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  • Cheap and effective song arrangements for your community choir

    Added August 23, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2347 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Choir leaders often ask me where I source my songs. I’ve written about this in previous posts: Finding songs for your choir and Easy songs for your choir.     One place you can get some tried and tested songs for your choir... read more

  • Why can’t we sing more songs in English?

    Added August 16, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1481 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   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&rdquo... read more

  • What to do if you don’t have a ‘nice’ voice

    Added August 9, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1244 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   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.   photo by konch   Is there an... read more

  • Use the long choir break to get better at what you do

    Added August 2, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2004 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Most choirs have a long break at this time of year (whether it’s your summer or your winter).   photo by Timothy Valentine   Apart from missing the singing and your choir friends, what will you do with yourself? Here are s... read more

  • How to sing religious songs if you’re not religious (or it’s not your religion)

    Added July 19, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 3360 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I sing and teach sacred songs from a wide range of religious traditions. But I don’t have a religious bone in my body.   photo by 10x10 - Educate Girls. Change the World   I have no problems singing about ‘spirit&rsq... read more

  • Why does the first wrong note you learn stay with you forever?

    Added July 12, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1207 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Sometimes (yes, I admit it), I make a mistake when I’m teaching a new song. It may be a wrong note, wrong timing or wrong phrasing.     Yet even though I correct it quickly, this first mistake stays in people’s heads.... read more

  • Raising the bar: singing with people who are more experienced than you

    Added July 5, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2184 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many of us are wary of attending singing workshops or choirs when we feel that people will be a lot more experienced than us. This is particularly true when you’re starting out as a singer, but that feeling never goes away!   ph... read more

  • How to use your audience to recruit choir members

    Added June 28, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2124 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   To maintain a healthy, growing choir, you need new recruits, but often you feel like you’ve exhausted all your usual sources.   photo by Star File Photo (On the home front: Toronto in WWI, Toronto Star)   Here are some ide... read more

  • Ask not what your choir can do for you – ask what you can you do for your choir

    Added June 21, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1887 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Kirsten left a comment on my post How to be a good choir member.   photo by Brandon Cripps   She suggested that a good choir member should “go beyond the music”, i.e. get involved with the practicalities of running t... read more

  • Don’t try to help your fellow singers – it’s not your job!

    Added June 14, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 4920 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many’s the time I see Ann lean over to Gill (not their real names) to help her get her part right. And every time I see a pained expression on Gill’s face.   photo by m_culnane   She doesn’t want Ann’s he... read more