Tips for Chamber Music Rehearsal!

 We’re used to breaking things down by ourselves in a practice room, but maybe you’re lost when it comes to doing the same with a chamber group! Perhaps you've fallen into the "let's run it" trap... only to sit and stare at each other after you're done with not a lot to say. So someone says "Well, let's just do it again." gaahh! 

Here are some tips for your next chamber rehearsal: 

• Less talking, more experimenting!
  • Do things multiple ways and foster an environment of experimenting with phrasing, articulation, and more  to find what feels great - instead of getting too wrapped up in talking about what an ideal solution would be. 
• Don’t skip the transitions.
  • It’s easy to start “at the starts” (literally the beginning, at double bars, big cadences, etc) in rehearsal. But, don’t forget to go back and practice how to transition into these sections. 
• Mix it up!
  • Try different combinations of voices to discover new ways to blend and phrase, new voice leading and more! 
• In moments of tempo change, play with no change first, perfectly in tempo.
  • Remember: it’s hard to take freedom if you don’t know what you’re taking freedom from. After that’s solid, you could have each person play on their instrument how they’re thinking about the tempo change. You could also sing and conduct the section as a group to be really clear. (Plus, it’s fun!) 
• A n experiment for all you adventure seekers out there:
  • Arrange your group so you can’t see each other. Then, try to play together … how does it go? How much are you relying on visual cues and motion? Does it open your ears to do this? 
• Consult the score frequently and ask: who is leading/has the most important voice at any given time?
  • Frequently when things fall apart or don’t seem to be working in, it’s because you aren’t clear on what to listen for!  However... it also takes PRACTICE to learn how to listen, so don't feel bad if this skill is hard at first. 
• Matchy matchy!
  • Matching style and articulation can be challenging with mixed ensembles. Prioritize listening for those things and isolating them so you can actually hear each other. 

Logistics: 

• Plan ahead
  • Decide what sections/movements you want to work on in any given rehearsal. If you’re specific about what the goal is, everyone will be much more likely to show up prepared and motivated to accomplish what’s on the “agenda”! 
• Record!
  • Record in rehearsal and listen together - or come back the next rehearsal with comments. It can be hard to focus on playing your own part while hearing everything else. Plus, sitting in the ensemble never gives the whole picture! If you’re short on time, record and then make a deal that you’ll all come back with 3 suggestions for the next rehearsal. 
• Spread the talking-love
  • Give everyone a chance to speak - and consider a policy of “no one is allowed to say sorry when they make a mistake!” 
• Tools!
  • Use the same tools you do in your own practice, whether that’s a metronome, drone, rhythmic patterns, the penny game, and more. 

Hopefully this helps with some ideas for your next rehearsal! Playing chamber music is just the best, so enjoy every minute of it.