Don’t Just Stand There, Don’t Just Stand There, Let’s Get Moving!Let’s Get Moving!

Incorporating Movement into Incorporating Movement into YOURYOUR

Choir Rehearsal…Choir Rehearsal…

Dana Lux Dana Lux LA ACDA R & S Show Choir ChairLA ACDA R & S Show Choir Chair

Can Can movementmovement help your choral help your choral program?program?

Outside the choral world, directors don’t Outside the choral world, directors don’t realize what a major role in vocal music realize what a major role in vocal music choreography has begun to take in the last choreography has begun to take in the last two decades!  two decades! 

It adds an element of life, personality and It adds an element of life, personality and spirit to a performance, it makes your spirit to a performance, it makes your concerts visual delights as well as auditory concerts visual delights as well as auditory ones, and rounds out the whole picture. ones, and rounds out the whole picture.

Adding that extra bit of “zest” to Adding that extra bit of “zest” to your performances….your performances….

We, as directors, are suddenly finding We, as directors, are suddenly finding ourselves needing to provide more ourselves needing to provide more entertainment.  We need to try and entertainment.  We need to try and satisfy an audience more and more satisfy an audience more and more and we're thinking that they didn't and we're thinking that they didn't

teach us choreography, publicity and teach us choreography, publicity and costuming in school. costuming in school.

    

However, entertainers have filled up However, entertainers have filled up audiences for years and sent them audiences for years and sent them

home happy… year after year.  home happy… year after year. 

So let's start applying those professional So let's start applying those professional techniques to our classroom.  We techniques to our classroom.  We

need to stop thinking of ourselves as need to stop thinking of ourselves as only choral directors and start thinking only choral directors and start thinking

of of

ourselves ourselves

as PRODUCERS!as PRODUCERS!

We're not saying that if you only want We're not saying that if you only want to do traditional music with your to do traditional music with your

choirs that it is bad.  We're saying choirs that it is bad.  We're saying that here is an that here is an alternativealternative or… or…

here is something to here is something to addadd to your to your performances in order to have a more performances in order to have a more

broad based choral program.broad based choral program.

Take some risk with your Take some risk with your repertoire.  It's only two or three repertoire.  It's only two or three minutes of your entire program.  minutes of your entire program. 

  

The problem….The problem….

The problem is learning, how to The problem is learning, how to incorporate movement into the incorporate movement into the

performance without doing it wrong.performance without doing it wrong.

This area can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to beThis area can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be

– – too much, too little, too inappropriate to the too much, too little, too inappropriate to the music, you name it, there are so many ways it music, you name it, there are so many ways it can go wrong. can go wrong.

Too much…Too much…

Too much movement can take Too much movement can take away from the music.away from the music.

Too little….Too little….

Only having so few Only having so few movements… movements…

remember that it will not remember that it will not be visually interesting.be visually interesting.

Too inappropriate…Too inappropriate…

The movement doesn’t fit the The movement doesn’t fit the style of the musicstyle of the music

Some solutions….Some solutions….

Why not use a book resource orWhy not use a book resource or prepared DVD for help? Yes, you can! prepared DVD for help? Yes, you can!

Let’s get started with a few….Let’s get started with a few….

John JacobsonJohn Jacobson John Jacobson’s Riser ChoreographyJohn Jacobson’s Riser Choreography

Sally AlbrechtSally Albrecht Choral Music in Motion Vol 1 & 2Choral Music in Motion Vol 1 & 2

That’s EntertainmentThat’s Entertainment Follow Me To the TopFollow Me To the Top Hooray for Hollywood!Hooray for Hollywood!

Razamatazz!Razamatazz! In the Spotlight!In the Spotlight!

John JacobsonJohn Jacobson Movement enhances even the simplest of musical Movement enhances even the simplest of musical

settings.settings. It can bring energy to a dynamic show choir number or It can bring energy to a dynamic show choir number or

simple elegance to a beautiful concert piece simple elegance to a beautiful concert piece without yourwithout your choir ever leaving the riserschoir ever leaving the risers! !

John Jacobson's ideas for staging and choreography on John Jacobson's ideas for staging and choreography on choral risers have been compiled into easy-to-use videos choral risers have been compiled into easy-to-use videos and DVDs for the beginning or veteran choral director. and DVDs for the beginning or veteran choral director.

Covering basic formations, visual effects, and simple Covering basic formations, visual effects, and simple gestures that enhance the lyrics, this practical guide will gestures that enhance the lyrics, this practical guide will help you incorporate all kinds of staging into your help you incorporate all kinds of staging into your performance. performance.

Sally AlbrechtSally Albrecht Each volume contains photos to show you exactly how Each volume contains photos to show you exactly how

to add choral movement to your program. to add choral movement to your program. Learn how to utilize upper body movement (not fancy Learn how to utilize upper body movement (not fancy

dance steps), facial expressions and staging to make dance steps), facial expressions and staging to make your choral concerts come alive! your choral concerts come alive!

