Many choirs perform outdoors during the winter, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
Here are some tips to help make the experience as pleasurable as possible.
I’ve written before about performing outdoors — including a post with 10 tips for singing outdoors in the cold, dark, damp winter — but it felt time for an update. There are always a few extra things to think about when it’s both cold and dark.
baby it’s cold outside!
It’s vital that you keep warm. If you get cold, your muscles will tense up and that lack of relaxation will affect your singing. I outlined several useful tips for staying warm in 10 tips for singing outdoors in the cold, dark, damp winter. Here are a few more:
-
warm clothing — obviously make sure you wrap up
properly. It may be time to loosen the rules on choir uniforms to allow
singers to wear appropriate clothing. Scarves are great for keeping the
throat warm. Just make sure your outfit isn’t too tight or it will restrict
your breathing and movement.
-
gloves — keeping extremities warm is important
(which is why you should insulate your feet from the ground). But if you
need to turn pages, then fingerless gloves can help. Some come with a
fold-over mitten bit for when you don’t need your fingers. If you’re using a
phone or tablet, make sure your gloves work with your touch screen.
-
hats and hoodies — hats are great for keeping
heads warm (they can even be festive!) Hoodies are useful too, especially if
it’s raining or snowing. But a hood (and sometimes a hat) can muffle your
hearing. I have a puffer jacket with a hood which makes an awful rustling
sound,like I’m performing inside a crisp packet.
-
when it rains — or even snows — you want to
keep dry. Hoodies can be awkward, but umbrellas can be even worse. They do
keep both you and your lyrics dry, and they bounce your voice back so you
can hear yourself. But that also means they can cut you off from the singers
around you. And if everyone has an umbrella, you can’t stand close together
and it’s easy to block the conductor. It also means you'll only have one hand free.
-
keep on moving — hopping from foot to foot
keeps you warm, but even better if your choir leader can incorporate
movement into the songs. Not only does it look good outdoors, it keeps you
warm too.
-
stay off the booze! — a common myth is that a
drop of whisky warms you up. It doesn’t. Alcohol dilates your blood vessels,
drawing heat away from your core, so you actually lose heat faster. Save the
celebratory tipple for afterwards — preferably indoors!
-
bring a hot drink — instead of a water bottle,
take a flask. It keeps you hydrated, comforts you, and helps keep you warm.
the dark night rises
-
see what you sing — if you have lyrics or sheet
music, make sure you can actually see them. A head torch is ideal because it
leaves your hands free.
-
where’s the conductor? — you also need to see
your choir leader! Let them know if you can’t. It’s their job to stay well
lit.
-
an opportunity to listen — singing in the dark
may feel unfamiliar at first, but it’s a great opportunity to develop your
listening skills. You may even discover harmonies you didn’t know were
there.
-
be prepared — have at least one rehearsal in
low light, or even outdoors, so singers know what to expect.
- don’t try to be clever — it’s always tempting to make an interesting entrance. Indoors, my choirs sometimes process while singing. Outdoors, in the dark, it’s almost impossible. You can’t see the other singers properly, voices get blown about, timing slips and harmonies vanish. Keep it simple.
Chris Rowbury
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