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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Putting the hours in – are singers born or made?

    Added August 26, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 1312 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I had a girlfriend who believed that we are all capable of anything if we just put enough effort in.   Photo by _foam   She believed that if you fail at something or are not very good at it, then you just don’t want it that muc... read more

  • What I did on my summer holiday – why we all need a break sometime

    Added August 19, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 1415 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Apparently it’s the summer break here in the UK. The weather is sunny, choir doesn’t start back until September, kids are off school and ice cream vans are cruising the streets.   Photo by Yiannis Logiotatides   So how co... read more

  • Confession: I don’t like to sing much

    Added August 12, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 1489 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   You know those people who sing all the time — when they’re cooking, hoovering, gardening, whatever? Well, I’m not one of them.   Photo by k e e l y   I love singing. I earn my living by teaching songs, I enjoy singi... read more

  • Why ‘singing for fun’ doesn’t mean low standards and poor performances

    Added August 5, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 3413 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The other weekend 50 singers performed in public to a large, appreciative audience. We performed eight songs in four part harmony, most in foreign languages and some with dance moves.     The standard was high, the performance was tig... read more

  • STAB, TABS or ASSBAT – how does your choir line up?

    Added July 30, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 2867 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Two weeks ago I wrote about how individuals choose where to stand within their part (Don't stand too close to me! - finding the right place to stand in your choir).   Photo by sludgegulper   Then last week I looked more globally at t... read more

  • Flying in choir formation – placing singers effectively

    Added July 22, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 3670 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I looked at how singers choose where to stand in their section (Don’t stand too close to me! – finding the right place to stand in your choir). But that assumes that your choir is divided up with all singers in any given part s... read more

  • Don’t stand too close to me! – finding the right place to stand in your choir

    Added July 15, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 3753 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In most formal choirs you’re told exactly where to stand when performing. There is often a fixed set-up which varies little from concert to concert.   Photo by nicksarebi   However, in many community choirs, even though the sep... read more

  • What’s the worst that can happen? Dealing with performance nerves

    Added July 9, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 1509 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The OK Chorale is not a performing choir (yet!), but after two terms of hard (but fun) work, we’ve invited some friends and family along next week to hear some of the songs we’ve learnt. (NB this post was written in July 2011)   ... read more

  • Chris Rowbury's monthly music roundup

    Added July 1, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 1026 views - 0 comments
    I thought you might be interested in a new venture of mine.     I’m about to publish a free, monthly roundup of music news delivered straight to your inbox. As those of you who follow my Facebook Page know, I regularly post interesting videos, articles, photos and jokes about all things musical, choral, vocal and singing-relat... read more

  • How singing together creates communities

    Added July 1, 2015 by Chris Rowbury - 2223 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Singing together creates a real sense of community. Sometimes a choir arises from an existing community, but other times the creation of a choir builds a brand new one.   Photo by niallkennedy   In most cases people come together sim... read more