Rudsamblog

Tom did warm up with lots of suspension and amazing grapes

Walking on - it was decided to walk round Christina because there'll be space and she's only a wee thing to have to walk round.
I would have said this last night but didn't think about it till now but it's something we started doing with Frances and should perhaps keep doing. AFTER finishing a song and BEFORE starting the next one, it's a good idea to wait for a couple of seconds. It looks a bit unprofessional and messy and panicky shuffling about trying to get on to the next song asap. It's also good idea to stand a couple of seconds, acknowledge the brief applause,think about the next item and then move...

aurora - normal formation
LOOK UP it's our first song and it gives a REALLY BAD impression if we're all looking down at our copies to start a concert.
Ollie can't do anything about it if we've got our noses in folders.
We're all older than he is so have to do it ourselves...
Mind to come off the 't's' on rutilat together

bonny at morn - Shut folders
Peter move. Folks shuffle up to close gap
Peter gives a D to start
Ollie gives 1 bar
Use the EE sounds to smile. Most important, look intelligent when singing. Use your eyebrows to express interest in what you're singing.
The first verse is about agricultural disasters.
Ollie tried to demonstrate how much easier it was to smile at people you know especially when they're pulling funny faces. I think the point was you have to smile at the audience even if they don't respond.

Sovay - Keep folders shut
Move into V formation. Tip from Claire, stand so you can see over the left (or right if a man) shoulder of the person in front.
Remember turns, on the word rather than just after you've sung it and just realised.
Watch Ollie with eye corners for the end of dea.....d.
After song, Women step forward to let men in and then move.

Mihi - Open folders
Altos have had a bit of a swap round - on the front, end to middle,

• Rachael
• Mirren
• Jenny
• Susan

on the back, end to middle

• Natalie
• Anne
• Claire

Really nice, starting to sound polished
Something about bringing out parts but several people kept nicking my pencil so I missed where and when.

Vaarvindar - Stay put with folders open
Wonder if Ollie really will wear some dots - oooh how about spotty uniforms...?
Did well to remember rhythm but it got a bit sloppy in bar 17
Let's hear more alto - woooo - in bar 30

Miks e mulle - Folders open
Altos shuffle - on the front, from end to middle

• Anne
• Claire
• Jenny
• Susan

on the back, from end to
middle -

• Natalie
• Rachael
• Mirren

Remember to step forward when solo-ing
Everyone LOOOK UP. Especially when you're only humming or not doing a verse.

Sleep - Folders open
Ollie to front with music stand and baton - ooooOOOOooo!
Altos swap back to MIHI FORMATION
Use whatever copy you want but please bring the new copy with you! (whether you've punched hole in it or written in it or whatever. Ollie thinks it's pointless buying them if we don't put holes in them and use them but Susan would like to keep them nice and clean...... and let's face it once the uniform has been sorted out we'll need another ongoing debate to take it's place!!!)
this is sounding lovely it's really really good and Ollie is really excited to be singing it.
Look for something different he'll do for the last sleep
b. 46 Altos there's a break wings and of (but I think i was the only one didn't)
(footwear crisis to be solved later)

Optimist - Folders open
Stay put
Imagine a little Ollie standing in front of us being optimistic,
Shut folders and follow Ollie's bowing techniques

dle dle - Only if the audience are crazy for another song.
Watch the tempo
Ollie did lots of fast and slow conducting to prove a point (but I personally liked it speeding up and slowing down)

Douglas is bringing cds and float? Chris is bringing programmes. Please be at Portrait Gallery on QUEEN STREET as near to 5.15 as possible. We have a warm up room on top floor.

Thursday 21zt June - Possible concert - details to be confirmed.

Ollie thanked everyone for their hard work and well done.

See you later, Jenny