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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • How long does it take to learn a song?

    Added July 6, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 7379 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Of course it depends on how complex the song is and how many verses there are.   Photo by Frodo Babbs   But how long does it take to really get a song under your belt so you can sing it confidently without referring to either ly... read more

  • How to answer the question: “What note is that?”

    Added June 29, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 1847 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   We’re in the middle of learning a song. People are struggling a bit. Then someone asks: “What note is that?”   Photo by photosteve101   A seemingly simple question, but how on earth do you answer it?   P... read more

  • Why the singers in your choir still love you even though they look bored

    Added June 22, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 5162 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Even though I’ve been teaching for almost 30 years, I still get affected by that glum-looking face in the third row.   ... and it's not just the men!   Just one frown amongst a sea of smiling faces is enough to make me dou... read more

  • Arranging songs for your choir 2: the basics of arranging

    Added June 15, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 2309 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about choosing suitable songs to arrange.   Photo by the incredible how   This week I want to get down to the nitty gritty of how to create an arrangement.   As I pointed out before, there is no way that... read more

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

    Added June 8, 2016 by Chris Rowbury - 2242 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 - 2450 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 - 1803 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 - 1768 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 - 1311 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 - 1499 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