This post was originally posted to the Embro Thistle Singers blog.  They sang the wrong notes and the chord is less than pleasing. Do you have a break down?  I think not.Do you make nasty faces & tell those around you what a Bad job that w...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Occasionally a rehearsal goes totally pear-shaped and I have no idea why.     photo by hebedesign   Despite my best efforts everythi...

(This post was orginally written for the Embro Thistle Singers blog.)   I think sometimes we get so focused on making the music as directors and singers, we forget that the people around us have "baggage" good and Bad that we need to unpack before ...

In this South African classic, a mother is overjoyed for her son who finally got himself a wife, after years of no luck in the Romance department. She invites everyone, even the town's gossipers, to come and join in the celebration. Lyrics: Vul’indl...  moreIn this South African classic, a mother is overjoyed for her son who finally got himself a wife, after years of no luck in the Romance department. She invites everyone, even the town's gossipers, to come and join in the celebration. Lyrics: Vul’indlela wemamgobhozi (Open the gates, Miss Gossip) He unyana wam (My baby boy) Helele uyashada namhlanje (Is getting married today) Vul’indlela wela ma ngiyabuza (Open the gates please) Su'ba nomona (Don’t be jealous) Unyana wam utshatile (My son has had a good catch) Bengingazi ngiyombon’umakoti (I never thought I’d see a daughter in law) Unyana wam eh ujongile this time (My son has been accepted (woman said yes)) Marhadebe, sus'ezoz' specs (MaRhadebe, take of your glasses/spectacles) Uzemshadweni ngiyashadisa namhlanje (Come to the wedding, I’m taking my son to the altar today) Bebesithi unyana wam lisoka (People said my son is (someone who doesn’t get women)) Bebesithi angeke ashade vul’indlela (People said he would never get marr...    less

Why would anyone bother to join a choir? Why would somebody ever want to do that? Most of us will remember some experience singing at school- be it good or Bad- the national anthem, some song for a concert or a play with a song, a teacher strumming a ...

[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across th...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   People don’t often talk about the downsides of singing.     We constantly bang on about the health benefits, social aspects, etc. but...

[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 tha...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many of you know that I avoid using the ‘C’ word: choir. But there other similar terms that I find just as Bad: chorus, chorale, chamber ...

Loving all kinds of a cappellla music, we sing music of (nearly) all ages and all styles. Renaissance, 19th century, modern choral music, pop, .... - we like nearly every theme and style. We try to use original languages and love to engage us in music whi...  moreLoving all kinds of a cappellla music, we sing music of (nearly) all ages and all styles. Renaissance, 19th century, modern choral music, pop, .... - we like nearly every theme and style. We try to use original languages and love to engage us in music which is not often heard. We go on stage in self-organized concerts, but perform in smaller occasions, too.