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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Regular weekly choir or drop-in singing group? – the pros and cons

    Added August 1, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1378 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Some choirs and singing groups meet frequently, often once a week, requiring a high level of commitment. Others meet less frequently and work on a drop-in basis with no requirement to attend every session.     There are advantage... read more

  • If you’re looking for new singers, don’t expect them to come to you

    Added July 18, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 2387 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   You’ve put your fliers out, spread the word, mentioned it on Facebook, but still you find it hard to recruit new singers.   photo by Indra Hardi Saputro   If you’re asking someone to try something unfamiliar, you nee... read more

  • Singing – the more you do it, the worse you get!

    Added July 11, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1156 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   You work on a song in choir week after week, but slowly things seem to get worse. You worry about getting the words right, you can’t seem to remember the second part of the melody, your voice stops hitting the high notes.   photo... read more

  • Dress to impress – choosing suitable outfits for your choir

    Added July 4, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 6780 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   As many regular readers will know, I hate a choir in uniform.     However, it is a good idea to have some kind of unifying dress code and also to show your audience that you’ve made an effort. Here are some ideas to conside... read more

  • Taking over an established choir – a guide for choir leaders

    Added June 27, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1278 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Choir leaders don’t last forever so there will come a time when a choir needs to find a new one.     If you’re the person who gets the job it can seem daunting to take over a long-established choir. Here are a few tip... read more

  • How do you get to the truth of what your singing ability really is?

    Added June 20, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1020 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There is often a mismatch between how good you think you are as a singer and what your abilities really are.     Some people vastly overrate their singing abilities (just watch X Factor!), whilst others with a fine singing voice ... read more

  • Choir? Chorale? Ensemble? What’s in a name?

    Added June 13, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 9198 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many of you know that I avoid using the ‘C’ word: choir. But there other similar terms that I find just as bad: chorus, chorale, chamber choir.     What’s in a name? What does it tell you about the singing group... read more

  • What makes a ‘good’ singer? – it’s all about context

    Added June 6, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1394 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Those of you who read this blog regularly know that I believe that everyone can sing. If you want to know more, you can read “Everyone can sing” – what the hell does that mean??!!   photo by Hollywata   Given t... read more

  • “Darling, your technique is showing” – don’t be a singer who is all style and no substance

    Added May 30, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 733 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s usually the case that professional singers have had some sort of training in a particular singing technique.   photo by Kevin Cease   But dontcha just hate it when that’s all you see when they perform??!! All st... read more

  • What to say if someone asks you if they can sing

    Added May 23, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 5416 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   A friend asks you to comment on their singing or asks you if you think they can sing at all.     What can you say without hurting their feelings or putting them off singing entirely? I wrote recently that you should never tell s... read more