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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • How to get the best from your singers: don’t tell them it’s hard!

    Added November 13, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1413 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   For the last eight years I’ve created a performance choir from scratch each year – a kind of Instant Choir, Just Add People – which I call a Singing Safari. A bunch of strangers come together for six two-hour sessions and I manage t... read more

  • How to have fun AND rehearse for your next concert

    Added November 6, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1748 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about choirs that choose not to perform. None of the choirs or singing groups that I have run were formed as performing groups.   Stellenbosch University Choir South Africa   I’ve always made it clear that our ... read more

  • Choirs that don’t perform - why on earth not??!!

    Added October 30, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1214 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about Audiences at choral concerts.   Sangstream rehearsal by fiddledidee   But what if your choir doesn’t perform?   choirs don't have to perform When I started my first community choir back in 1997, t... read more

  • Audiences at choral concerts: who are they?

    Added October 23, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1839 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In July 2010, after ten years leading Woven Chords, we had our final concert together.   Little old ladies by Arty Smokes   As always, we had hoped for a full house packed with an enthusiastic audience. But we ended up with around 60 ... read more

  • Tackling complex song structure without written music

    Added October 16, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 2454 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The choirs and workshops that I lead are run on the principle that music should be accessible to all. This means that I don’t use written music to teach since I can’t assume that everyone can read music.   Map of the structure of... read more

  • Why do we stop singing when we grow up?

    Added October 9, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1947 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The average age of people who attend the choirs and workshops that I run must be around 50. I would say that about a third of any group is of retirement age, and the majority of the rest are in their early 40s to late 50s.     photo by... read more

  • Improve your harmony singing - residential weekend in Cambridgeshire

    Added October 3, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 869 views - 0 comments
    This weekend filled up really fast last year, and even though it's not until next May, over half the places have already gone!   Full details and booking form on my website: chrisrowbury.com   BETTER HARMONY SINGING — THE SMALL GROUP CHALLENGE Friday 2 May 2014 5pm to Sunday 4 May 2014 2pm The Claret Centre, Buckden Towers Hig... read more

  • Choosing the right songs for a concert

    Added October 3, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1956 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about Choosing a running order for your concert or CD.     This week I want to tackle the slightly easier task of selecting which songs the choir is going to perform.   look out, a concert is coming! Once agai... read more

  • Choosing a running order for your concert or CD

    Added September 25, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1778 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s only September, but many choirs are already thinking of their Christmas concerts. Christmas is also the time of year when choirs release new CDs.     Choosing songs is not too hard, but programming them in a sensible order c... read more

  • Does your choir respond to where it's based?

    Added September 19, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1389 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I lived in Coventry in the Midlands of the UK for almost 13 years (gosh, doesn’t time fly!), although I’m originally from South London. In 2010 I moved East to Suffolk.   Both my partner (who is an artist) and I aren’t linked... read more