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blog: Trying to please all the people all the time

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I found myself last week arranging a bunch of songs to teach at the weekend. As usual, I’d left it far too late and was feeling rushed.   &nb...

blog: How many songs can you teach in an hour?

[this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   First I need to fess up: I have a low boredom threshold and always try to squeeze in as many songs as possible. Not always a good idea!  ...

blog: Why learning songs with foreign lyrics need not be scary

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]I teach songs from all over the world, often in foreign languages. But people are always asking me for more songs in English. Why is this? Especially since ...

blog: Sometimes the old songs are the best – finding the balance between new and familiar

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I have a low boredom threshold. There are 100s of gorgeous new songs I want to teach and it’s hard to cram them all in.   Photo by Leo Reyn...

blog: How to plan your new choir season

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s that time of year again. Summer is over and choir starts back. We choir leaders will be thinking about which songs to teach for the next s...

blog: Recording during singing workshops and choir rehearsals – why, what and when?

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I always teach songs by ear. Despite my strong belief in the oral/ aural tradition, there is an increasing number of handheld recording devices appearing i...

blog: Using sheet music to teach and learn songs: pros and cons

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last time I looked at what music notation is for and if you need it to sing.   Sight reading by discopalace   This week I’d like to ...

blog: Does ‘world music choir’ actually mean anything?

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   When I’m promoting a singing workshop or recruiting for a choir, I want a shorthand way of describing the kind of songs I teach.   Pho...

blog: Using world songs in the classroom: a teacher’s guide to sourcing songs and how to teach them

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Some teachers find themselves having to lead singing sessions at their school. But often they don’t have that much experience of teaching songs ...

blog: Can you remember a song while standing on one leg? - recalling songs in different contexts

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I teach a song in the morning and it’s sounding pretty good.   photo by kalavinka   Then after lunch I get the group to stand f...