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  • Can singing together bring about world peace?

    Added December 18, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 868 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] The world can be a terrible place sometimes as we’ve seen in the news lately. It’s hard to imagine how a single person can make a difference. Chór aleksandrowa 2009 by Loraine   Can singing together or being in a choir bring ... read more

  • How to be a better singer if you’re a mere mortal

    Added December 4, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 971 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] When you think you’re not singing well, you’ll often blame yourself. But what if it’s something else, something outside yourself that you can fix quite easily?   Here are some reasons why you might not think you’re a good... read more

  • Effective ways to recruit more men for your choir #getmensinging

    Added November 27, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 1394 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Lots of mixed choirs don’t have enough male singers, and many established male voice choirs are not managing to find younger recruits (see my series of three posts Men and singing).     Here are some ideas to help you recruit more m... read more

  • Last minute easy Christmas carol arrangements!

    Added November 20, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 769 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] If you're anything like me, you leave everything to the last minute. If you're not one of those people who start their Christmas repertoire back in June, you might find a few gaps in your Christmas song list. Or you might be looking for something Christ... read more

  • How welcoming is your choir?

    Added November 20, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 573 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I bet you think your choir is a wonderful, friendly little community that welcomes newcomers with open arms. But what if I told you that new members might find your choir scary, cliquey and unwelcoming? Maybe it’s time to look at things from a di... read more

  • Sing something simple (and see if your singing is as good as you think it is)

    Added November 13, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 673 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] If you’re like me, you’re always tempted to add harmonies to the simplest of melodies, whether it’s singing along with others or arranging a song. But don’t overlook the simplicity of unison singing and drones. These are great w... read more

  • Planning ahead: leave space for the unexpected

    Added November 6, 2019 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]A vital part of a choir leader's job is to spend time planning: individual rehearsals, concerts, repertoire, choir seasons, etc.   photo by webmink   But be careful not to over-plan or you won’t be able to respond to the unexpected.... read more

  • Get out of your singing rut and try something new – it will make you a better singer

    Added October 30, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 537 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I’ve written before about how you can use the long choir break to get better at what you do.   photo by troy   One way is to attend singing workshops lead by a variety of different leaders. It’s a great opportunity to try so... read more

  • Choir leaders: who’ll replace you when you’re gone?

    Added October 23, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 837 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Nothing lasts forever. There will come a time when you will leave your choir and need someone else to take over.     Who will you hand over to and how easy is it to do? Let’s look at some options.At some point you will need to hand... read more

  • Making the most of your singing voice – it’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you do with it

    Added October 9, 2019 by Chris Rowbury - 1137 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] We are not all born equal. Some have longer legs which helps them to win at hurdles or the high jump. Some have longer fingers which helps them to play jazz chords on the piano. photo by muzina_shanghai But what you are born with need not limit wha... read more