"Woodshedding", or shedding, is a term commonly used by musicians to mean rehearsing a difficult passage repeatedly until it can be performed flawlessly.
The term is used
metaphorically
A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide (or obscure) clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are often compared with ...
where "the woodshed" means any private place to practice without being heard by anyone else. This is based on the assumption that an actual woodshed would likely be in a remote location, away from the main house.
In jazz music
In
jazz lingo, woodshedding is often shortened to 'shed or 'shedding. According to Paul Klemperer, a Texas-based jazz educator, woodshedding is more than just practicing— it is "the place where you work out the techniques that form the foundation of your improvisational ability".
In barbershop singing
In
barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era (1930s–present), is a style of a cappella close harmony, or unaccompanied vocal music, characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a primari ...
, woodshedding can mean starting only with a melody and working out harmonies by ear without benefit of notated music.
Other uses
In legal parlance, "woodshedding" refers to the instruction given to a witness to make him respond in one party's favor. It is the act of impermissibly coaching a witness or unfairly prejudicing him during ''
ex parte
In law, ''ex parte'' () is a Latin term meaning literally "from/out of the party/faction of" (name of party/faction, often omitted), thus signifying "on behalf of (name)". An ''ex parte'' decision is one decided by a judge without requiring all ...
'' communications.
This fits with the concept of the metaphor of a "woodshed" being a private place where such conspiracy might occur. It is also called "
horse shedding" and involves practice questions and answers or even a mock trial. Such tactics can have an impact on a witness's memory, which is malleable and suggestible.
References
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External links
Example sentences on Wikipedia using the word "woodshedding"
Musical terminology