University choral rehearsals in China and Canada: a comparative case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore similarities and differences of choral rehearsals at one university choir in China and one university choir in Canada, focusing on strategies of repertoire selection, rehearsal organization, and conductor behaviours. The research method was comparative case study. Four rehearsals of one university choir in China and six rehearsals of one university choir in Canada were studied. Interviews with the conductors, observation of rehearsals, field notes, and conductors’ lesson plans provided the data. Similarities and differences were found in the three focused areas: strategies of repertoire selection, rehearsal organization, and conductor behaviours. Pertinent findings include the following: 1) There is no ideal choral program for all choral conductors. 2) Conductor behaviour is largely affected by the underlying philosophy that guides a conductor’s teaching as well as social conventions. 3) Although the two choirs in the study had different natures and cultural backgrounds, their conductors demonstrated some common traits, especially those current trends which are supported by the majority of music educators around the world, for example, multicultural music.