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Author Topic: Choir Director / Signals  (Read 16589 times)

Offline ferrente

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Choir Director / Signals
« on: September 14, 2009, 02:06:00 PM »
Is there an updated list of all the correct Choir Director signals.

Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed.

Offline under13

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2009, 02:08:11 PM »
Give us the list that you have :)

Offline pressingon3

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2009, 11:44:22 AM »
Is there an updated list of all the correct Choir Director signals.


Please share this list because Im having a difficult time following our directress. She knows her sop, alto,tenor parts, but when it comes to directing,she and I end up on different parts of the song which is so frustrating. Another thing is that the musicians are on opposite sides of the church. We dont have the space to all be on one side of the church. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Offline betnich

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2009, 07:29:47 PM »
Maybe there should be DSL - Director Sign Language...

;)

Offline kodacolor

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2009, 08:24:41 PM »
Maybe there should be DSL - Director Sign Language...

;)

Slightly off the subject, but I always thought incorporationg ASL into directing would be a good idea.  Signs like "again", the numbers, letters (which could help the musicians find their keys if they need it), and a couple other could prove to be very helpful when directing.

Offline ferrente

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2009, 09:37:21 AM »
Give us the list that you have :)

Signal for choir to stand:
Hold both palms down, then turn both palms over at the same time, rise both palms up slowly.

Signal for changing parts:
Close fists left hand, Use right hand to count down to change.

Loud: Use a large beat pattern, holding arms
away from the body. Hold the left palm
up, or let the left arm mirror the beat
pattern for emphasis.

Soft:  Use a small beat pattern, with arms close
to the body. Hold left palm down.

Fast:   Use a quick beat pattern, with sharp
motions and crisp bounces on the beats.

Slow:  Use a slow beat pattern, with graceful
motions and soft bounces on the beats.

Getting louder:  Use a beat pattern increasing in size.
Hold the left palm up and push it upward,
moving the arms away from the body.

Getting softer:   Use a beat pattern decreasing in size.
Hold the left palm down and push it
downward, moving the arms closer
to the body.

Speeding up:  Make the beat pattern faster, with motions
becoming more crisp and the beat more
pronounced.

Slowing down: Make the beat pattern slower, with
motions becoming more graceful and
the beat less pronounced


Solemn, reverent:  Use a smooth, rounded beat pattern with
legato soft bounces on the beat.

Bright, joyful: Use an animated, angular beat pattern,
with sharp bounces on the beat.

One vocal line is more: Use the left hand to signal palm up to
important than the others the important vocal group, palm down to
the other groups.

One part of the choir sings: Face the group that is to sing.
while the other is silent

Part of the choir cuts Before the cutoff: look at the group that
off while the other part is to cut off. Give the cutoff signal with
continues to sing the left hand (the right hand continues the
beat pattern), and then face the group
that is to continue singing.

The silent part: First look at the singers who are to begin
choir joins the singing part singing; then do a preparatory beat with
your left hand and bring them in. Mirror
the beat pattern with your left hand for a
measure or more.

Part of the choir sustains: Hold your left hand, palm up, in the
a note while the other part direction of the group that is sustaining.
sings other notes Continue the beat pattern with your
right hand.

Signal to cut the music: Cross fingers on both hands, make all musicians can see you, cross both arms and un-cross quickly.

Signal to bring music by in:  Wave both arms and with a single finger in both hands and get eye contact with all musicians.

Ending the song: Open left palm, use right to count down to ending.
Signal for seating, Turn both palms down slowly.
Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed.

Offline JoanHall

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2009, 04:53:23 PM »
Slightly off the subject, but I always thought incorporationg ASL into directing would be a good idea.  Signs like "again", the numbers, letters (which could help the musicians find their keys if they need it), and a couple other could prove to be very helpful when directing.
I use the sign language alphabet sometimes with my brother (plays bass) and it can be very helpful.  The other musicians don't know it.  In one instance I used the sign for "Jesus" when we got to the part of a song where they're supposed to say "Jesus".

Offline under13

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2009, 04:56:31 PM »
Thats very helpful Ferrente.

