Who's Serving?

WHO’S SERVING?

Full credit for this one to my accompanist of 20 years - Bryon Dobbs. Bryon is not only a great accompanist, but has led sectionals and rehearsals, teaches private lessons, and has great insights as a musician. This one is good to share with your singers.

Bryon compares rehearsal to a tennis match. The only caveat is that the singers have to serve every time. The process always begins with them. The singers must put forth a product for the director to assess/enhance. When the serve is good, the director can offer advice for improvement, hitting the ball back. The singers should then improve, thus continuing the volley.

If the serve doesn’t get over the net (due to accident or low effort) there’s nothing to say except “try again.” If the singers always hit the ball back to the same spot during the volley (doing the same thing over and over) the game can continue unchanged forever. Without improvement, the volley becomes a stalemate. As a “tennis instructor” the director must train the singers to hit the ball all around the court. Like in a tennis match, the way the singers win is by returning every volley with mastery and control, making their opponent (the director) do the hard work - running around the court, hustling and working hard to come up with new ways for the singers to improve. We all know the game is rigged - but what fun for the singers to realize they are gaining ground on the “master!”

Choir Bites Interactive Slides can enhance online/hybrid lesson plans or be used as supplemental assignments. Your singers’ awareness will rise as they engage with these simple, “sticky” concepts! Click here to learn more! 

A hard-fought game is the most enjoyable. In the end, if the game is played at a high level, it isn’t about who wins. Both sides are getting a workout and having fun doing so. There is mutual respect and admiration for the opponent’s skill and drive.