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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Your singing experience depends on how you feel, not just on what you do

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] On the face of it, a workshop or concert can be a resounding success.   photo by Andy Armstrong   But ask individuals about how they think it went and some people will think it was terrible.   Sometimes I have to run a workshop... read more
  • Keeping choir attendance up – stick or carrot?

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] As I wrote recently (It’s summer – where have all the choir gone??!!), patchy attendance at regular choir sessions can be very frustrating.   donkey photo by Clay Junell   If you’re a community, or amateur, or singin... read more
  • If not now, when? – start singing NOW!

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] “It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready.” Hugh Laurie   photo by Fido   Especially when that day may never come when you truly feel ‘ready’. So start singing now! Hugh L... read more
  • How to sing – the definitive guide

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   “How to sing” is one of the most common requests I get. The answer is simple: open your mouth and let the sound out.   photo by Spekoek   I’m not being facetious, it’s as simple as that. But when someone ... read more
  • New singing weekends and new website!

    I'm delighted to be able to announce that  a brand new, full responsive version of my website will go live tomorrow, Tuesday 25 September 2018:   chrisrowbury.com     This will coincide with my twice-yearly newsletter going out to my mailing list where I'll be announcing all my singing weekends up until next June 2019. &... read more
  • How many breaks should you have on a singing course?

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   People pay good money to come on a singing course and want to sing as much as they can.     But everyone needs a break. How do you find the balance between singing and time off?   singing weekend timetables When I started... read more
  • Where do you find all your songs?

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   This is a question I’m often asked at my singing workshops, especially by people starting out as choir leaders.   photo by James Vaughan   There is often the assumption that I must have travelled to all the countries that ... read more
  • Your job as a choir leader is to disappear

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In David Zweig’s book he talks about Invisibles: people who are unseen when their job is done perfectly (who only draw attention to themselves when things go wrong).     It got me thinking that most of a choir leader’... read more
  • If some singers want more and some want less, then you must be doing something right!

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I aim to please everyone in my choirs and singing workshops. I know it’s an impossible task (see Keeping a choir happy – you can’t please everyone), but I try.   photo by DurhamDundee   How do you know when you... read more
  • It’s summer – where have all the choir gone??!!

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The evening’s are lighter, the weather is warmer, the songs are amazing, the singing’s as good as ever – it’s summer!   photo by Ansel Adams   So where has everybody gone? Why are people not turning up to... read more