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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Where do you find all your songs?

    Added September 12, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 712 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   This is a question I’m often asked at my singing workshops, especially by people starting out as choir leaders.   photo by James Vaughan   There is often the assumption that I must have travelled to all the countries that ... read more

  • Your job as a choir leader is to disappear

    Added September 5, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 760 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In David Zweig’s book he talks about Invisibles: people who are unseen when their job is done perfectly (who only draw attention to themselves when things go wrong).     It got me thinking that most of a choir leader’... read more

  • If some singers want more and some want less, then you must be doing something right!

    Added August 29, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 670 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I aim to please everyone in my choirs and singing workshops. I know it’s an impossible task (see Keeping a choir happy – you can’t please everyone), but I try.   photo by DurhamDundee   How do you know when you... read more

  • It’s summer – where have all the choir gone??!!

    Added August 15, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 966 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The evening’s are lighter, the weather is warmer, the songs are amazing, the singing’s as good as ever – it’s summer!   photo by Ansel Adams   So where has everybody gone? Why are people not turning up to... read more

  • Never let the fake perfection of pop singers put you off singing

    Added August 8, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1190 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In 2014 a Britney Spears recording escaped into the wild which demonstrates that without Auto-Tune her singing can be less than perfect (Experience the shocking power of Britney Spears without Auto-Tune – the video is no longer on the sit... read more

  • Regular weekly choir or drop-in singing group? – the pros and cons

    Added August 1, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1398 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Some choirs and singing groups meet frequently, often once a week, requiring a high level of commitment. Others meet less frequently and work on a drop-in basis with no requirement to attend every session.     There are advantage... read more

  • If you’re looking for new singers, don’t expect them to come to you

    Added July 18, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 2404 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   You’ve put your fliers out, spread the word, mentioned it on Facebook, but still you find it hard to recruit new singers.   photo by Indra Hardi Saputro   If you’re asking someone to try something unfamiliar, you nee... read more

  • Singing – the more you do it, the worse you get!

    Added July 11, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1171 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   You work on a song in choir week after week, but slowly things seem to get worse. You worry about getting the words right, you can’t seem to remember the second part of the melody, your voice stops hitting the high notes.   photo... read more

  • Dress to impress – choosing suitable outfits for your choir

    Added July 4, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 6911 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   As many regular readers will know, I hate a choir in uniform.     However, it is a good idea to have some kind of unifying dress code and also to show your audience that you’ve made an effort. Here are some ideas to conside... read more

  • Taking over an established choir – a guide for choir leaders

    Added June 27, 2018 by Chris Rowbury - 1290 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Choir leaders don’t last forever so there will come a time when a choir needs to find a new one.     If you’re the person who gets the job it can seem daunting to take over a long-established choir. Here are a few tip... read more