Monday, January 30, 2017

Should you pander to your choir or just run things your way?

Many choir leaders have a strong style and particular choice of repertoire. They lead large, thriving choirs which have a strong vision.

We_Want_Beer

Other choir leaders involve their members more and ask their opinion on repertoire, warm ups, performances, etc. Is one approach better or more successful than the other?

Monday, January 23, 2017

Do your singers know what kind of choir they’re in?

When you lead a choir you have a clear idea of what you want that choir to be. But have you made sure that your choir members are on the same page as you?

animal choir

Everyone makes assumption and you may be surprised at how many different views there are within the same choir.

Monday, January 16, 2017

Before you use songs from other cultures check your sources!

Just because a song is in a foreign language, you still need to respect its origins.

sami
Sami family by Morten Oddvik

There is a huge amount of misinformation out there when it comes to songs from other cultures. Before you pass a song along, make sure you know as much about it as you can – and make sure the information is accurate.

Monday, January 09, 2017

New choir season, new ideas – but how much can you really change?

It’s the time of year when many people decide to change things, to try something new.

good idea

But the problem is that you’re still the same person. How much can things really change?

Monday, January 02, 2017

Why you should start the year singing – and then sing some more!

Those of us who sing regularly or who work with singers know how beneficial singing together is. There is now a growing body of research to support our beliefs.

community choir
photo by Garry Knight

Why not start singing regularly this year – you might even persuade a friend to join you?! You don’t even have to be able to ‘sing’ – there are plenty of choirs out there which don’t require you to have any experience. Here are some good reasons why it’s time to get singing.

Monday, December 26, 2016

Singers and choir leaders: what bad habits have you got into?

We are all creatures of habit. Which is no bad thing until it starts to affect what we do adversely.

picking nose
photo by CTRLF5

How many bad habits have you got into this past year and how might you change that?

Monday, December 19, 2016

How to care for your voice over the festive season

Christmas is a time for singing. It’s everywhere. Sometimes it seems that Christmas is the only time that many of us sing!

christmas singers
photo by Richard Towell

Whether you’re in a choir or just singing carols with friends, you need to look after your voice. Here are some ideas.