Mistango Choir Festival
Chris Rowbury Chris Rowbury

Categories

Archives

Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Singing Safari arrives after 6 weeks on the road

    Added July 7, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 757 views - 0 comments
    The Singing Safari has been on the road for five weeks now collecting exotic songs from all over the world. Just 6 days to go before we arrive at Holywells Park in Ipswich to perform the songs we've gathered. Tired, dusty and a few less people in our party since we set off on 3rd June: RIP Carruthers, Mansell and Dickinson. Thank god it was ... read more

  • How to make a song your own

    Added June 25, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 1373 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   This post is part of a series of occasional Questions and Answers. Just use the contact form if you want to submit a question.       Blue Cat asks:   “How do you develop your own singing style or use your own voice w... read more

  • Why are there always too many altos in my choir?

    Added June 18, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 2590 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   At the start of term we have an equal number of singers in each part, but by the end of term, there are always too many altos (or sopranos or tenors – never basses)!   Smarties by gadl   Does anybody else have this problem with ... read more

  • How to recruit singers to truly reflect your local community?

    Added June 11, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 1715 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Three years ago, for the first time in over 13 years, I started a choir from scratch. I put a call out to my readers for advice on how to recruit singers that would truly reflect the community they come from.   The Illuminated Crowd by Raymo... read more

  • Are ALL songs suitable for purely vocal arrangements?

    Added June 5, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 3422 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I’m always on the lookout for new songs to use with my singing workshops and choirs.   Sara Bareilles in concert by Anirudh Koul   There might be a stunning song that I’ve known and loved for years, but when I come to arra... read more

  • Have voice, will travel

    Added May 29, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 1110 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I love my job, I really do. I just need some space and a bunch of people and we will make beautiful music together.   Photo by Heather Jennings   No equipment, no special work-wear, no musical instruments, no particular room or buildi... read more

  • Where is a culture’s music tradition to be found?

    Added May 21, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 993 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 spent two weeks travelling through the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. I was really looking forward to hearing plenty of traditional singing since I had been told that all three countries have a rich and well-preserved... read more

  • Why our singing voices have different accents

    Added May 14, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 1529 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many English pop groups in the 60s started off by emulating their cousins from across the pond and sang with an American accent. Cliff Richard still does!   Beatles mural - Croxteth Avenue, Litherland by Gary Rogers   Then The Beatles... read more

  • Learning to love the sound of your own voice

    Added May 9, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 1279 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I recently wrote about some of the reasons why you might think you can’t sing.   Suessian megaphone by theparadigmshifter   One of those reasons is that you might not like the sound of your own voice, especially when it’s ... read more

  • Exactly who’s in charge of my choir?! – how to deal with change

    Added April 30, 2014 by Chris Rowbury - 1586 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir] This post is part of a series of occasional Questions and Answers. Just contact me if you want to submit a question that I will answer in a future blog post.   A choir leader asks:   “The church I work for is presently in talks of ama... read more