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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Should singing together be a guilty pleasure?

    Added December 20, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 1059 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Imagine going to Soho with a group of like-minded friends and gathering in a dimly-lit, subterranean private room with plush seats and stylish decor. Fully kitted out with all the necessary equipment along with a comprehensive cocktail menu, this shou... read more

  • Is singing together dying out?

    Added December 12, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 2268 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Despite an apparent re-awakened interest in singing, we don’t sing together like we used to.     TV programmes like X Factor, The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent show how popular singing still is (but mainly they show us how ... read more

  • Singing and our sense of self

    Added December 5, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 2171 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In many ways, we are all defined by the songs we choose to sing. Our favourite ditties say a lot about our tastes, background, age, religion and culture.   photo by rgdaniel   Songs and singing help to define our very personality and s... read more

  • Does your singing voice reveal the real you?

    Added November 28, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 5364 views - 2 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   We’ve all seen it: a timid, slouched, nervous person approaches the microphone. We expect disaster. They open their mouth and the most amazing, beautiful sound comes out. They transform before our very eyes into a confident, charismatic singer. ... read more
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  • Why basses can’t remember their part

    Added November 21, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 3354 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It always seems to be the basses who forget their part. I used to think it was a bloke thing, but now I realise that there are good reasons why it’s hard to remember.     droning on The bass part often follows the root notes of t... read more

  • Singing out of tune isn’t always a bad thing

    Added November 14, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 1785 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There was an article by Alex Petridis in The Guardian a few years back in which he claimed that:   “singing out of tune can convey emotions that being in tune can't”.   La, la, la, I'm not listening! by Jennoit   It ... read more

  • How many songs can you teach in an hour?

    Added November 8, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 1226 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   First I need to fess up: I have a low boredom threshold and always try to squeeze in as many songs as possible. Not always a good idea!     In an average one-day workshop (six hours with an hour for lunch), I can get throu... read more

  • 8 reasons why I don’t go to live concerts

    Added November 1, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 34848 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Music and singing are auditory experiences. We don’t need to see the musicians or singers to appreciate their music. So why bother going to live concerts? Why don’t we just stay at home and listen to a recording?   &... read more

  • Avoiding the ‘C’ word: choir

    Added October 24, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 2370 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   When I use the word ‘choir’, an image will pop into most people’s minds.     a bunch of fidgety 7-year-olds screeching out a barely recognisable version of Once in Royal David’s City at the school... read more

  • The six qualities needed to be a good choral director

    Added October 16, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 4971 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I wrote a while back about 10 ways to be a better choir member. But what qualities do you need to be a good choir leader?   Musical director by spoedman   Lately I’ve written quite a lot about leading choirs.  ... read more