Choir English
Understand the conductor and talk with other singers.
Singing in an international choir or with an English-speaking conductor? Learn the words for rehearsals and the quick instructions conductors give – often in the middle of a song.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| rehearsal | Probe | Rehearsal starts at seven on Tuesdays. |
| conductor · choir director | Dirigent(in) · Chorleiter(in) | Watch the conductor, not your music. |
| section | Stimmgruppe | The tenor section needs more singers. |
| part | Stimme (Partie) | Do you know your part yet? |
| sheet music | Noten | Please bring your sheet music next week. |
| score | Partitur | The conductor marked the changes in her score. |
| bar (UK) · measure (US) | Takt | Let's start again at bar 32. |
| to sight-read | vom Blatt singen | Can you sight-read, or do you learn by ear? |
| warm-up | Einsingen | The warm-up takes about ten minutes. |
| cut-off | Abschlag, Schlusszeichen | Watch me for the cut-off at the end. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- to sing in a choir
- to blend with the others
- to come in too early
- to keep time
- to drag · to rush
- dress rehearsal
- a full run-through
- to mark your music
"Altos, you came in too early – wait for the sopranos."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
What conductors say
- From the top!
- Let's take it from bar 32.
- Basses, you're dragging.
- Sopranos only, please.
What singers say
- Could we have our starting note?
- Which bar are we at?
- Could we go over that bit again?
- I'm not sure of my part here.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Have you ever sung in a choir? What was it like?
- What makes a good conductor?
- How do you learn your part – by ear or from the music?
- Why do you think singing together makes people feel good?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What does a conductor mean by "From the top!"?
Start again from the beginning.
2. What is "Takt" in British English?
A bar (in American English: a measure).
3. "You're dragging." Is the choir too fast or too slow?
Too slow.
Explore More
More pages in the Voice & Singing series.
Sing together in English.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and enjoy using your voice in English.
Watch. Listen. Blend.