Choirs versus workshops: the practical differences

I’m seeing lots of great warm-ups and singing advice online these days. But most of it is aimed at choirs which meet regularly.

Many of these ideas won’t work in one-off workshops. Let’s look at the different needs of each.

The kindness of strangers

As Blanche DuBois says in A streetcar named desire: “I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

Although I don’t actually depend on it, I’m always surprised and humbled when singers step up to help at a workshop.

When singers want different things

I wrote last week about how No choir can be all things to all singers. Some singers prefer sheet music, others learn best by ear. Some love movement and performance, others just want to stand still and sing.

Here are some of the most common tensions that arise — and a few ways to navigate them.