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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Arranging songs for your choir 1: choosing the right song

    Added June 8, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 2256 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   A friend of mine asked the other day: “How do you find songs? And how do you do vocal arrangements of them?”   Photo by Jorge Franganillo/   Well, it’s a long story and I certainly can’t teach song arrang... read more

  • Singing: what a difference a man makes!

    Added June 1, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 2468 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   A woman came up to me last Saturday and said “I like coming to your workshops because there are always lots of men”.     Keen singers from The OK Chorale   Little did she know that only a week before there had b... read more

  • Beginners choir or established choir: time to re-evaluate?

    Added May 25, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 1816 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   When I started my first ever choir, WorldSong, it was an open-access beginner’s choir and anyone who wanted to sing could join.     Over time, as people stuck with the choir, the singing and the singers got better. We weren... read more

  • There's always one! – coping with different singing abilities in a small group

    Added May 18, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 1773 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Sometimes in a small group there is just one person out of step with everyone else.   Photo by Trish Steel   In a large choir, it’s not too much of a problem, but the smaller the group, the more noticeable it is. How can w... read more

  • When is singing jargon not singing jargon?

    Added May 11, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 1317 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Jargon is a useful shorthand for people in the know. But for those outside our world, it can be confusing or even meaningless.     We might think we’re being clear, but how can we be sure that everyone understands what we&r... read more

  • Training to be a choir or singing workshop leader

    Added May 4, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 1508 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I often get enquiries about how you train to become a choir or singing workshop leader.     I don’t offer courses myself, but there are a few around. But do you really need training?   Some people have a strong music... read more

  • Singing is all about listening

    Added April 27, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 5010 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I wrote last week about people who think they can’t ‘sing’ because they think they need training or singing lessons first (Your singing voice: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!).     We focus so much ... read more

  • Your singing voice: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

    Added April 20, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 1441 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I wrote a post a a few years back called Do you need singing lessons in order to sing?   Photo by Anna Strumillo   My main point was that many people are frightened to sing in public before they’ve had ‘training&rsqu... read more

  • Can you be the wrong age to sing?

    Added April 13, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 1230 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Here in the UK the arts seem to cater for just three age groups.   Photo by vintagedept   If you don’t fit into one of these, then woe betide you!   the three ages The groupings (and what they really "mean") are: ... read more

  • Sing folk songs of Eastern Europe in beautiful English Lake District, 22-24 July

    Added April 6, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 887 views - 0 comments
    Early bird dealine for this weekend ends on Friday 22 April, £20 per person extra after that date.   SING FOLK SONGS OF EASTERN EUROPE — residential weekend   Friday 22 July 2016 5pm to Sunday 24 July 2016 2pm Brathay Hall Ambleside LA22 0HP Cumbria, Lake District Cost: £185 (superior twin/ double)/ £170 (smal... read more