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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • The devil doesn't always have the best songs!

    Added February 22, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1176 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It turns out that the devil might not have the best tunes after all.     Although I run a secular choir (I don’t have a religious bone in my body) we do end up singing a lot of sacred songs. This is purely because some of t... read more

  • All change! - handing your choir over to someone else

    Added February 15, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1172 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In January 2008 I handed over the reins of my first choir WorldSong to a new musical director after ten years at the helm.     And in September 2010 – again after ten years – I handed over the leadership of Woven Chor... read more

  • The art of persuasion: how to get people to book in advance

    Added February 8, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1503 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   "Places strictly limited." "Book now to avoid disappointment!" "To be sure of a place, please send a cheque." "Last year we sold out, so reserve a place early!"   Photo by London Permaculture   How many times have you heard thes... read more

  • You are the most important singer in your choir

    Added February 1, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2649 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Yes, you! No matter what size your choir is, you are by far the most important singer in it.   photo by ~BillieJoesEntourage   Without you, the choir would simply not function. We couldn’t do it without you! If you left, ... read more

  • How to keep the old songs in your repertoire from going stale

    Added January 25, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1754 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Out come all the favourite songs that everyone loves – songs that you’ve sung hundreds of times before.   photo by John Bencina   But how can you stop them from going stale and keep them fresh for performance? I&rsq... read more

  • Why choir leaders aren’t millionaires (even though we charge a lot)

    Added January 18, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2232 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Sometimes I get paid over £100 per hour. That makes me a millionaire right?   Photo by Ian Britton from FreeFoto.com   Wrong! I don’t get paid that every hour I work. In fact, I would say I spend over 80% of my time ... read more

  • Polished songs or deeper learning experience – which is better in a singing workshop?

    Added January 11, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1671 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   At the end of each of my singing workshop I record the group singing through all the songs I’ve taught. I then make the recording available to the participants.   Photo by Dennis AB   But I’ve been getting comments a... read more

  • What small changes will make you a better singer or choir leader in the coming year?

    Added January 4, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1649 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There is always room for improvement, whether you’re a singer, a choir leader, a choral arranger, a workshop leader or a choir committee member. But it can become overwhelming if you tackle everything at once and try to make too many chan... read more

  • Do you have to be a good singer to lead a choir?

    Added December 14, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 2113 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I read an article in the latest Sounding Board (the journal of community music from Sound Sense) about the University of Sunderland’s new BA in Community Music at The Sage Gateshead. Part of the course involves students “performing ... read more

  • How to build a choir from scratch in under an hour

    Added December 7, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 2627 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   A few years ago I was asked by BBC Radio Suffolk to create a choir from scratch to perform in a concert in aid of Children in Need: The Big Night Out Community Choir.     60 strangers gathered in a church hall and after just thre... read more