Divisi

It's one of the hardest things to do. That's what my friend, who is an extraordinary pianist of the 'world renowned concerto-with-orchestra par excellence' variety, told me when I mentioned what a hard time I was having running a choir rehearsal without an accompanist.


I am NOT an extraordinary pianist, but I can muddle through for the most part. It's challenging to focus on both playing the right notes with the right phrasing and nuances, and listening to the choir to hear what is happening in their lines and notes, not to mention giving them the direction they need for both unity and expression. You have to divide your brain and assign each part to oversee one aspect. At the same time, they have to clearly know exactly what is happening on the whole.

For the last few months, as we search for an accompanist at church, I of necessity sat at the keyboard of our wonderful grand piano during rehearsals so that I could play while directing. We are able to engage someone to play for the services on Sunday, but their schedules did not allow for helping at the rehearsals.

The more I am required to do both, the easier it becomes. While by far I am not great at it (that would take years, focus, and an excellent coach), I am growing more comfortable with what I can do to help the choir in the best way possible. I am discovering little changes that make huge differences. Still, we end up working more on the piece once Sunday morning comes and we have the day's pianist to assist. Then we can put in place those simple touches that make all the difference. Our "warm-up" is really much more than warming up!

Tonight was different. We worked - really worked - on five upcoming pieces. Something just clicked and the piano demands didn't seem to get in the way. I could clearly hear where lines were struggling, where nuances were missing, where text was unclear. At the same time, the clinkers on the keyboard were fewer and farther between.

I wonder if my brain is developing the necessary divisi all musicians must have. At class last summer, one of our challenges was to conduct a three pattern with our left hand while conducting a four pattern with our right hand, and snapping our fingers at each beat. Then we either counted or said the alphabet while doing so - triple divisi! And once we mastered that, we would say the alphabet backwards or count down from 100. Go ahead - try it. Its not as simple as it sounds.

Just when you felt like you had it all under control and happening as it should - you found your smooth groove - the professor would speed up the tempo until we all collapsed on the floor laughing our selves silly because we just couldn't keep up. You've heard of divide and conquer, but I suspect this is much more like divide and master!