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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Can open-access choirs cater for every kind of singer?

    Added April 25, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 729 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   As a member of the Natural Voice Network I share their belief that everybody can sing and nobody should be excluded from music-making. Which is why no ‘natural voice’ choirs hold auditions or use unnecessary musical jargon.   ... read more

  • How to choose soloists in your choir: audition or self-selection?

    Added April 11, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1300 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Rather than everyone singing all the time, many choirs ring the changes by creating smaller ensembles within the larger choir or have occasional solos.   photo by Shelly Mags   In a non-auditioned, open-access choir, what is the... read more

  • Singing in a choir – balancing individual freedom with the demands of the team

    Added April 4, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 2341 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Those of us who love to sing often love to sing at the top of our voices. It’s joyous!   photo by William P. Gottlieb But when you’re part of a choir you have to rein in those tendencies for the greater good of the overal... read more

  • Process vs. product: are you along for the singing ride or just the final performance?

    Added March 28, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 896 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Learning and polishing a song can be a long process. Some people find it a chore and can’t wait to get to the end result: a public performance.     But others enjoy the ride, going deeper into the song, finding the nuances,... read more

  • Never tell someone they can’t sing – it is brutal, damaging and untrue

    Added March 21, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 86279 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Most of the people who come to my singing workshops are in their 50s and pretty much all of them have a story to tell about the time someone told them they couldn’t sing.   photo by TrueDragon13   Many of the stories date ... read more

  • Helping your singers learn to hold a harmony part on their own

    Added March 14, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 2703 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Singers in a choir are used to singing their harmony part surrounded by others singing the same thing. Holding a part by themselves in a small group seems like a real challenge.   photo by Eric Kilby   In this post I’ll sh... read more

  • What’s the opposite of a “Singing for fun” choir?

    Added February 28, 2018 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]   Certain people are rather dismissive of “Singing for fun” choirs. If it’s for fun then it can’t possibly be of any quality.     Then I got to wondering: what are their choirs like? What’s the opposit... read more

  • Avoid toxic choir leaders – the end does NOT justify the means

    Added February 21, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1430 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There are some workshop and choir leaders who work through fear. They are not particularly nice people, but they do get good results.   photo by Craig Sunter   Yet it is possible to work compassionately and with fun to get the s... read more

  • Joining an established choir: a guide for how choir leaders can help new singers

    Added February 14, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1290 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about the challenges faced by singers joining an established choir.   photo by fromcolettewithlove   This week I will look at what choir leaders and committees can do to make the transition easier.   my ... read more

  • Joining an established choir: a guide for new singers

    Added February 7, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 2278 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Joining a new choir is a bit like going to big school: it’s exciting, but a bit scary and it will take a while to learn the ropes.   photo by VisitCopenhagen   Here is a guide to help you take your first few steps as a new... read more