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Rehearsal



 
 
A rehearsal is a preparatory event in music
Music

Music is an art form whose media is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture ....
 and theatre
Theatre

Theatre is the branch of the performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one or more actor, isolated in time and/or Theater , present themselves to Audience." By this broad definition, theatre has existed since the dawn of man, as a result of human tendency for story telling....
 (and in other contexts) that is performed before the official public performance
Performance

A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which one group of people behave in a particular way for another group of people ....
, as a form of practice
Practice (learning method)

Practice or practise is the act of rehearsing a behavior over and over, or engaging in an activity again and again, for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase "practice makes perfect"....
, and to ensure that all details of the performance are adequate for professional presentation.

Rehearsal in theatre or opera house
In theatre, a performing arts ensemble rehearses a work in preparation for performance before an audience.

Rehearsals that occur early in the production process are sometimes referred to as run-through's.






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A rehearsal is a preparatory event in music
Music

Music is an art form whose media is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture ....
 and theatre
Theatre

Theatre is the branch of the performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one or more actor, isolated in time and/or Theater , present themselves to Audience." By this broad definition, theatre has existed since the dawn of man, as a result of human tendency for story telling....
 (and in other contexts) that is performed before the official public performance
Performance

A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which one group of people behave in a particular way for another group of people ....
, as a form of practice
Practice (learning method)

Practice or practise is the act of rehearsing a behavior over and over, or engaging in an activity again and again, for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase "practice makes perfect"....
, and to ensure that all details of the performance are adequate for professional presentation.

Rehearsal in theatre or opera house


In theatre, a performing arts ensemble rehearses a work in preparation for performance before an audience.

Rehearsals that occur early in the production process are sometimes referred to as run-through's. Typically a run-through does not contain many of the technical aspects of a performance, and is primarily used to assist performers in learning dialogue and to solidify aspects of blocking
Blocking (stage)

Blocking is a theatre term which refers to the precise movement and positioning of actors on a Stage in order to facilitate the performance of a Play , ballet, film or opera....
.

A Q-2-Q or cue to cue is a type of technical rehearsal
Technical rehearsal

The technical rehearsal or tech rehearsal is a rehearsal that focuses on the technological aspects of the performance, in theatrical, musical theatre, and filmed entertainment....
 and is intended primarily for the technicians involved in a performance, although they are of great value to the entire ensemble. It is intended to allow the technicians and stage manager to rehearse the technical aspects of a performance and identify and resolve glitches. Performers do not typically rehearse entire scenes
Scene (film)

In television and film, a scene is a part of the action in a single location. Due to the ability to film editing recorded visual works, it is typically much shorter than a play scene....
 during Q-2-Q's, but instead only perform dialogue or actions that are used by the stage manager as a marker for when to initiate technical sequences or cues (hence the title). Abbreviated Q-2-Q's in which only the opening and closing sequences of each act or scene
Scene (film)

In television and film, a scene is a part of the action in a single location. Due to the ability to film editing recorded visual works, it is typically much shorter than a play scene....
 are performed is sometimes referred to as top's and tails. It is rare for any but the most technically complex performances to have Q-2-Q rehearsals outside of technical week
Technical week

Technical week refers to the week prior to the opening night of a Play , Musical theatre or similar production in which all of the technical elements are present during rehearsal for the first time....
.

Cue to cues are often preceded by a dry tech, in which the technicians rehearse their cues without the actual performers present at the rehearsal.

A dress rehearsal is a rehearsal or series of rehearsals in which the ensemble dresses as they will dress at the performance for the audience. The entire performance will be run from beginning to end, exactly as the real performances will be, including pauses for intermissions. An open dress is a dress rehearsal to which specific individuals have been invited to attend as audience members. They may include patrons, family and friends of the ensemble, or reviewers from the media. The dress rehearsal is often the last set of rehearsals before the concert performance and falls at the end of technical week
Technical week

Technical week refers to the week prior to the opening night of a Play , Musical theatre or similar production in which all of the technical elements are present during rehearsal for the first time....
.

A preview, although technically a performance as there is a full audience; including individuals who have paid for admission, is arguably also a rehearsal in as far as it is not uncommon in complex performances for the production to stop, or even return to an earlier point in the performance if there are unavoidable or unresolvable problems.

Orchestral and concert rehearsals


Rehearsing a musical composition often involves repeating some passages over and over again until everyone in the ensemble masters them. Rehearsal letter
Rehearsal letter

A rehearsal letter is a boldface letter of the alphabet in an orchestral Sheet music, and its corresponding parts, that provides a convenient spot from which to resume rehearsal after a break....
s can be very helpful for this purpose.

Orchestras often have section rehearsals or sectionals in which a section of the orchestra (e.g., the woodwind players) rehearse on their own.

Prior to rehearsing a concerto
Concerto

The term Concerto usually refers to a three-part musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. The concerto, as understood in this modern way, arose in the Baroque period side by side with the concerto grosso, which contrasted a small group of instruments with the rest of the orchestra....
 with an orchestra, a soloist will often rehearse it with a pianist substituting for the entire orchestra (thus, two pianists in the case of piano concerti).

To help with tempo in solo or chamber rehearsals, a metronome
Metronome

A metronome is any device that produces a regulated aural, visual or tactile pulse to establish a steady tempo in the performance of music. It is a useful practice tool for musicians that dates back to the early 19th century....
 may be used.

For music performances, a dress rehearsal does not imply dressing in performance concert dress. It is merely a final rehearsal before performance where generally the ensemble will run through the entire program as if there is an audience.

Rehearsal in other contexts

The use of rehearsals and dress rehearsals extends beyond the performing arts. The introduction of major changes to complex industrial and technical fields, such as information systems
Information systems

In a general sense, the term information system refers to a system of persons, data records and activities that process the data and information in an organization, and it includes the organization's manual and automated processes....
 is often rehearsed, particularly where this requires multiple activities to be coordinated and completed within time constraints. Many companies undertook major initiatives to rehearse the changes associated with the Year 2000 problem
Year 2000 problem

The Year 2000 problem was a notable computer bug resulting from the practice in early computer program design of representing the year with two digits....
 and the economic and monetary union of the European Union
Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union

In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency amongst themselves. The European Economic and Monetary Union consists of three stages coordinating economic policy and culminating with the adoption of the euro, the EU's single currency....
.

See also

  • Sitzprobe
    Sitzprobe

    Sitzprobe is a term used in opera and musical theatre to describe a seated rehearsal where the singers sing with the orchestra, focusing attention on integrating the two groups....
  • Stagecraft
    Stagecraft

    File:Robert Edmond Jones.jpgStagecraft is a generic term referring to the technical aspects of theatrical, film, and video production. It includes, but is not limited to, constructing and rigging scenery, hanging and focusing of lighting, design and procurement of costumes, makeup, procurement of theatrical properties and recording and mixin...
  • Technical rehearsal
    Technical rehearsal

    The technical rehearsal or tech rehearsal is a rehearsal that focuses on the technological aspects of the performance, in theatrical, musical theatre, and filmed entertainment....