She takes you step by step through staging suggestions She takes you step by step through staging suggestions for the new Alfred Choral Designs titles. Each song is for the new Alfred Choral Designs titles. Each song is presented in three ways: presented in three ways:

1.1. Complete performance with Sally facing the camera, Complete performance with Sally facing the camera, mirroring your movements.mirroring your movements.2.2. Step by step instructional guide, with explanations and Step by step instructional guide, with explanations and descriptions of each move.descriptions of each move.3.3. Exclusive "Double Shot" performance with Sally facing Exclusive "Double Shot" performance with Sally facing a mirror—you see the movement from behind her and in a mirror—you see the movement from behind her and in a mirror!a mirror!

Accompaniment Resources:Accompaniment Resources:

Almost every song that you can find now has an Almost every song that you can find now has an accompaniment CD- ask your music supplier.accompaniment CD- ask your music supplier.

You can have a live accompaniment- it can be You can have a live accompaniment- it can be as small as piano accompaniment or ask your as small as piano accompaniment or ask your band director if you could incorporate the jazz band director if you could incorporate the jazz band or small ensemble and now you have band or small ensemble and now you have involved more students for success!involved more students for success!

If budgets are low, email other choral directors If budgets are low, email other choral directors and borrow! They are great resources!and borrow! They are great resources!

What can they wear….What can they wear….

You don’t have to have a lot of money to You don’t have to have a lot of money to dress them for success.dress them for success.

The “dress” does not have to be an The “dress” does not have to be an expensive “Show Choir” uniform.expensive “Show Choir” uniform.

Allow your students to help you “interpret”Allow your students to help you “interpret”

the dress for that particular piece of music.the dress for that particular piece of music.

It can be simple…It can be simple…

Simple…T-shirtSimple…T-shirt Simple…HatSimple…Hat Simple pair of….SunglassesSimple pair of….Sunglasses Simple instruments…Kazoo’sSimple instruments…Kazoo’s Simple…HandkerchiefSimple…Handkerchief

These are only a few suggestionsThese are only a few suggestions

Live Resources…Live Resources… Example: Do you have a student that Example: Do you have a student that

has been involved for years in private has been involved for years in private dance?dance?

Example: Do you have a faculty member that has Example: Do you have a faculty member that has been a former dancer?been a former dancer?

You can call a dance studio in your area for You can call a dance studio in your area for helping with a song: It might incur a cost, but helping with a song: It might incur a cost, but even for one song, it’s worth it.even for one song, it’s worth it.

You don’t have to sacrifice the You don’t have to sacrifice the sound….sound….

Most choir directors don’t want to deal with Most choir directors don’t want to deal with movement - the excuse is “I am sacrificing movement - the excuse is “I am sacrificing the sound.”the sound.”

This may be a cover-up for your own This may be a cover-up for your own inadequacy.inadequacy.

A A Show Choir Show Choir works just like any other works just like any other choir in a regular choral program. The choir in a regular choral program. The music comes first before any movement is music comes first before any movement is placed!placed!

A great recruitment tool…A great recruitment tool…

Your program will shine at “Open House” Your program will shine at “Open House” with one simple choreographed number!with one simple choreographed number!

Your choir can have a featured number at Your choir can have a featured number at the school pep rally. Why not get your the school pep rally. Why not get your group in front of the entire school this group in front of the entire school this way?way?

Christmas time and Nursing HomesChristmas time and Nursing Homes Community Outdoor Festivals throughout Community Outdoor Festivals throughout

the year….and on & on….the year….and on & on….

I am available…I am available…

Dana Lux Dana Lux (LA ACDA (LA ACDA R & S R & S Show Choir Chair)Show Choir Chair)McKinley Middle Academic Magnet Visual & Performing Arts SchoolMcKinley Middle Academic Magnet Visual & Performing Arts SchoolChoral DirectorChoral Director

dlux@ebrpss.k12.la.usdlux@ebrpss.k12.la.usmustangchoral@gmail.commustangchoral@gmail.com(225) 937-4985 cell(225) 937-4985 cell

Costume Resources on the Net:Costume Resources on the Net:

Southeastern ApparelSoutheastern Apparel Formal FashionsFormal Fashions Stage AccentStage Accent Rivars (custom apparel)Rivars (custom apparel) Show Choir BuzzShow Choir Buzz Your local Thrift StoreYour local Thrift Store Your local Community Theatre-costume rentalsYour local Community Theatre-costume rentals The Dollar Store …..and so much more!The Dollar Store …..and so much more!

Uplift your students to new heights!Uplift your students to new heights!

As choral directors, is our motive to include As choral directors, is our motive to include and uplift every student? and uplift every student?

Enabling students to understand and Enabling students to understand and perform the elements of music and perform the elements of music and

movement and teaching them to respect movement and teaching them to respect each other’s individuality is a prize that each other’s individuality is a prize that can never be summed up by a trophy.can never be summed up by a trophy.

Music + Movement =Music + Movement = success & smiles! success & smiles!

You don’t have to compete in a Show Choir You don’t have to compete in a Show Choir competition to incorporate music and competition to incorporate music and movement with your choir!movement with your choir!

They aren’t for every group.They aren’t for every group.Using good rehearsed choral music and Using good rehearsed choral music and

incorporating movement just adds that incorporating movement just adds that extra ingredient for a motivated group, extra ingredient for a motivated group, excited about themselves and others excited about themselves and others around them!around them!

Taken from the Taken from the Choral Advocate Vol. 45, no. 7Choral Advocate Vol. 45, no. 7