hesitated to volunteer.. What I consider great CP doesn’t jive with everyone’s taste.

So.. first the facts.. the things which everyone should know. Which everyone agrees on. At the point at which I vary from the norm and lose my mind in this presentation, I’ll warn you.

Chorale Speaking is the oldest type of theatre in the world. Pre-Greek. The Machine of the Gods. Let your kids know this. What they are doing, performers have been doing for thousands of years.

Rules 9-16 kids. May be any combination of age groups. Time limit 6-10 minutes. Must have at least two different poems in your program. 5th-graders and 6th-graders may be directed. Not if any kids above 6th-grade.

Who’s new to this event?

Separate voices… light and dark.. but don’t put one high-voiced little boy with the girls. Very often, Boys and Girls will give you a good division. I use four divisions, but…

Usually, poetry around a central theme… or a single author… but not required. However, there should be something holding your program together. Examples we’ve been shown in past workshops… Mice… Farmers… Occupations… Commercials…Summer…… Food….The word “Jack” ..

Or if you simply have some poetry you’re dying to do, invent a reason to put it together and call it Potpourri or something. I once did one: Stuff We Like.

----- Sources… any type of poetry. In fact, anything which you may call poetry. May contain some prose but should be mainly verse. May have narration. … May.. Should, have introductions. Can even have kids introduce themselves if you can be clever about it. Silvertstein Jack Prelutsky Consider.. Vachel Lindsay…. TV/Radio commercials.

Other strange and wonderful ideas from past IESA workshops… ….collections of commercials and songs …..Me: the Arenzville-Concord phone book …..pieces from musicals…Me: The Music Man (Wells Fargo Wagon, Pick a Little, Opening.. “Cash for the Merchandise) , Fiddler on the Roof (Tradition, If I were a Rich Man), Vaudeville. (Give my regards to Broadway, V’Ville jokes) 1776… Sit Down, John, He plays the violin, The Egg

Folk tales and stories… Rock Island Line, Casey Jones, John Henry…

Show some variety.. Show your audience that you can do more than one thing. Avoid pieces of all the same rhythm. I dread: a group which does everything full voice.

Me: Try to break in younger groups with something simpler like Silverstein then more involved programs for the older groups.

(Get suggestions from the audience?)

----Rehearsals. Some use classroom groups. This is ideal.

--- How to organize your program: never use the minimum 9. Don’t be afraid to mix grades if you’re not going to practice during class time anyway.

read through and talk about inflection, accents, characterization.. at the very first rehearsal. Otherwise, bad habits will set in. You must have a clear idea in your head of how you intend to present this.
Require memory within a week. This event depends on eye-contact, interaction, body language.. they can’t do any of these things properly with a script in their hand.

Use solos, duets, other groupings. I divide group into three or four for most pieces. General rule: if a refrain, have the group do it. Punch lines: use solos.

Now… where some of you may disagree with me. Next year you can do the workshop.

Choreograph. I guarantee you… they will move. You can use it or fight it. If you have a small fast football player you don’t put him on the offensive line. Use what they have. If he’s my size, you don’t send him out for a pass. Choreography/movement is allowed. It is allowed. Read the book.. there are no prohibitions. Certainly, the emphasis is on oral interpretation. This isn’t exactly swing choir.. Well, not exactly.

Have a home position, divided by voices, but as much as possible, put them in a different configuration for each piece. It also helps them learn their lines. When I’m here, I do and say this.

Demonstrate with crowd… Crowded tub. Teach it to them. Have them do it straight. Then put them into position and have them grunt and groan.