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  • How to keep your choir or singing business alive while it’s shut down

    Added September 2, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 742 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I started my first community choir over 20 years ago. I used to worry that, after the long summer break, the singers would have forgotten me and wouldn’t return to choir when it started up again. With choirs and singing groups not meeting in pers... read more

  • When did you last sing together? You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone

    Added August 26, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 2140 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] The last time I was in a room with a group of singers was nearly six months ago. If I had known then that I wouldn’t be singing like that for the foreseeable future, would I have behaved differently? The last time I directed a choir for a perfo... read more

  • How to draw out the reticent singers in your choir

    Added August 19, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 510 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] When a nervous singer turns up to your choir or someone comes to your singing workshop who’s never sung in public before, it’s all too easy for them to hide at the back. photo by Homini:) Here are some ideas for encouraging under-confiden... read more

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

    Added August 13, 2020 by Chris Rowbury - 466 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 - 533 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 - 728 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 - 577 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 - 810 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 - 718 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 - 694 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