The Wednesday Workout: Practical Techniques for Rehearsing the Church Choir

by Richard Devinney

"By the Way- You Start Tomorrow Night". The recruiting of a less-than-fully-trained person is usually done at the last minute, since the search for a fully trained person will continue as long as there is either time or hope. Our last-minute, inexperienced director, then will be starting immediately. This first chapter is the most light-hearted, the most general, and the most basic of the book. It is pep talk and a look at the thing to do the first night for the first Sunday. The remainder of the book covers the other ongoing aspects of planning and directing effective choral rehearsals.
* Easy-to-use practical format and style
* Light, anecdotal reading
* Covers all elements of rehearsal planning and techniques
* Provides directors handles on how to use rehearsal time
* Helps directors learn to better plan and work ahead
* Gives directors more confidence in this area of leadership
Market
* Church choir directors
* Music directors

Genres: Music

96 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

Reviews

[Claire Stelljes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little goofy, but less goofy than you might expect for a book with this cover art. Genuinely good advice inside.

[Mark Loring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard DeVinney was the former Director of Music and the Arts at First United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, MI. He recently passed away while vacationing in France. This was of course required reading when I took this first "big time" church job at the above mentioned church. Dick had a great way with people. What I can say is that you should buy this book if you are in any way involved in Music Ministry. Lots of practical advice for you newbies but also lots of great advice for those who have been involved in churches for a long time. A great way to learn how to minister to people through the power of music.

[Becki · Rating 5 out of 5]

4. 5 ⭐
This book is less than 100 pages. It doesn't claim to be a complete guide to anything, but it is a nice starting primer for the beginning Choir Choir director. Supportive and comforting, The Wednesday Workout gives a basic overview of conducting, recruiting, planning, vocal production, and group leadership. I have been a musician (and a church musician) for many years, but I appreciated the way this little guide focused on one thing- finding your immediate footing as a new vocal leader in the church setting.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in under two hours. It's short and light on detail. I have directed choirs for 46 years, with a few short gaps scattered in those decades. I knew much of what the author said, yet I also learned some new things. More important were the reminders of things easily forgotten or overlooked.

I captured some highlights that I have saved in my reading file for future use in rehearsals and preparation of our singers.

Overall, this is a useful and helpful book.

[Annmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this at the beginning of the summer and am going to read it again because I'm going to be serving as the Interim Music Director at our church. It was written for people without music experience who are thrown into the position of choir director. I still found it very helpful because my area of expertise is instrumental, not choral music. I'm going to need all the help I can get!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book full of helpful advice. Suggestions about how to make choir practices more productive and efficient. I recommend it to anyone who is thinking about or new to a choir directing role. Also helpful if you want to improve or fine tune your role and not sure where to start. Each chapter looks at different aspects of choir work.

[Melissa Snavely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise, greatly broken down for the lay reader.
But I am just a bit confused about the book’s intended audience. Are there really that many people who are tasked with directing a church choir that have NO KNOWLEDGE of music, as the author puts it ‘waving their arms’, etc??? I am very sad if this is true.