Determining section for new members

[RICHBET]

Hello everyone,

Do any of you MOM's, worship leaders, or choir directors use "top notes" to determine what section to place a new member who joins your choir.  For example, I have thought about using this type of test"

G above high C- Soprano
D above high C- Alto
A below high C- Tenor

How does anyone else here determine section placement?

[LyricTenor]

If I knew what that meant, I could tell you.

[RICHBET]

What I mean is, how do you determine if someone should be in the tenor section, or the alto section, or the soprano section? 

For example, some may have a particular audition song with well defined parts that new members must learn.  Depending on how they sing that sing, it determines what section they will sing in.

This type of audition not only determines section but it is a good indicator of memorzation skills.

I have tried just playing a scale on a keyboard and gradually getting higher until the person can't go anymore.  This is usually the top of their range.  So if the top of their range is somewhere that sopranos usually are, I will put them in the soprano section.

I just wanted to see how other music department leaders placed new members in a certain section. 

Are there any other things that you do during an audition to help evaluate the skill of the singer and what part best suit them?

[LyricTenor]

What I mean is, how do you determine if someone should be in the tenor section, or the alto section, or the soprano section? 

For example, some may have a particular audition song with well defined parts that new members must learn.  Depending on how they sing that sing, it determines what section they will sing in.

This type of audition not only determines section but it is a good indicator of memorzation skills.

I have tried just playing a scale on a keyboard and gradually getting higher until the person can't go anymore.  This is usually the top of their range.  So if the top of their range is somewhere that sopranos usually are, I will put them in the soprano section.

I just wanted to see how other music department leaders placed new members in a certain section. 

Are there any other things that you do during an audition to help evaluate the skill of the singer and what part best suit them?

Let me first apologize, bkecause you didn't get my elaborate attempt @ humor. 

Now, I've had to do both of the ones you mentioned above (audition & the scale method) and that seems to bke the norm.  If there are other methods, I'm sure the gurus on here can help.

I do have a question about the scale method though.  Do you test just their natural voice or do u include head voice and falsetto?

[RICHBET]

I mostly only consider the natural chest voice.

Thanks for your input Lyric!!

Does anyone else have any insights or suggestions about sections?

[LyricTenor]

You might want to speak w/2KlubKlarity on this one.