Magic Choral Trick #291 Two Elbowed Thinker

A number of years ago my husband asked me to sing the vocal line for one of his songs so he could record it.

We ran it a couple of times before recording it, and because I was feeling wretchedly unwell, I was sitting down and leaning forward with my elbows on my knees, reading the music which was on the seat of another chair facing me – so my head wasn’t raised.

This was such an effortless position in which to sing, that I stayed right there as we recorded the song.

Tried this last night with my men’s Barbershop chorus – and the sound was rich and full, ringing, blended and effortless. I had them all sit in a circle, on chairs, and leaning forward – elbows on knees.

I let them sing the song intro a few times themselves – but the breaths were a bit slow, and the interpretation not as perky as I wanted it. So because they still needed me to direct, and I didn’t want them raising their heads, I sat cross legged on the floor in the middle of the circle to direct.

If and when we decide to make a CD, I think this is the way we’ll record it!!

(The above photo was taken just after we’d finished the exercise, so not everyone visible in the photo is still in position – but you get the idea)