21 May Update
- May 22
- 5 min read
Week 6 of 6 (Half Term 1)
In this week's bulletin, we have:
Coffee Notices
A rehearsal recap
Registration reminder - 7th June Winsford Gardens
☕ Coffee Notices
Summer seems to have arrived 🌞 – and long may it continue! Ending the half-term on a high note is always welcome.
In this week’s bulletin, we have: Coffee Notices and a rehearsal recap with singing notes for Perfect by Pink.
Winsford Gardens and extra rehearsal
We’ve had a great sign-up for Winsford Gardens, but there’s still time to join in. Please do use the registration form if you would still like to take part.
For those who aren’t yet feeling confident enough to sing on the day, you are very welcome to come along and enjoy a few hours of community spirit instead. Your support is always appreciated.
We are also proposing to hold a 'sectional' rehearsal during the half term (please vote for the dates you'll be able to attend in our WhatsApp Community). This would be an additional rehearsal to help prepare for the performance. These sessions are always greatly appreciated – a little less formal than our weekly rehearsals, but no less valuable.
🎤 Rehearsal Recap
Warmup
Many elements of singing require structure and regular practice, and a good warm-up can do so much of the work. In this week’s guided session, Elena introduced us to the ‘power of the finger’.
Using your index finger placed vertically against the lips – with the tip touching the nose and the base resting on the chin – helps focus the sound as you sing through the notes. If the sound is being projected correctly, you should feel the lips vibrating gently against the finger.
Combined with the ‘Pingu’ or ‘fish face’ position, this exercise also encourages good airflow and vocal placement. Elena joked that it may even help keep wrinkles at bay!
Working once again with arpeggios, we used a long consonant ‘S’ followed by vowels in this order:[I] ‘Sssee’[E] ‘Ssseh’[A] ‘Sssah’[O] ‘Sssoh’[U] ‘Sssoo’
The aim was to keep the ‘Ssss’ flowing smoothly into the vowel, without any break between the sounds.
We worked gradually up through the octave, taking care not to push the voice too hard. Using the nose and the familiar ‘Pingu/fish face’ position helps warm up the full vocal range safely and effectively.
Songs
Perfect by Pink
There are a few revisions to the printed and online versions of the lyric sheet. See the revised lyrics here.
We have also prepared a numbered box version, which you can use with the detailed notes below.
This arrangement is sung in two-part harmony for most of the song. The final section – Box 17 – introduces a third part sung by a small number of sopranos.
Notes for all
Please watch the conductor carefully for the start of the song (Box 1). This opening needs a clean, unified start.
Where harmonies use the same lyrics, the rhythm remains the same, but the altos sing the lower pitch while the sopranos sing the higher pitch.
This is a soft rock/pop song with strong consonants, so clear diction throughout is important.
Altos
Box 2 – stress the consonants. This section is sung in unison with the sopranos.
Box 2 – ‘misplaced’ is sung quickly, unlike many of the other ‘mis’ words.
Box 2 – ‘underestimated’ should be sung ‘un-der-es-ti-mate-ed’.
Box 3, lines 1 and 3 – place emphasis on the third ‘please’ and the final ‘feel’.
Box 3, line 2 – should read: ‘Like you’re less than, less than perfect’.
Box 3, line 5 – ‘To–me’ should be sung as two clear words.
Box 5 – the line ends on an upward note.
Box 7 – ‘when’ is high.
Box 10 – the line ends on an upward note.
Box 12 – ‘in’ is high.
Box 14, line 5 – ‘I’ve seen’ has a softened ‘I’, creating more of a ‘ve’seen’ sound.
Box 14, line 5 – ‘sa–me’ rises high.
Box 15, line 2 – should read: ‘Like you’re less than, less than perfect’.
Box 16 – this section is rapped. Work through each line individually and tap out the rhythm if helpful.
Box 16, line 9 – ‘Why do I do that?’ should feel strong, punchy and slightly frustrated. If adding texture to the sound, use the nose rather than the throat to avoid strain.
Box 16, line 10 – ‘ye-e-e-e-aa-h’
Box 17, line 1 – ‘ye-e-e-e-aa-h’
Box 17, lines 3, 5 and 7 – ‘Like you’re less than, less than perfect’
Sopranos
Box 2 – stress the consonants. This section is sung in unison with the altos.
Box 2 – ‘misplaced’ is sung quickly, unlike many of the other ‘mis’ words.
Box 2 – ‘underestimated’ should be sung ‘un-der-es-ti-mate-ed’.
Box 3, lines 1 and 3 – place emphasis on the third ‘please’ and the final ‘feel’.
Box 3, line 2 – should read: ‘Like you’re less than, less than perfect’.
Box 3, line 5 – ‘To–me’ should be sung as two clear words in unison with the altos.
Box 4 – the line ends on an upward note.
Box 6 – the line ends on a downward note.
Box 8 – ‘yourself’ rises: ‘yor-or-or-self’, followed by a high ‘you’.
Box 9 – the line ends on an upward note.
Box 11 – the line ends on a downward note.
Box 13 – ‘like’ rises: ‘li-i-i-ike’, followed by a high ‘you’.
Box 14, line 5 – ‘I’ve seen’ has a softened ‘I’, creating more of a ‘ve’seen’ sound.
Box 14, line 5 – ‘sa–me’ ends with a feeling of suspense.
Box 15, line 2 – should read: ‘Like you’re less than, less than perfect’.
Box 15, line 6 – ‘To–me’ should be sung as two clear words on the lower alto note.
Box 16, line 4 – ‘waste’ is high.
Box 16, line 5 – ‘Ev’-ry-where’, with ‘ev’ high.
Box 16, line 6 – ‘get’ is high.
Box 16, line 7 – ‘all the time’ follows the altos.
Box 16, line 8 – ‘Why do I do that?’
Box 17, line 1 – ‘ye-e-e-e-aa-h’
Box 17, lines 3, 5 and 7 – ‘Like you’re less than, less than perfect’
Soprano 2
Only three or four people will need to sing this part (Box 17)
This part begins just before the full choir joins.
Box 17, lines 1 and 6 – ‘misplaced’ is sung quickly again.
Dates for the diary
7th June - Winsford Garden Party
We have also been invited to sing at the Winsford Garden party - an event that will include other vocalists and musicians. Our performance will be sometime between 12.15 -1.30pm. Here is the poster advertising the event from the organisers.
