- Be positive and supportive
- Teach the round in small musical sections
- Isolate the hard parts
- Volunteer assistance to the group (but not to an individual!)
- Use your hand to indicate relative pitch while teaching
The most important part of teaching rounds is to make sure that no one
feels too rushed or left out. Many people are very shy about singing,
and nervous about their voices. Be encouraging, try to find leaders
who know the round and can help on each part to be a strong anchor for
the others. Remember that people often have trouble following voices
singing in a different octave (it is hard for males to follow females,
and vice versa.)
Break up long rounds into smaller pieces, and sing those pieces over
and over. Be sure to sing the pieces together, too, so people don't
get lost when they try to remember which line comes next. It can be
helpful to teach the first line ("A"), singing it over and over again.
Then transition to the second ("B"), and, after B is somewhat learned,
start singing A and B together. Do similarly with the remaning
lines.
Never hesitate to go over rough spots, and try to encourage your
singers to be willing to ask that one part be sung in isolation. It
can be hard to hear a tune when multiple people are singing it, so ask
that only one person demonstrate a line or a new round.
Listen to the group; if they are having difficulty on a section, and
haven't asked for assistance yet, offer it. But always be positive
and encouraging.
Don't assume that sheet music is required: our group didn't have sheet
music for the first year or two, and even now we learn most rounds
without music.
Use your hand to indicate relative intervals between the notes. This
doesn't have to be an exact science but, especially if you don't have
sheet music, or have people who cannot read music, it lets them know
approximately where the current note is, relative to the last one.
Hold it flat horizontally, and use it like a note on a large staff.
This is often very helpful in fast runs, where you're not always sure
whether you should be ascending or descending at the moment. It is
also helpful when you're teaching a lot of people, since, in the
cacaphony of everyone trying to learn the round, it can be hard to
hear your correct notes over the incorrect notes.
If you have access to sheet music, a piano, or a recording of the
round, don't hesitate to use them. Sheet music helps anyone who can
read music, a piano can clarify the spots where your own voice may be
uncertain or unclear (especially in sections with many half steps and
accidentals), and a recording can help people know what the round will
sound like when they're done.
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