Comments on: We don’t need no stinkin’ director! http://TheOldSongs.com/2007/03/12/we-dont-need-no-stinkin-director/ Barbershop music, craft, & community from a director's viewpoint Fri, 30 Mar 2007 22:42:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: editor http://TheOldSongs.com/2007/03/12/we-dont-need-no-stinkin-director/comment-page-1/#comment-11 editor Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:17:41 +0000 http://TheOldSongs.com/2007/03/12/we-dont-need-no-stinkin-director/#comment-11 twhifield makes a good point, and I happen to agree with him. As a singer, I remember being in sync with my chorus director, and able to respond to his subtle changes while on stage. There is a lot to be said about that kind of connection. What Dr. Drummond was saying, however, was that all too often the performance is about the director and not about the chorus. When the director doesn't prepare the singers to be the star performers, then he or she does the group an injustice. I am learning that a properly trained group of singers can understand and own the song, while still communicating through the director to the audience. The director needs to let that happen. twhifield makes a good point, and I happen to agree with him. As a singer, I remember being in sync with my chorus director, and able to respond to his subtle changes while on stage. There is a lot to be said about that kind of connection.

What Dr. Drummond was saying, however, was that all too often the performance is about the director and not about the chorus. When the director doesn’t prepare the singers to be the star performers, then he or she does the group an injustice.

I am learning that a properly trained group of singers can understand and own the song, while still communicating through the director to the audience. The director needs to let that happen.

]]> By: twhitfield http://TheOldSongs.com/2007/03/12/we-dont-need-no-stinkin-director/comment-page-1/#comment-10 twhitfield Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:39:31 +0000 http://TheOldSongs.com/2007/03/12/we-dont-need-no-stinkin-director/#comment-10 If I understand him correctly, I guess I would have to disagree with Dr. Drummond. While I have experienced some times when my Director did get in the way, so to speak, it was usually getting to the coffee and doughnuts, or out of the parking lot. I never felt that I could not "own" the song just because he was up there waving his hands and grinning at me. I have always felt that he and I were a team, and needed to be connected visually, even though I may only be watching him out of the corner of my visual field, in order for his interpretation of the song to flow through me to the audience. While consistency of interpretation is appreciated, I would never want to merely memorize it, or take away the Director's right to change it sutily, and spontaneously, from time to time. For me, beautiful things have happened most often when I and all other singers are "tuned" in and responsive to the Director's every move and expression. If I understand him correctly, I guess I would have to disagree with Dr. Drummond. While I have experienced some times when my Director did get in the way, so to speak, it was usually getting to the coffee and doughnuts, or out of the parking lot. I never felt that I could not “own” the song just because he was up there waving his hands and grinning at me. I have always felt that he and I were a team, and needed to be connected visually, even though I may only be watching him out of the corner of my visual field, in order for his interpretation of the song to flow through me to the audience. While consistency of interpretation is appreciated, I would never want to merely memorize it, or take away the Director’s right to change it sutily, and spontaneously, from time to time. For me, beautiful things have happened most often when I and all other singers are “tuned” in and responsive to the Director’s every move and expression.

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