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  • Today I will be singing without using my voice

    Added September 29, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1215 views - 0 comments
    (the title comes from the young son of a friend of mine – I knew what he meant!)   [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Like many teachers, I often catch colds during the autumn term.     Photo by chrisdonia   Singers flock from all over and gather in ... read more

  • How long is the ideal choral concert?

    Added September 22, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 12461 views - 4 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I don’t go to concerts much, especially not choir concerts. I find them rather long and boring.     Photot by ToniVC   But a few years ago I found myself watching a concert by the first choir that I ever formed: WorldSong.... read more
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  • Why I started a choir

    Added September 15, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1175 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I love to sing harmony. In fact, that’s pretty much the only time I sing!     WorldSong choir, Coventry   But to do that you need other voices. And it’s quite handy if you all know some of the same songs.   Wa... read more

  • Conducting in the moment

    Added September 7, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1220 views - 1 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I watched a TV documentary the other day called How a choir works with Gareth Malone.   Photo by TheCamerons   At one point he talked about the role of the conductor. He said how it’s possible for the conductor to control things... read more
    1 comment

  • Why I don't like concert programmes

    Added August 31, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1169 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   People sometimes welcome a distraction from watching rows of identically dressed choristers singing with books in front of their faces.   Photo by garryknight   That’s where programmes come in.   Sometimes when we’v... read more

  • Being in a choir FAQs - Part 3

    Added August 25, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1094 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   For the last two weeks I've been sharing a series of 'Frequently asked questions' that I wrote as a result of questionnaires that I used to send round my choir. There was Part 1, then Part 2, and now the final Part 3.   Photo by e-magic &n... read more

  • Being in a choir FAQs - Part 2

    Added August 18, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1234 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 began to share a series of 'Frequently asked questions' that I wrote as a result of questionnaires that I used to send round my choir. Here is part 2, the final part 3 next week.   Photo by Toni Kaarttinen   Why do we have... read more

  • Being in a choir FAQs - Part 1

    Added August 10, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1700 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Occasionally I give questionnaires to choir members in order to get feedback on how people are finding the weekly sessions, what songs they like best, how things can be improved, what people find difficult, etc.   Photo by Travelin' Libraria... read more

  • I'm only going to say this once

    Added August 4, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1013 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Conductor Kenneth Woods wrote on his blog a while back (As I was just saying) about the problems of having to repeat oneself constantly in rehearsals.   Photo by woodleywonderworks   Why, oh why, can’t we just say the thing once... read more

  • Using dance moves to learn, remember and perform songs better

    Added July 27, 2011 by Chris Rowbury - 1606 views - 0 comments
     [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Some time ago I tried a new idea (for me any way) for helping people to learn songs.   Photo by Ramesh Lalwani   I decided to associate a different movement/ gesture with each musical phrase to see if it helped people to learn t... read more