Choirs are powerful. They bring people together, create community, and offer a space for shared expression. But beneath the harmonies, there are often hidden dynamics - unspoken anxieties, unaddressed needs, and cultural assumptions that can limit who tru...

[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from almost 30 Years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions ac...

Hi. I am carrying out research into the vocal health habits and experiences of amateur singers as part of a Post Graduate certificate with the Voice Workshop, in conjunction with the University of Wales. Please could all of you lovely people who sing re...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   We all know that singing workshops are just an excuse to string together a series of tea breaks and lunch breaks. And concerts are an excuse to have a drin...

(This post was orginally written for the Embro Thistle Singers blog.)   I think sometimes we get so focused on making the music as directors and singers, we forget that the people around us have "baggage" good and bad that we need to unpack before ...

Online rehearsals have had varying degrees of success but have been successful in bringing people together and maintaining a connection when it is currently very much needed ... however, other things we are finding that musicians and singing groups are re...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   People sometimes welCome a distraction from watching rows of identically dressed choristers singing with books in front of their faces.   Photo by...

Seeing the forest for the trees... Something on my mind today as I prepare young minds for a Year of learning and growing as human beings through the medium of Choral Music, is the value of an individual identity in a group setting.  So many people ...

[this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about whether you need singing lessons in order to be able to sing. I suggested that people should simply jump in and join a...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Some people just love anything that’s finely honed, all shined up, squeaky clean, highly skilled and perfectly rendered. Not me.     ...