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Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • Help! How to deal with choir members who sing out of tune?

    Added October 11, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 6236 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In open-access choirs (which don’t audition), you often find one or two singers who struggle to pitch notes accurately.   photo by Jesus Solana   In a large choir, a few individuals singing out of tune won’t usually ... read more

  • How to learn effectively from a recording of a song in parts

    Added October 4, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1873 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Sometimes you might have to learn your song part from a recording rather than with everyone else together in a choir session.   photo by Kathy Cassidy   Here are some hints on how to do that in the most effective way. There are... read more

  • How long is the ideal choir session?

    Added September 27, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1432 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There’s a gig coming up and you’ve still got work to do. Do you keep bashing out the notes until everyone’s perfect or do you rehearse ‘just enough’ and then go home?   photo by Toni Verdú Carb&oacu... read more

  • Fresh blood: the pros and cons of letting new singers join your choir

    Added September 20, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1326 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   As choir starts back after a break, you might notice a few new faces in the ranks.   photo by Scott A. Thornbloom   Bringing in new recruits maintains the lifeblood of a choir, but what are the pros and cons?   the benefi... read more

  • Re-booting your choir: shake things up for a new season

    Added September 13, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1659 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many choirs will be starting back soon after a long break.   photo by velkr0   This is the perfect time to shake things up a bit if you feel things have gone a bit stale. It’s very easy for singers (and choir leaders) to ... read more

  • Singing the wrong note is not the end of the world

    Added August 30, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1442 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   How many times have you been standing next to someone in your choir section and realised that they’re singing something different from you?   photo by Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez   Are you wrong, or it it them? Act... read more

  • Cheap and effective song arrangements for your community choir

    Added August 23, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 2297 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Choir leaders often ask me where I source my songs. I’ve written about this in previous posts: Finding songs for your choir and Easy songs for your choir.     One place you can get some tried and tested songs for your choir... read more

  • Why can’t we sing more songs in English?

    Added August 16, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1432 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 at workshops after people have struggled to get their tongues around a few foreign songs.     I point out that my speciality is “traditional songs from around the world in the original languages&rdquo... read more

  • What to do if you don’t have a ‘nice’ voice

    Added August 9, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1212 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many of us don’t like the sound of our singing voice. Some people won’t even sing in front of others because they don’t want to inflict their ‘horrible’ voice on them.   photo by konch   Is there an... read more

  • Use the long choir break to get better at what you do

    Added August 2, 2017 by Chris Rowbury - 1959 views - 0 comments
    [A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Most choirs have a long break at this time of year (whether it’s your summer or your winter).   photo by Timothy Valentine   Apart from missing the singing and your choir friends, what will you do with yourself? Here are s... read more