The Wednesday Workout: Practical Techniques for Rehearsing the Church Choir [Paperback]

Richard Devinney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1993

"By the Way- You Start Tomorrow Night". The recruiting of a less-than-fully-trained person is usually done at the last minute, since the search for a fully trained person will continue as long as there is either time or hope. Our last-minute, inexperienced director, then will be starting immediately. This first chapter is the most light-hearted, the most general, and the most basic of the book. It is pep talk and a look at the thing to do the first night for the first Sunday. The remainder of the book covers the other ongoing aspects of planning and directing effective choral rehearsals. * Easy-to-use practical format and style * Light, anecdotal reading * Covers all elements of rehearsal planning and techniques * Provides directors handles on how to use rehearsal time * Helps directors learn to better plan and work ahead * Gives directors more confidence in this area of leadership Market * Church choir directors * Music directors

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (July 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687443121
• ISBN-13: 978-0687443123
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #894,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, sweet and innovative, November 26, 2000

By 

Joey Falch (Burlington, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wednesday Workout: Practical Techniques for Rehearsing the Church Choir (Paperback)

I found this to be the most inspiring book I found that is written specifically for a new choirmaster.

It doesn't get too technical. It offers unusual suggestions for getting your choir out of its established rut. It prepares you for the emotional issues that will arise.

I read "The Wednesday Night Workout" the summer before I took the reins of our choir and found it to be VERY helpful. I began the new choir season organized, innovative and armed with humor.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Striking the right chord, March 23, 2001

By 

Joseph Ritter "keepin' faith with a passion" (Barto, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wednesday Workout: Practical Techniques for Rehearsing the Church Choir (Paperback)

About 3½ years ago, I was suddenly placed in charge of a small choral group of nine people. This saved me a lot of time and energy. Many of my fears, were mentioned in the first chapter. The book is encouraging and insightful because it deals with problems and solutions you will have to deal with as a music minister in your church.

If you're starting and don't have much experience this will be a great book to help you over the learning curve.

If you've been doing choir for a while, this will encourage you with some of the best ideas concerning music ministry. I've re-read the book as a refresher and truly feel like the fire has been restarted.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compact value for newcomer or experienced, June 10, 2003

By 

"ajgram" (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wednesday Workout: Practical Techniques for Rehearsing the Church Choir (Paperback)

For the inexperienced church choir director, this book is a godsend. Very little instruction in how to wave your arms, but jam-packed with information on how to do the thousands of other things that choir directors have to do. To quote the book, "It's not enough just to be a good musician.... A church choir director must be a conductor, a coach, a teacher, a pastor, a dictator, a diplomat, a salesperson, a promoter, a cheerleader, a caregiver, a people person, an idea person, an organizer, a singer, and oh yes, a musician."
This little book has dozens of ideas on how to keep the energy and spirit and joy in a church choir. I used a dozen little Post-It tabs to mark places I wanted to re-read. Highly recommended.
For actual conducting technique, I recommend Choral Conducting: Focus on Communication, by Harold A. Decker and Colleen J. Kirk.