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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • The pleasures of being a choir member

    Added August 7, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 3327 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I’m going to fess up here: I’ve never really been in a choir.     Choir of the Munich University of Applied Sciences by Mark Kamin   When I was a kid in Croydon, I sang with a whole bunch of other primary schools in ... read more

  • The importance of being confused

    Added August 1, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 2152 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There is a time of blissful ignorance before you hear a song for the first time.   Later on, there comes a time when you know the song thoroughly, your own harmony part is second nature, and you can recall the lyrics without effort.   ... read more

  • Men and singing: seven ideas to get more men involved

    Added July 24, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 8602 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 debunked 15 myths about men and singing.     haka, WOMAD 2009 by Matthieu A.   This week I present seven ideas that you might use to get more men to join your choirs and singing workshops. I’m sure there are mo... read more

  • Men and singing: 15 myths debunked

    Added July 17, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 2869 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   A few years ago I started a discussion on my blog about Why men won’t sing.     time for another song by willposh   At around the same time I sent out an email to everyone on my mailing list asking for advice on how to get... read more

  • When it comes to choirs and singing are you specialist or generalist?

    Added June 20, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1511 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last time I wrote about whether it’s better to be over-rehearsed or under-prepared. I talked about people who like to spend a long time working on one thing in order to perfect it versus those who like to do just enough work on a piece before m... read more

  • Over-rehearsed or under-prepared: which is better?

    Added June 5, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1710 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I don’t like rehearsing. I’d much rather turn up on the day, trust the singers I’m working with and just busk it.                     photo by P... read more

  • Learning songs by ear

    Added May 29, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 2184 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many people have no idea how a song is learnt by ear. They assume that written music is a must. But don’t forget that people have been singing (and learning) songs for thousands of years without music.     my listening ears by ni... read more

  • As a choir leader I’m a control freak ... and that’s exactly how I like it!

    Added May 22, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1109 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Some people lead their choir or singing workshop with another person. I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t really work for me.     control freak by .m for matthijs   I like to be in full control and I think I do a better jo... read more

  • My ideal community choir

    Added May 15, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 1171 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I want to share with you how I view open-access community choirs.     I’d like to think that the choirs I run are a bit different from most other ‘choirs’ and that my approach to singing and songs is a more relaxed an... read more

  • Can you ever prepare yourself for being in front of a live audience?

    Added May 8, 2013 by Chris Rowbury - 995 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   What is it about a live audience that throws a spanner in the works?     scared face by Kim   You’ve prepared thoroughly, you’re really looking forward to the performance, you know all your words and moves inside ou... read more