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addition of educational extensions University of Oregon School of The book is divided into elev-
for each work. This is an extremely Music and Dance, draws on her en chapters that cover topics such
helpful and useful inclusion. This vast experience in choral rehears- as how the understanding of the
new section provides teaching sug- al strategy combined with the brain’s neural networks and the
gestions that may be utilized as study of how the brain learns to integration of problem solving in
part of the rehearsal or as exten- create this informative guide on the choral rehearsal can help our
sions for either choirs or lessons in how to incorporate brain-com- singers retain and recall informa-
the general music setting. As a re- patible strategies into rehearsals. tion, to how informed rehearsal
viewer, I was delighted to fi nd this As she states in the introduc- pacing can create a sense of “fl ow”
new section added to each work. tion, the journey toward a more that will maximize rehearsal time.
Teaching Music through Performance brain-friendly approach to teach- Each chapter contains a balance

in Contemporary A Cappella is high- ing choral music began early in of scientific explanation and dis-
ly recommended to choral music her college teaching career at Cal- cussion, complete with a treasure
teachers of all levels of expertise in ifornia State University, Chico. trove of additional resources Paul
this genre, but especially to those She attended a workshop hosted researched and cited, with prac-
new to the contemporary a cappella by a psychology professor at the tical and pragmatic applications
world. Practicing high school cho- university on the biopsychology of for the reader to implement into

ral teachers may wish to add this in- learning, specifically the four prin- their own rehearsals. In addition,
expensive addition to their resource ciples of brain function. From this Paul interleaves personal anecdotes
library, especially since the Teacher workshop, Paul discovered that of rehearsal situations or conver-
Resource Guide is a portion of the many of her teaching techniques sations with students that range
book that can be utilized again and and strategies, including those uti- from humorous to heart-warming.
again. Choral music teacher edu- lized in choral rehearsals, were not While the reader will undoubt-

cators may wish to add this to their effective according to how students edly glean a multitude of new strat-
list of recommendations to pre-ser- learn, retain, and recall knowledge. egies and rehearsal tips, there is also
vice undergraduate students in This led to a paradigm shift in how a chance that some of the ideas
their choral methods courses. This she approached planning, teaching, mentioned will already be familiar
text is well worth the time of busy and rehearsing. The ideas shared and utilized frequently. It is, how-
choral teachers to read, digest, and in this book come from thirty years ever, fascinating to explore the cog-
refer to when planning lessons and of exploring cognitive neuroscience nitive and psychological evidence
programming. and educational psychology, their for why those strategies are suc-

effects on musical learning, and cessful. Equipped with that knowl-
how this knowledge can positively edge and understanding, the read-
shape the choral rehearsal process. er can further improve their use.
Submitted by John McDonald
While that might sound overly Other topics covered include
academic and possibly complicated, the role of emotional connection
Art & Science in the Choral the title of the book is Art & Science in learning music, a fascinating dis-
Rehearsal in the Choral Rehearsal. Paul strikes a cussion on motivation in the choral
Sharon J. Paul wonderful balance of addressing rehearsal, the study of Multiple In-
Oxford University Press, 2020 both the art (music, expression, telligences Theory and Learning
240 pages passion) and science (cognition, Styles and how they can improve
$26.95 (paperback) psychology, neuroscience) to deliv- the approach to understanding
er a myriad of strategies useful for singers as learners, engaging stu-
Dr. Sharon J. Paul, Robert M. any conductor, experienced or be- dents through activating their imag-
Trotter Chair of Music and Di- ginner, looking to improve their re- ination, the psychology of rehearsal

rector of Choral Activities at the hearsal effi ciency and eff ectiveness. including specific ideas on integrat-
CHORAL JOURNAL October 2022 Volume 63 Number 3 69