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Learn to harmonise using your favourite domestic appliance!
I was singing along with my electric shaver the other day – as you do. I realised that it was a great way to explore harmonising in the privacy of your own home. Many of our domestic appliances make a...
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Singing without using your voice – a silent technique for rehearsing songs on...
I’ve caught some bug from all my recent travels and workshops. I have a sore throat amongst other things. But I have a whole weekend of singing to prepare for and need to sing through the...
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Fixing a date for your next event – all the things you forgot to think about
I ran a singing day in London recently. I had booked the venue nearly a year in advance. The day went brilliantly with a full house of singers. What I hadn’t reckoned on was that West Ham had a home...
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Choir leaders and singers: how do you know when you’re overdoing it and need...
I wrote recently about Why your throat might be sore after singing. One of the reasons can be overuse. You’re just doing too much. photo by Lee Haywood But how can you spot when you’re in danger of...
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5 obstacles that can stop you being a singer — and how to overcome them
Many people would love to sing, but something is holding them back.Here are five common obstacles that can easily be overcome.1. I can’t singIt’s amazing many people believe this.But how do you know?...
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Always remember to bring a spare: song, set of lyrics, pen …
No matter how well-prepared we are, there’s always a chance we’ll forget something. photo by Kurt NordstromThat’s why it’s important to always remember to bring a spare.singersspare pen– if you need...
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We all fail from time to time – and that’s a good thing
I saw an interview with George Clooney the other day and he pointed out that “You learn nothing from success. You learn everything from failure.” Fear of failing is what holds people back. Yet failure...
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How can you keep your singers energised?
No matter how engaged your singers are, there will come a time in any rehearsal or workshop when the energy is low. Time to energise your singers! But how can you do that? There are many reasons why...
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Vital information when using a new space for singing
I used a new space for a singing workshop recently and realised (too late) that I’d forgotten a few practical things. photo by Joshua MorleyI thought I’d list some of them here to you can avoid the...
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How can a group of “non singers” make such a great sound?
Recently I led a local singing day open to everyone and, as always, we ended up making a great sound. photo by Paul Baker But talking to people in the breaks, many of those who came claimed that they...
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Singing together is about feeling safe, supported and valued
It seems obvious to me, but I’ve known choirs, singing workshops and singing groups who don’t always work in a safe space. But how else will you get the best out of singers? Here’s why a safe,...
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By letting go of ‘perfect’ you open yourself up to perfection
I used to create a choir from scratch over six rehearsals – all strangers, no auditions. We would then present a concert of the songs we’d learnt. I was always amazed at how good we sounded. One day...
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Who should sing soprano in mixed choirs?
I had an interesting query from someone recently. In their choir, the tenor men sang the soprano part (an octave lower) and the soprano women sang the tenor part (an octave higher). They asked me if...
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The hidden costs of performing for ‘free’
Has your choir been asked to perform at an event for free? Or maybe you’ve been asked to run a singing workshop for a big corporation for ‘exposure’. It’s easy for people to imagine that there are no...
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How to get off the concert treadmill — 8 questions to help give you perspective
Some choirs (believe it or not) are already researching new songs for their Christmas concert repertoire in August. Some even begin rehearsing their Christmas concert in the summer! If you feel like...
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How to promote your singing event on social media (and actually get people to...
I regularly come across social media posts promoting events, but it’s not clear where or when they’re taking place. Or sometimes even what the event is! photo by Ibrahim People think just bunging an...
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Aiming high: trust the process, don’t focus on the goal
There is a big difference between succeeding at all costs and not bothering to make an effort. Neither brings true satisfaction. The secret is to pitch somewhere in between: to take the work...
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Starting back to choir after the summer break: 5 relevant reads
This is one of a series of summary posts around a specific topic, bringing together five relevant posts from the past. This summary is about the challenges and opportunities of getting back to choir...
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A great choir sound is all about balance: backing tracks, arrangements, voice...
I came across a choir doing an outdoor performance recently. They were really good, but were let down by the balance between backing tracks and the voices. The most important thing for a successful...
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Always listen more loudly than you sing
It always surprises me when singers sing so loudly that they can’t hear the rest of the choir. photo by Constantin Tacke It’s hearing the other harmony parts that keeps you on the straight and narrow,...
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