Retreat - in Order to Advance
The Coastal Voices 2024 retreat, held on January 27 at the Samaritan Health Services building, was an opportunity for the choir members to mingle, learn, eat and practice. The goal of this retreat was to advance as a choir toward better use of vocal blending, vowel formation, breathing techniques, and rhythm and timing facility.
At 9:00 AM the singers arrived. Some woke up ready for the day; some need more time.
After a welcome speech from Artistic Director Rhodd Caldwell, the retreaters were encouraged to stretch and vocalize by Assistant Director Raleigh Bartholomew during the warm-up session. Then the singers were divided into voice sections and sent off to workshops throughout the building. These sessions were so interesting and engaging that your correspondent forgot to take any pictures…and so a verbal description will follow. Oops!
During her team-building workshops, Jean Erdahl made sure that the singers in each section had a chance to look each other in the eyes by arranging them into a circle. Responding to Jean’s questions in turn, the participants had a chance to get to know more about their fellow songsters other than just the sound of a voice or the shape of the back of a head. She elicited information about musical backgrounds and preferences, previous experiences, and aspirations from each person. And then she led the group in a silly camp song. This is the way to build a team.
Vern Sanders began his presentation by explaining that the out-of-tune effect noted in the after-action video from the December 2023 “Holiday Highlight” concert was the result of the choir’s non-matching vowel sounds. This is a problem that can be fixed. Vern then presented each new voice section with a highly complex visual aid (a tic-tac-toe grid, or hashtag symbol, or pound sign—all these descriptions are accurate) which represented the human head and mouth. Using a combination of aural cues and physical gyrations. he than led the group to an understanding of correct vowel production.. Finally Vern was tasked with “voicing” each section so that the singers’ voice qualities blend rather than clash with their neighbors. “There are no bad voices, “ said Vern. Some are “flutes,” some are “reeds,” some are “glue.” The trick is proper placement.
Due to a scheduling mix-up, the Alto section was unable to attend a session with Milo Gramaans, the collaborative pianist. Your correspondent identifies as “Alto” and thus has no first-hand report about his workshop. Reports from other section personnel indicated that Milo focused on timing and rhythms. My informants agreed that a session with The Piano Man was fun, informative, and beneficial.
The fourth workshop rotation was a sectional rehearsal focusing on two songs in the “Spring Homage” concert line-up. What happens in a sectional stays in a sectional.
With a morning of hard work and learning over, retreaters needed some sustenance. And lo, the need is fulfilled.
There was no lunch bell to ring, but every one knew what to do.
There was a sumptuous array of delicious choices!
Singing in a choir is a group activity, but standing in line for food is a time to do your own thing.
Since retreaters could not sing while eating, this was the time chosen by the organizers for two educational presentations. Board member Lissa Davis was given the task of explaining the financial underpinnings of the Coastal Voices non-profit organization. Lissa believes in dangling rewards as enticements—for example, the raffle gift basket fundraising project at our concerts. She buried a song recognition contest within her talk to encourage good listening. The audience received the gift of financial understanding and the contest winner received an additional gift certificate.
This is just as complicated as it looks. Lissa and Sue Woodruff, Coastal Voices Treasurer, understand it and therefore Coastal Voices continues to thrive.
Next up was the Board Chairperson, Dr. Paul Caldron. That’s “Doctor” as in retired physician. Because proper breathing techniques are so important for singers, Paul decided to focus on aspects of the respiratory apparatus in the human body that can contribute to better breath control and support for the singing voice.
Paul began with an inside view of the lungs and diaphragm.
He moved on to a picture of the inner workings of the lungs and finally the rib cage that contains and protects all these organs. He demonstrated the ability of the rib cage to expand when required.
Paul connected the physiology of the body parts to the teachings about correct breathing execution that Rhodd and Raleigh present during warm-ups and rehearsals.
Lissa and Paul have their complete attention.
Full of good food and useful information. retreaters began to use their new knowledge in a group singing situation. Rhodd decided on a different orientation of the sections, so everyone had to find their correct area. A new seating chart appeared, based on Vern’s voicing workshop efforts. More confusion.
“Oh hello! I sit by you now!” “Where are all my altos?” “Yes, I really want you to sit here for now!”
When all the seating kerfuffle was over, the choir settled in for some hard work. Vern briefly took the lead to test out the results of his vowel work and the voice-blending project. He seemed satisfied. “My work here is done.”
The remainder of the afternoon was spent learning a new selection and returning to a previously studied work, keeping in mind the techniques learned earlier at the workshops and the lectures.
The hours spent at the retreat by the choir members resulted in stronger personal bonds among the singers. Attendees also expanded their knowledge of tonal qualities, vowel formation and production, rhythms, specialty cuisines, financial matters, human anatomy, breathing techniques, and Rhodd’s directorial techniques. They also learned to be flexible regarding ever-changing seating charts. All these subjects will advance the performance level of the choir for the 2024 “Spring Homage” concert. And that is the point of the retreat.
Thank you to Cathy Vickers for helping with the candid photographs.