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  • 7 ways to share your choir’s singing without making a big performance of it

    Added January 10, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1265 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Some choirs don’t perform at all (see Choirs that don’t perform). But most choirs, at some point, will want to share their hard work with others.   photo by pyramis   It is possible to share your choir songs without ... read more

  • Looking after yourself in a busy concert season

    Added December 20, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1094 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   For many of us, this time of year is just one concert after another. It’s great to be doing so much singing, but it can have its downsides.   photo by Jonathan Lundkvist   If we overdo it, we can get ill or lose our voice.... read more

  • One unkind word can put you off singing for ever – how to protect yourself

    Added December 13, 2017 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]   There have been plenty of UK television programmes over the years which have involved solo singing auditions such as The Voice and X Factor. Comments about the standard of singing have sometimes been off-hand, sarcastic, and even cruel.  ... read more

  • Should you have auditions for a workplace or community choir?

    Added December 6, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1346 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Gareth Malone returned to UK television back in 2013 with a second series of The Choir: Sing While You Work. The choirmaster went into five different organisations to form workplace choirs which then competed against each other.   phot... read more

  • What motivates you to turn up to choir week after week?

    Added November 29, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1705 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   You can tell winter is on its way because it’s dark and cold when I set off for choir each week.   photo by Todd Shaffer   It would be much easier to stay at home in front of the fire, so what motivates you to wrap up warm... read more

  • How to deal with choir members who are always late

    Added November 22, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2801 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s the final rehearsal before your big concert. The warm up is over and everyone is ready to go. But a handful of singers (the usual suspects) are not there. Late again!   photo by lunarnature   What can you do about tho... read more

  • Be the best singer you can, but don’t forget there’s more to life

    Added November 15, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 956 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   For some people being a famous singer or being in the best choir in the world or making a hit record or singing a piece perfectly in competition is the be-all and end-all.   photo by make little sharks   But if you take it too s... read more

  • How to catch up if you miss a choir rehearsal

    Added November 8, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2078 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Apparently there is more to life than just singing (can’t imagine what), so occasionally you may have to miss a choir rehearsal (not me though!).   photo by nataliej   Here are some tips for catching up with what you&rsquo... read more

  • How to cope with learning by ear if you usually read music notation

    Added November 1, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1312 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many choirs use written notation to learn and perform songs. Over time singers can come to depend on having the dots in front of them.   photo by Molly Germaine These singers may then join a different choir or go to a singing worksho... read more

  • How to cope with sheet music if you don’t read and usually learn songs by ear

    Added October 25, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 4846 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   As promised in last week’s post (Singers who learn by ear vs. those who use sheet music – what happens when they swap?), this is the first of two posts helping you cope with an unfamiliar way of learning songs.   photo by J... read more