International Choir Festival InCanto Mediterraneo

Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • How to sing songs from other cultures more authentically

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Last week I wrote about why you shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss songs that aren’t in English. T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) This week I want to consider how you might make songs from other cultures sound more ‘authentic&rsq... read more
  • Don’t be too quick to dismiss songs that aren’t in English

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Some people are put off when they come across a song with foreign words. They prefer to sing songs in English. photo by Chell Hill Not only are they missing out on so much great music, but it also widens your cultural horizons. Here’s why you s... read more
  • Make singing part of your five-a-day for wellbeing

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Are you doing your five-a-day for well-being? Here are five things that can help with your feelings of well-being if done daily. five-a-day for wellbeing There has been a lot of research to show how beneficial simple things are to our general well-be... read more
  • The sound of silence – rediscovering the art of listening

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] With far fewer people around at the moment, I am starting to hear things that I don’t normally notice. It made me realise that in our usually busy daily lives, many of us have lost the art of listening. It’s time to reconnect with the world... read more
  • 10 things choir leaders can do when stuck at home

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] What is a choir leader without a choir?   There are times when you won’t be able to be with your choir in person. Here are some things to help keep your choral and music interests alive.In a recent post (10 things singers can do at home wh... read more
  • How to sing harmony on your own

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I love harmony singing. But sometimes I don’t have the luxury of other people to sing with. Here are some ways to sing harmony, even if you’re on your own. 1. use your choir’s teaching resources If you’re in a choir, there&rsq... read more
  • 10 things singers can do at home when there’s no choir to go to

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] There are many reasons why you might have to stay home and not be able to get to choir. How can you keep your choral and musical interests alive? Here are 10 ideas.It’s not just during a pandemic that you might not be able to get to choir. th... read more
  • How to sing together in times of isolation

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] We are living in unprecedented times. People are not allowed to socialise.     How do we keep singing together? I’ll look at some of the options.It’s not only during a pandemic that we need to stay at home. There are times whe... read more
  • Why can’t I sing low notes with more power and volume?

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Many men (and some women) complain about not having much vocal power on low notes. photo by GigNroll.com If you have good power, control and volume in the rest of your range then there’s an easy explanation.I often get asked by men why they don... read more
  • Only connect – a brief introduction to social media for choirs

    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] In case you haven’t noticed: this is the modern world.   photo by Yoel Ben-Avraham   If you’re not promoting your choir on social media, then you’re missing a trick. Here’s a handy introduction.   internet ... read more