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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Singing and our sense of self

    Added December 5, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 2171 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In many ways, we are all defined by the songs we choose to sing. Our favourite ditties say a lot about our tastes, background, age, religion and culture.   photo by rgdaniel   Songs and singing help to define our very personality and s... read more

  • Does your singing voice reveal the real you?

    Added November 28, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 5364 views - 2 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   We’ve all seen it: a timid, slouched, nervous person approaches the microphone. We expect disaster. They open their mouth and the most amazing, beautiful sound comes out. They transform before our very eyes into a confident, charismatic singer. ... read more
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  • Why basses can’t remember their part

    Added November 21, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 3349 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It always seems to be the basses who forget their part. I used to think it was a bloke thing, but now I realise that there are good reasons why it’s hard to remember.     droning on The bass part often follows the root notes of t... read more

  • Singing out of tune isn’t always a bad thing

    Added November 14, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 1781 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There was an article by Alex Petridis in The Guardian a few years back in which he claimed that:   “singing out of tune can convey emotions that being in tune can't”.   La, la, la, I'm not listening! by Jennoit   It ... read more

  • How many songs can you teach in an hour?

    Added November 8, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 1225 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   First I need to fess up: I have a low boredom threshold and always try to squeeze in as many songs as possible. Not always a good idea!     In an average one-day workshop (six hours with an hour for lunch), I can get throu... read more

  • 8 reasons why I don’t go to live concerts

    Added November 1, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 34804 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Music and singing are auditory experiences. We don’t need to see the musicians or singers to appreciate their music. So why bother going to live concerts? Why don’t we just stay at home and listen to a recording?   &... read more

  • Avoiding the ‘C’ word: choir

    Added October 24, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 2369 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   When I use the word ‘choir’, an image will pop into most people’s minds.     a bunch of fidgety 7-year-olds screeching out a barely recognisable version of Once in Royal David’s City at the school... read more

  • The six qualities needed to be a good choral director

    Added October 16, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 4949 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I wrote a while back about 10 ways to be a better choir member. But what qualities do you need to be a good choir leader?   Musical director by spoedman   Lately I’ve written quite a lot about leading choirs.  ... read more

  • What the job of choir leader involves

    Added October 11, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 2284 views - 0 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The other week I wrote about who your choir actually ‘belongs’ to (Whose choir is it any way?). Does it belong to the singers, the committee, the arts centre, or the musical  director?     Of course, there... read more

  • Two models for running your choir

    Added October 4, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 3149 views - 9 comments
    [this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I raised the question of Whose choir is it any way?     © Copyright John Darch and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.   I looked at the different roles involved in running a choir... read more
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