Chris Rowbury

Personal Information

First Name Chris
Last Name Rowbury
Gender Male

Location

Country United Kingdom
City Woodbridge

Musical Information

Musical Activities Singer, Conductor, Arranger, Composer, Voice Teacher, Administration, Marketing, Music fan
Voice Baritone
Member of Choirs singing safari

Website chrisrowbury.com
About Me I am a singing workshop and choir leader specialising in unaccompanied harmony songs from around the world.

I believe that everyone can sing and that music should be accessible to all, so I teach without written music and don't hold auditions.

I have 30 years' experience of teaching and running workshops in singing, voice and theatre and have worked all over the world as a teacher, director and performer.

I am a member of the Natural Voice Practitioners’ Network (http://www.naturalvoice.net) and shares their belief that everybody can sing regardless of experience or background.

My approach to singing is informal, energetic and empowering using large doses of humour! I can get any group of people singing harmony together in minutes.

What to say if someone asks you if they can sing

Posted 5 hours ago - 67 views - 0 comments

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] A friend asks you to comment on their singing or asks you if you think they can sing at all. What can you say without hurting their feelings or putting them off singing entire...
When you sing, forget everything you’ve ever learnt

Posted May 16 - 269 views - 0 comments

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] In your singing lessons and choir warm ups you’re bombarded with exercises and technical advice about posture, breathing, enunciation, pitching, tension, placement and so on. &n...
Teacher of songs or song polisher – which kind of choir leader are you?

Posted May 2 - 232 views - 0 comments

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] A while back I went to a singing workshop led by an internationally acclaimed workshop leader. I was very disappointed at the lack of teaching skills on display. But in the end the sound we made...
Can open-access choirs cater for every kind of singer?

Posted April 25 - 243 views - 0 comments

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] As a member of the Natural Voice Network I share their belief that everybody can sing and nobody should be excluded from music-making. Which is why no ‘natural voice’ choirs hold aud...
How to choose soloists in your choir: audition or self-selection?

Posted April 11 - 334 views - 0 comments

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Rather than everyone singing all the time, many choirs ring the changes by creating smaller ensembles within the larger choir or have occasional solos. photo by Shelly Mags I...

View All Entries

Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

What to say if someone asks you if they can sing

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] A friend asks you to comment on their singing or asks you if you think they can sing at all. What can you say without hurting thei...

5 hours ago
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

When you sing, forget everything you’ve ever learnt

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] In your singing lessons and choir warm ups you’re bombarded with exercises and technical advice about posture, breathing, enunciation, pitching...

May 16
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

Teacher of songs or song polisher – which kind of choir leader are you?

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] A while back I went to a singing workshop led by an internationally acclaimed workshop leader. I was very disappointed at the lack of teaching skills...

May 2
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

Can open-access choirs cater for every kind of singer?

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] As a member of the Natural Voice Network I share their belief that everybody can sing and nobody should be excluded from music-making. Which is why n...

April 25
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

How to choose soloists in your choir: audition or self-selection?

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Rather than everyone singing all the time, many choirs ring the changes by creating smaller ensembles within the larger choir or have occasional solo...

April 11
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

Singing in a choir – balancing individual freedom with the demands of the team

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Those of us who love to sing often love to sing at the top of our voices. It’s joyous! photo by William P. Gottlieb But when you&r...

April 4
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

Process vs. product: are you along for the singing ride or just the final performance?

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Learning and polishing a song can be a long process. Some people find it a chore and can’t wait to get to the end result: a public performance....

March 28
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

Never tell someone they can’t sing – it is brutal, damaging and untrue

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Most of the people who come to my singing workshops are in their 50s and pretty much all of them have a story to tell about the time someone told the...

March 21
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

Helping your singers learn to hold a harmony part on their own

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Singers in a choir are used to singing their harmony part surrounded by others singing the same thing. Holding a part by themselves in a small group ...

March 14
Chris Rowbury wrote a new blog entry:

What’s the opposite of a “Singing for fun” choir?

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Certain people are rather dismissive of “Singing for fun” choirs. If it’s for fun then it can’t possibly be of any quality. ...

February 28

Chris Rowbury

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