Scroll down for information about a free on-line sight-singing course, and for general information about where to obtain rehearsal tracks and vocal scores. SPC has a 10% discount arrangement for CD purchase from Choral Line – apply the code SHEFFIELD when you purchase CDs from them.
For voice-related advice about preparing at home, check out Preparing Your Voice
Resources for Come and Sing Choral Anthems 24 May 2025 and Haydn Creation 8 June 2025
Harris Faire is the Heaven
Faire is the Heaven YouTube with rolling score
Faire is the Heaven YouTube Voces 8
Faire is the Heaven – Choralia rehearsal tracks
Parry I Was Glad
I Was Glad You Tube recording with scrolling score
I Was Glad You Tube The Sixteen
I Was Glad Band Camp practise files
Parry A Blest Pair of Sirens
A Blest Pair of Sirens You Tube recording with scrolling score
A Blest Pair of Sirens You Tube St John’s Cambridge
A Blest Pair of Sirens Choralia practise files
Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region
Towards the Unknown Region You Tube with rolling score
Towards the Unknown Region Choralia practise files
Haydn
Before rehearsals Get to know the score. For example, are there solo parts, does a particular voice part stop at any point, does the music divide at any point? Go through and make sure you know exactly which line you should be on, and mark where it isn’t clear. Clearly mark repeats and where they go back to a previous page; use a tab to easily find it. Have a look at where your note comes from for a new entry and join it to yours. Put tabs in for different sections of the piece to make them easier to find. Use paper clips to close off any sections that are going to be missed out.
Rehearsal tracks Rehearsal tracks are designed to help you learn your voice part by listening to it in isolation and/or with the other voice parts in the background. Some are based on recorded singers and therefore include the words, while others feature the voice parts played on an instrument, so of course there are no words. You can purchase rehearsal tracks from Choraline, at choraline.com. These are great if you prefer to hear a recording of your voice part but they aren’t free. It costs £8.99 for a download, or £12.99 for a CD. The Chorus has arranged a 10% discount for members; type SHEFFIELD in the discount code box on the shopping basket page, or say you’re a member of SPC if ordering over the telephone on 01285 644845. For just notes (no words) you could try:
- Choralia, for listening to, or downloading, mp3 files of your voice part; http://www.choralia.net/mp3catalogue.htm.
- John Fletcher’s site, which uses a clarinet to emphasis the voice part you select. Registration is free for works that are out of copyright; https://johnfletchermusic.org.
- Cyberbass, which has a huge catalogue and is free to use online; http://www.cyberbass.com.
- Learn Choral Music, which provides free Midi files; http://www.learnchoralmusic.co.uk.
- Divageek; not easy to search but has rehearsal resources for some lesser-known works, so worth a search; https://www.divageek.org/
If you have an IPad or IPhone there is an excellent App called ‘Learn my part’ by Steve Tyler; get it here. If you want to see what it offers and how to use it, have a look at this useful video.
Go to next page: Preparing Your Voice [/private]