Consequently, these rehearsal techniques can improve the standard of performance achieved by adult amateur choirs in addition to allowing them to perform more challenging repertoire, whilst also proving to be a viable way in which to provide community musical education for adults.

Through a series of assessments – comprising self-evaluations, qualitative assessments in the form of questionnaires and objective sight- reading and dictation assessments – completed before and after a term of rehearsals, it was concluded that rehearsal techniques based on the Kodály Concept of Music Education are beneficial for adult amateur choirs in terms of improving the singers’ standard of music competency. The aim of this work was to investigate the benefits of adapting the teaching methodologies associated with the Kodály Concept of Music Education for singers in an adult amateur choir, in order to assess whether these rehearsal techniques could help to improve skills such as musical literacy, aural perception, intonation and rhythmic accuracy. This has repercussions in terms of both the repertoire which the singers are able to perform and the standard of performance itself, as very often, the bulk of rehearsal time must be devoted to learning notes, instead of focusing on the finer details of music making.

A lack of musical education and experience amongst singers in adult amateur choirs can impact negatively on the efficiency of choral rehearsals.