When the song you know isn’t quite the same: Tips for re-learning variations

Sometimes I teach a song at a workshop that some singers already know.

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Invariably it will be a different arrangement. So how can singers approach re-learning a version that has only slight variations?

Don’t stagnate: there is always something new to learn and discover

I was trying to come up with an idea for this week’s blog post, but everything I thought of I’d already written about!

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For a moment, I started to worry that I’d run out of things to say about choirs and singing. Surely that can’t be true — can it?

Why singing feels easier in workshops than in choir rehearsals

When I lead a one-off singing day or weekend, I’m always amazed at how many songs I’m able to teach — and how quickly singers pick them up.

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This is in stark contrast to weekly choir rehearsals which are often harder work and far less productive. So what’s going on here?

Why you should have a refund policy for your choir and singing workshops

Quite often, something happens that means a singer can’t attend a singing event they’ve paid for.

I used to deal with each situation individually, which caused me a lot of stress and anguish. That’s where a clear cancellation policy comes in handy.

Why is there so much talking when I’m teaching a song (and why don’t I notice it)?

After teaching songs to a group of singers, I often get feedback that it was hard to concentrate because so many people were talking.

It always surprises me, since I don’t usually notice. So what’s going on here?

Lifelong learning for singers and choir leaders

Any half-decent choir will help singers improve their skills week by week.

But sometimes that alone is not enough if you really want to develop and grow.

Keeping it simple: Serving the song, not the arrangement

Sometimes I come across a beautiful song and start searching online for a choral arrangement.

All too often, though, what I find is weighed down with so many bells and whistles that the original melody—the very thing that drew me to the song in the first place—ends up buried under the layers.