If its one thing I hate, its PnW leaders (and I use that term loosley) who refuse to siganal, or they get so caught up that they forget to signal.

Offline sjonathan02

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2009, 07:33:30 AM »
Thats very helpful Ferrente.

If its one thing I hate, its PnW leaders (and I use that term loosley) who refuse to siganal, or they get so caught up that they forget to signal.

I can understand the former, but the latter?  ?/?



When in doubt, do it the way you rehearsed it.  ;) :D
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Offline LyricTenor

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2009, 06:44:34 PM »
Thats very helpful Ferrente.

If its one thing I hate, its PnW leaders (and I use that term loosley) who refuse to siganal, or they get so caught up that they forget the words.

Don't worry, I fixed that for ya'!!  No charge.

 :D :D

Offline JoanHall

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2011, 08:34:26 AM »
If it's of interest to anyone, I just posted a web page about a  lot of the signals that I use.  I was a little nervous about making videos of myself, but hopefully the information is useful.  Link: Hand signals for choir directing

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2011, 08:43:24 AM »
If it's of interest to anyone, I just posted a web page about a  lot of the signals that I use.  I was a little nervous about making videos of myself, but hopefully the information is useful.  Link: Hand signals for choir directing


Thanks for the videos and the help!!!

Offline betnich

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #12 on: June 04, 2011, 10:09:36 AM »
Signal for choir to stand:
Hold both palms down, then turn both palms over at the same time, rise both palms up slowly.

Signal for changing parts:
Close fists left hand, Use right hand to count down to change.

Loud: Use a large beat pattern, holding arms
away from the body. Hold the left palm
up, or let the left arm mirror the beat
pattern for emphasis.

Soft:  Use a small beat pattern, with arms close
to the body. Hold left palm down.

Fast:   Use a quick beat pattern, with sharp
motions and crisp bounces on the beats.

Slow:  Use a slow beat pattern, with graceful
motions and soft bounces on the beats.

Getting louder:  Use a beat pattern increasing in size.
Hold the left palm up and push it upward,
moving the arms away from the body.

Getting softer:   Use a beat pattern decreasing in size.
Hold the left palm down and push it
downward, moving the arms closer
to the body.

Speeding up:  Make the beat pattern faster, with motions
becoming more crisp and the beat more
pronounced.

Slowing down: Make the beat pattern slower, with
motions becoming more graceful and
the beat less pronounced


Solemn, reverent:  Use a smooth, rounded beat pattern with
legato soft bounces on the beat.

Bright, joyful: Use an animated, angular beat pattern,
with sharp bounces on the beat.

One vocal line is more: Use the left hand to signal palm up to
important than the others the important vocal group, palm down to
the other groups.

One part of the choir sings: Face the group that is to sing.
while the other is silent

Part of the choir cuts Before the cutoff: look at the group that
off while the other part is to cut off. Give the cutoff signal with
continues to sing the left hand (the right hand continues the
beat pattern), and then face the group
that is to continue singing.

The silent part: First look at the singers who are to begin
choir joins the singing part singing; then do a preparatory beat with
your left hand and bring them in. Mirror
the beat pattern with your left hand for a
measure or more.

Part of the choir sustains: Hold your left hand, palm up, in the
a note while the other part direction of the group that is sustaining.
sings other notes Continue the beat pattern with your
right hand.

Signal to cut the music: Cross fingers on both hands, make all musicians can see you, cross both arms and un-cross quickly.

Signal to bring music by in:  Wave both arms and with a single finger in both hands and get eye contact with all musicians.

Ending the song: Open left palm, use right to count down to ending.
Signal for seating, Turn both palms down slowly.


Thanks. Am copying this... :)

Offline vtguy84

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #13 on: June 06, 2011, 02:49:43 PM »
Very good tips.  Once you direct for a while, you start to personalize your movements.  I've got some pretty interesting moves that aren't on this list. :D
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Offline LyricTenor

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Re: Choir Director / Signals
« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2011, 07:37:31 AM »
Very good tips.  Once you direct for a while, you start to personalize your movements.  I've got some pretty interesting moves that aren't on this list. :D

Well, thank u ever so much  ::) for that informative list.

 8)
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