Many of us want things to be other than they are. Perhaps you dream of being an amazing singer, rather than the struggling beginner that you actually are.
Or maybe you wish for more singers in your choir, rather than the handful that turn up each week. In all cases, accepting the reality is the first step to getting what you want.
Occasionally singers want to sing a song on their own. It might be for a local folk club, a choir solo, or to surprise someone on their birthday.
But how do you go about choosing a suitable song? Here are some pointers.
I’m learning a lot about teaching from the new line dancing class I’ve started!
The teacher has an awareness that there is only so much new information that we can take in, but it doesn’t stop her from overloading us.
Somebody recently bought my arrangement of the Welsh national anthem, but wanted the lyrics in English.
I put a call out to see if anybody had an English translation which would fit the music and got quite a lot of flak!
I often take it for granted that people approach choir leading in a similar way to me.
Then I realised that there are many different methods and I should outline what my own philosophy is.
I occasionally get emails from people with specific questions about choirs and singing.
These are often good starting points for writing a blog post with more general appeal.
People often ask me if I can give them an individual singing lesson because they have a big event coming up.
They’re worried that their singing voice won’t be up to the job. I usually dissuade them and here is why.
I came across an interesting article the other day: Quiet, please! The remarkable power of silence – for our bodies and our minds.
It got me thinking about how vital silence is for singers, singing and choir leading.
… and their lame jokes and teaching style and clothes choice?
Does it matter if they’re really not your kind of person?
We all know the many health benefits of singing together.
But did you know it’s also an excellent way of bonding a group of people together, even if you don’t know them?
Choirs need to promote themselves in order to recruit singers, get people to come to concerts, buy CDs and so on.
But does your public face truly reflect your choir as it wants to be?
Every choir has a reputation to maintain. Your choir and its name are essentially your 'brand' and, as such, need protecting.
When anyone shares an unauthorised photo, video or audio recording in public, it has the potential to damage your brand.
Many of us resolve to try new things when the new year starts.
It might be to join the gym or to learn to cook. Why not try singing?