That's a lot of rehearsal time. I find that after a point, my choir doesn't get any better. I'm just beating a dead horse.

I had a choir member call this morning (after a rigorous 2 hr. practice last night where we ran through 13 songs), to tell me I am pushing my singers too hard--that choir members were feeling stressed and frustrated.

There is at least one person in every choir (except it appears from what CharlesW has said, hemay have a whole flock of them) who takes it upon themselves to attempt to tell the choir director what to do.

You are the same choir director, doing exactly what you have for 14 years and you have not changed. You've gotten better, if anything.

IF they would listen, you would not have to stop them over and over again. The only thing that you can do to make it fun is to turn them on themselves, make them the NoBreathThere/Don'tPronounceThatR police, and give them kazoos to grab and play when others in their section forget and screw up.

I disagree with our three brethren above. It is not your fault, you are doing nothing wrong, in fact, you are doing everything right.

If there are truly people who are pissed off because you insist that they remember to breathe only where permitted and the R's be pronounced in a consistent manner, then your "advisor" needs to tell them to join another choir, one that lost members to your choir because they do want to improve and be part of a group.

You have the best choir because you work to make them sound better than they could on their own or any other director in your area.

Catholics!

Or they could join this group where their pronunciation and breathing practices would be less obvious:

It does seem a little late in the game to be working on details of sound--a year-round project--with a volunteer choir preparing for Holy Week.

I agree with others that it might be good to fix just one or two things. I would make sure everything is learned with confidence, and let them go home early from the second rehearsal if possible.

On the other hand, one swallow does not a summer make, and it could well be that this one singer speaks for him/herself only. So you needn't feel like you've ruined everyone's Easter or anything. Choir people can sometimes be...interesting.

Lastly, I would say that the more relaxed you can be and appear, the easier things will be for your choir. Charles Cole said the most interesting thing at the Colloquium last year. He said he doesn't have to speak about posture to his choirs. He communicates posture by modeling it. I think the same thing can be said for mood and confidence in general. If you want a tense choir that forgets things, be impatient. If you want a beautiful round sound, be full of confidence and pleasure.

I have been at my position 15 years, and 5 at the church before that. How far back do you want to go? I have seen many come and go, as well as, stay and shoot themselves in the foot. A little calmness and politeness goes a long way toward peace in the choir, and toward defusing stressful situations. You don't think Easter is stressful enough?

I've been at my church for almost that length of time. It is a volunteer choir. I think the answer is somewhere in the middle.

Have you had your final pre-Easter rehearsal? If not, at your next rehearsal bring a treat to say thanks. Bake something, buy something... Whatever... See if the pastor is available and have him come in and say a big thank you.

Continue to strive for excellence. But take a GOOD look at what you have accomplished and what needs to be done and decide on what matters most. If there is time, touch on the extras.

I was completely frustrated with our Crux Fidelis at last rehearsal... I don't know what to do with it...I feel your pain.

Noel is right, it could be one squeaky wheel, but others may be right in believing he could be speaking the thoughts of others... Try to keep a balance.

God bless your work, especially next week!

Noel, ole buddy, ole pal,

Where'd you get this idea?

I was tempted to click the 'thank' option on Noel's first comment above, but negotiating his syntax and unfortunate vocabulary dissuaded me. Now that I said that, I do agree wholeheartedly with him - in substance.

It is admirable that you have a choir that is scheduled for two more two hour rehearsals before the Triduum! I assume that they are doing this with willing hearts if you have been following this schedule for a number of years. Both you and they are exemplary. One rarely finds this kind of dedication outside Protestant circles. You are doing everything right.

Your frustrations are not unique. They merely show your concern for reaching the highest level of which your choir are capable, and of your zeal for the Lord's house. Just don't let your angst infect the choir. Share it with colleagues but not with them, lest they give in to their own fears and become demoralised. At the same time, be sensitive to them and always be encouraging. And, be as encouraging to yourself as you are to them. You and they will do well; and I can't imagine that with two more two hour rehearsals you should have to alter the programme you have planned. I disagree totally with those who counsel jettisonning repertory.

P.S.: Decide on what matters of 1) Nuance, 2) diction, 3) rhythm, 4)dynamics, 5) blend, 6) Vowel and Pitch agreement, 7)Tuning, etc., you will address, and parcel out your time to deal with all of these in a relaxed and catechetical manner. Keep your rehearsal relaxed and unruffled. Be methodical and display absolute confidence in you choirister and yourself. Never raise you voice or betray pertubation. And, IF you can afford to let rehearsal out ten minutes early, this is good for displaying and building confidence. With your group, I wouldn't mind being in your shoes! (By the way: where are your shoes?)

Noel, God bless you. Just one more thing you may have missed in the original post. It ended with "Any thoughts, anyone?" Let's take that "anyone" seriously, shall we, as always on this forum.

A story: once I took on a big gardening project during Lent, knowing that I would need a physical outlet for my stress leading up to Holy Week. That was a good Lent for this music director.

Once against my better judgment I accepted a friend's invitation to Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. Before dinner I chatted with an elderly woman and we were seated in such a way that I had to have my head turned to the side to see her for perhaps 10 minutes. Normally I can survive such physical demands, but on this particular day my neck skipped way beyond the crick stage and basically locked in place. Didn't sleep a wink all night, hobbled to a doctor next morning-sad, sad business.

Just to confirm, from my pov, that the demands are serious and somewhat mysterious, and hylomorphic.

I hope my thoughts help. Here's what I've learned in the same capacity as a DM/organist for about the same number of years as you. My choir will be stressed and frustrated IF I am. The energy among your singers has so much to do with the energy YOU bring into the room. If you bring your own stress, expect that entire room to feel stressful. I must say, your choir singers are troopers for spending 2 hours going through as much music as you mention. I'd remind them cheerfully of how glad you are to have their efforts and dedication, and that the music will be ALL the better because of their efforts expended. Sure, we can drive away thinking about all the things that could be better, but perhaps let's switch our thinking to what has become better through that rehearsal. Instead of "oh well I'm a type A".....let's remember that we're church musicians and we ALL want our musical offerings to be well presented. I try to remind my singers that after the season is over, they won't reflect on how stressed they were, they will reflect on the music and the impact it had on their worship.

Forgive me for opening up an old-and-edging-into-acrimonous thread, but whichever of the earlier posters judged the situation correctly, I once received one piece of advice that seems to fit all situations.

Remember to love your choristers more than you love the music.

Save the Liturgy, save the World

[L]ove your choristers more than you love the music

...is fine, assuming you love the music. Just hating them less won't cut it! ;-)

It always helps me to remind myself to worry about things that might stick beyond this week and make a difference down the line. Arrr's and breathing according to the phrase surely are part of that!