Listed on October 6, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!In open-access choirs (which don’t audition), you often find one or two singers who struggle to pitch notes accurately.
In a large choir, a few individuals singing out of tune won’t usually notice. But if it does become a problem, here are some actions you can take.Read more ...
Listed on September 29, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!Last week, Angela Gracey wrote about the first two key stages of the five involved in setting up a choir: getting organised and having a plan. This week she looks at the remaining key stages: finances, finding someone to lead your choir and your first performance and beyond.
Listed on September 8, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!As choir starts back after a break, you might notice a few new faces in the ranks.
Bringing in new recruits maintains the lifeblood of a choir, but what are the pros and cons?
Listed on September 1, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!Many choirs will be starting back soon after a long break This is the perfect time to shake things up a bit if you feel things have gone a bit stale.
It’s very easy for singers (and choir leaders) to develop habits (see Breaking the habit of a lunchtime) – standing in the same place, singing the same part, doing the same old warm ups, rehearsing in the same choir configuration, singing the same old songs.Read more ...
Listed on August 31, 2013 by LeisureCourses.net in Singing, SpotlightWe asked LeisureCourses member and singing workshop leader Chris Rowbury for his views on "lifelong learning" and adult education, the highs or lows of running workshops and his plans for future courses.Read more ...
I arrange many traditional songs from all over the world in anything from two to six parts. Songs are arranged for voice only, are well within the range and capabilities of most community choirs, and are suitable for teaching by ear.
Most of the songs are in the original language of the country of origin, but some also have alternative English lyrics.
Listed on August 18, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!I often get asked this at workshops after people have struggled to get their tongues around a few foreign songs I point out that my speciality is “traditional songs from around the world in the original languages”, then I tell them that foreign songs are easier to learn. Really?Read more ...
Listed on August 11, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!Many of us don’t like the sound of our singing voice. Some people won’t even sing in front of others because they don’t want to inflict their ‘horrible’ voice on them. Is there anything we can do if we don’t have a ‘nice’ voice?Read more ...
Listed on August 4, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!How many times have you been standing next to someone in your choir section and realised that they’re singing something different from you? Are you wrong, or it it them? Actually, it (usually) doesn’t matter!Read more ...
Listed on July 28, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!Most choirs have a long break at this time of year (whether it’s your summer or your winter). Apart from missing the singing and your choir friends, what will you do with yourself? Here are some ways you can use the break to your advantage (whether you’re a singer or choir leader).Read more ...
Listed on July 21, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!Sometimes you might have to learn your song part from a recording rather than with everyone else in a choir session. Here are some hints on how to do that in the most effective way.Read more ...
Listed on July 14, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!I sing and teach sacred songs from a wide range of religious traditions. But I don’t have a religious bone in my body.Read more ...
Listed on July 7, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!Sometimes (yes, I admit it), I make a mistake when I’m teaching a new song. It maybe a wrong note, wrong timing or wrong phrasing.
Yet even though I correct it quickly, this first mistake stays in people’s heads. Why is that?Read more ...
Listed on June 30, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!Many of us are wary of attending singing workshops or choirs when we feel that people will be a lot more experienced than us.Read more ...
Listed on June 23, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!To maintain a healthy, growing choir, you need new recruits, but often you feel like you’ve exhausted all your usual sources.
Here are some ideas for how to use your audience to recruit new choir members.Read more ...
Listed on June 9, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!There are many reasons why you might want to help your fellow choir member out, and most of them are wrong!Read more ...
Listed on June 2, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs! Here are two big ideas that can help singers and choir leaders get the most out of singing.Read more ...
Listed on May 26, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!It’s amazing how many people can’t get their heads around the fact that it’s possible to teach songs without a piano (or sheet music). How is it done?Read more ...
Listed on May 19, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!There is something different and special about a residential learning experience. A whole day of singing is great, but to spend an entire weekend (or even a week) with a bunch of like-minded people, getting away from the rat race, is just magic.Read more ...
Listed on May 12, 2013 by Chris Rowbury in Blogs!Most choirs rehearse for months to perfect their songs before they perform. But there is an alternative: gather a bunch of strangers together, teach them a set of songs quickly and then perform them before they forget. This approach has many advantages ...Read more ...
