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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • “I’m a choir leader and sometimes I hate my job” – but that’s OK!

    Added August 13, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 483 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Sometimes the last thing I want to do is to drag myself off the sofa and go to choir. photo by Ed Van Brunt But it’s my job so I make the effort and usually it’s worth it. I used to worry that everyone else loved their job all the time, bu... read more

  • What singing online can and can’t achieve

    Added August 5, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 542 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 What is unique about singing together. In this post, I’ll consider which aspects of singing together can be duplicated online and which can’t. During this pandemic we all miss singing together in the flesh. A great dea... read more

  • What is unique about singing together?

    Added July 29, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 757 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Singing together in a group is something special. It is a very different experience from singing on your own. But what exactly is it that we get from singing with others?   There’s a quote going around social media at the moment:   ... read more

  • How to lead your choir when you’re just not in the mood

    Added July 22, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 598 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] We all have off days, even choir leaders.     Here are a few hints on how to cope when you’re feeling low or burnt out.   No matter how much you love your job, there will be the occasional off day. A time when you’d rat... read more

  • Singers miss out when there’s no choir, but what about choir leaders?

    Added July 15, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 833 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] There are plenty of studies now about the many benefits of singing together. But they only look at the experience of the singers in a choir.   I’d like to consider what choir leaders get out of leading a choir and what they might be missi... read more

  • How can I extend my vocal range as a singer?

    Added July 8, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 739 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I often get asked this, along with “How can I sing high without hurting myself?” photo by Allisonnik There is no quick fix, but here are some ideas that might help you.   When I first started singing I wanted to sing high like my ... read more

  • How do you know if you’re singing the right thing?

    Added July 1, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 708 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Often, at the end of a singing workshop, someone will tell me that they didn’t think they were singing the right thing and ask if there is anything they can do about it. photo by Xavier Vergés It’s often people who have only recen... read more

  • How to get the most out of singing online – a guide for singers

    Added June 24, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 816 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Choirs are not meeting at the moment so lots of you have gone online to sing. Given that it will be just you singing at a screen, what can you do to get the most out of an online singing session?   DISCLAIMER: I’ve not had a huge amount of... read more

  • Is your choir name fit for purpose?

    Added June 17, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 775 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Many choir names are descriptive and give a clear idea of what kind of choir it is.But choirs change over time. Maybe your choir name doesn’t fit what you do any longer. different kinds of choir names There are many ways of naming a choir. Plent... read more

  • Discover the joys of singing on your own

    Added June 10, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 549 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Opportunities to sing with others, especially in harmony, are very rare when you’re confined to your house. This could be a chance to discover the joys of singing on your own.   Like many of you I love singing in harmony. It’s someth... read more