Just starting choir... in college.?

Question:I know this is an odd time to start.

I'm a pianist (and flautist for a while) and music business major in my Junior year of college. I need to fulfill a "large ensemble" credit, which puts me in choir next quarter.

I've never sang in a choir before. I obviously know about pitch, tone, blending, etc. from flute ensembles.
Are there other specifics I can focus on to "catch up" with the ensemble? It's rather daunting to be placed in the same choir with vocal performance majors.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I know this is an odd time to start.

I'm a pianist (and flautist for a while) and music business major in my Junior year of college. I need to fulfill a "large ensemble" credit, which puts me in choir next quarter.

I've never sang in a choir before. I obviously know about pitch, tone, blending, etc. from flute ensembles.
Are there other specifics I can focus on to "catch up" with the ensemble? It's rather daunting to be placed in the same choir with vocal performance majors.

Good for you for doing the choir. It's not so different than playing an instrument in an ensemble.

The only thing I'd emphasize in addition to your list would be working on breathing correctly. There are plenty of things on the web about how to stand and how to breathe while singing.

The diaphragmmatic breath control you must use to play the flute is about the same as for singing. The main difference is that you will be standing up to sing.

Oh -- you will always sound better after a good warm-up. Same as warming up the flute, or warming up your piano hands.

Don't stress out over the vocal performance majors, just show up for class, be enthusiastic, and enjoy yourself. :-)

I would suggest begining voice class. That will help you out a lot. I too am a Music Major took sightsinging for two semesters and then choir and that seem to help me out a bit.

Really there is not much beyond being able to sing. Voice classes will help you develop a sound (how to modify your sound to be more operatic... though it all depends how you control your voice... i honestly dont like singing like that but i have to for the most part)

Also, good aural skills are very important to have when singing in a choir or a smaller vocal ensemble, especially if you will be singing the harmonics instead of cantus firmus (the main melody). Too soloist-like voice is not very good for choir as it often can drown out others though!