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  • S, A, T or B – which is the part for me?

    Added June 21, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 4086 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I blame it on the Italians.     Photo by cbmd   The founder of the modern musical stave was an Italian; many well-known musical forms — sonata, cantata, aria — were invented in Italy; also, Italian musicians and ... read more

  • But I can’t sing that high!

    Added June 14, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 8591 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   When you join a choir that sings in harmony, you will find that some parts are too high for you and some parts are too low.     Just like Goldilocks, you will gravitate to the part which is “just right” — the plac... read more

  • Outdoor singing performances – tips and tricks

    Added June 7, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 3808 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I really, really don’t like performing outdoors (I’ll come to why in a moment)! But sometimes it’s unavoidable, so what can we do to make it work?     Since I haven’t performed outdoors that often, I would love ... read more

  • How to have an English sing-along

    Added May 31, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 1916 views - 2 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   And I mean English … not Irish or Welsh or Scottish. How is it possible to have an unplanned, spontaneous and genuine gathering of people who sing together?     Photo by Mykl Roventine   I was listening to a broadcast fro... read more
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  • Why do you sing?

    Added May 23, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 5211 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I came across an interesting article on Canada’s CBC Radio 2 blog a few years back. It was entitled Why do you sing? and attracted several comments from people outlining their own personal reasons why they sing.     Although I&rs... read more

  • Do singers need to know what an octave is?

    Added May 17, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 2743 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about men and women singing the same not together and how that might feel strange: Singing the same note – differently!.     This week I want to look at the concept of ‘octave’ and whether it’s... read more

  • Singing the same note - differently!

    Added May 10, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 4386 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Men and women’s voices are different.     Obvious really, but it’s something many singers find it difficult to come to terms with, especially when men and women are singing the same absolute pitch.   The other week I... read more

  • Everybody has a place in the choir

    Added May 3, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 4440 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   … and there is a place in a choir somewhere for everybody.     Frank joined our choir a while back. He hadn’t sung for ages, but gave it his best shot for a couple of sessions. Then he wrote to me saying that although he&r... read more

  • How to teach (and learn) a song by ear 2

    Added April 26, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 2313 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week in How to teach (and learn) a song by ear 1  I wrote about the oral tradition, teaching by ear, starting notes and breaking a song down into manageable chunks.     Photo by niclindh   This week I’ll consider... read more

  • How to teach (and learn) a song by ear 1

    Added April 19, 2012 by Chris Rowbury - 4012 views - 0 comments
    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   To make singing as accessible as possible, I don’t use sheet music when I teach. This often freaks out people who are used to having a score in their hands!     This post is about how to teach and how to learn a song by ear. I&rs... read more