Many of us have been guilty of pulling out music for a choir rehearsal with out spending an adequate amount of time really learning the piece. How long would the pastor or Sunday school teacher last if such “lack of preparation” were to be the norm. My dad would say “anything that is worth doing is worth doing right.” The ministry of music is a vital part of our worship services and the preparation should be first and foremost important. Realizing that some music men may not have the training to know how to prepare a song for rehearsal, here is a step-by-step approach.

Below is a list of how every choir director ought to prepare each choral piece.

1. Divide your choral piece into logical sections (ABA etc.)
2. Study each section
3. Sing and play each voice part.
4. Mark difficult intervals and rhythms in your score.
5. Play short exercises that will speed the learning of these more difficult passages.
6. Study the text.
7. Research its scriptural foundation.
8. Use a dictionary to insure correct pronunciation.
9. Take special note of sustained vowels and final consonants at the end of phrases.
10. Determine musically and textually logical phrasing and mark where breaths should be taken.
11. Note the dynamic markings.