to practise in order to improve and prepare for performance

the speed of the music - how fast or slow the music is played

how each part is matched against another to ensure that no one part overwhelms the others

Tilly reflects on rehearsing 

British English CC

Faith talks about musical teamwork

Listen to Siobhan from Paraorchestra

Faith reflects on why she likes rehearsing with others

Egan's Polka Performance track - New Audio 2

Egan's Polka Folk Version

Warm ups 

Bungalow

Elevator 

Rehearsing as an ensemble

Music

Practising effectively

Practising a rhythmic accompaniment

Practising a melodic accompaniment

Playing together as an ensemble

Performing and reflecting on the rehearsal journey

In this unit, we explore effective ensemble rehearsal. Professional ensembles share their secrets for success when practising alone, in small groups and as a wider ensemble. Effective rehearsal strategies are then explicitly taught to the pupils and developed in our ensemble piece.

Playing together: effective rehearsing as part of an ensemble

So that we can hear the rhythmic accompaniment.

In an ensemble, why is playing at the same tempo important?

True or false? Part of playing in an ensemble is adjusting our own part when needed to help the group stay together.

True or false? Every time we rehearse together, we should work on the same things to get better at them.

when the melody is embellished with extra notes

when players on the same part match their sound so they feel like one ‘voice’

the combination of different layers of sounds

Sitting or standing in different layouts and working out which is best.

Stopping to consider how you can improve, and what next to work on.

Choosing one person to not play, to listen to the overall sound. and feedback.

Just focusing on getting your own part right.

Which of these is not a useful rehearsal strategy?

When we play in an ensemble, we are aware of our {{}}, so that we can balance the parts within the texture.

True or false? In a rehearsal we can experiment with the music and make decisions together about how we want the music to sound.

Rehearsing as an ensemble

Lesson outcome