Why silence is important to singers, singing and choir leaders

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.

Why I became a choir leader

People often ask about my background, assuming that I have a musical education.

They are rather surprised when I tell them that my training is as a computer scientist, but I then spent over 20 years as a theatre maker and performer. So how did I end up as a choir leader?

How to finish a choir rehearsal well

Everybody talks about the importance of warming up and properly preparing to sing before each rehearsal.

photo by spelio

But what about ending a rehearsal? Not as much attention is paid to that. How do we end so singers go away feeling great?

Singing benefits choir leaders too, not just singers

There is much talk these days of how singing is good for you, especially singing as part of a group.

photo by COD Newsroom

But that’s always from the singers’ perspective. We don’t often consider those who lead the singing.

Revealing your humanity as choir leader or singer will bring people on your side

As David Burbidge pointed out in his recent guest post about choir leadership styles, some singers end up putting their choir leaders on pedestals.

And even if you resist that extreme, it’s easy to forget that they have a life outside choir and music. Choir leaders are as vulnerable and human as you are.

The 7 types of choir leader – which one are you?

We all lead our choirs in different ways. There is a whole range of leadership styles out there.

Photo by COD Newsroom

What type of choir leader are you?

Singers miss out when there’s no choir, but what about choir leaders?

There are plenty of studies now about the many benefits of singing together. But they only look at the experience of the singers in a choir.

I’d like to consider what choir leaders get out of leading a choir and what they might be missing when choirs aren’t meeting.

10 things choir leaders can do when stuck at home

What is a choir leader without a choir?



There are times when you won’t be able to be with your choir in person. Here are some things to help keep your choral and music interests alive.

How to recruit a new leader for your choir

There will come a time when you’ll need to find a new leader for your choir.



Let’s look at ideas for how to recruit someone suitable.

Can anybody be a choir leader?

As you probably know, I believe that everyone can sing.



But can anybody be a choir leader?

What I did on my holiday: tapping into your problem-solving mind without even trying

You’re finally on holiday and have truly switched off.



But did you know that this is a great time to do some work without actually making any real effort? Here’s what I mean.

When did you last tell your singers how grateful you are?

Your singers turn up to choir week after week without fail. It’s very easy to get caught up in the music-making and forget that they don’t have to be there.



It’s good to show your gratitude to your singers from time to time. Don’t take them for granted!

Is it time to hand your choir over to another leader?

Nothing lasts forever and change can be a good thing.



There comes a time when it might benefit everyone if you hand your choir over to somebody else. Why would you want to do that?

Make your choir leading easier by doing less

Many choir leaders believe that they’re indispensable, that their choir only functions when they’re out front leading.



But this can be stressful and doesn’t take into account the choir’s ability as a whole. Here’s how to make your choir leading easier.

When a new musical director takes over your choir: a guide for choir members

Last week I wrote about strategies for musical directors who were taking over an established choir.

original sculpture by susie mendelsson

This week it’s the singers’ turn. How can you easily adapt when a new choir leader takes over your choir? Here are a few hints which might help.

Taking over an existing choir: a guide for musical directors

Choir leaders don’t last forever. There will come a time when a choir will need a new musical director.

A Village Choir, 1847 (Thomas Webster)

Here is a brief guide for those who find themselves in the position of taking over an established choir.

Do everything you can to support your choir leader – they’re the only one you’ve got!

For the last two weeks I’ve been looking at how to sustain your choir as it grows and develops.



Last week I considered ways to persuade choir members to help run the choir. This week I want to look at how your choir leader’s uniqueness can make your choir vulnerable.

Choir growing pains: how to sustain your choir as it grows and develops

This post is part of a series of occasional Questions and Answers. Just use the contact form if you want to submit a question.


Hannah writes:

“Our choir started in 2013 very informally with a small membership and modest organisation. We have gone from strength to strength in terms of the quality of our singing and repertoire, membership, community grant, website, the availability of practice recordings for each voice part and each song ... the list goes on!

“We have always had a committee run by volunteers, with a constitution. Inevitably there is a very limited group of people who are stepping up to take committee roles, and after four years there is only so much that can be asked of people.

Singers with hearing loss: how choir leaders can help

More and more older singers are in choirs these days. Many of those singers will have some kind of hearing loss.

Joshua Reynolds "Self-Portrait as a Deaf Man"

How can you, as a choir leader, help them? Here is a guest post by Bettina Gellinek Turner^*.

New choir season, new ideas – but how much can you really change?

It’s the time of year when many people decide to change things, to try something new.



But the problem is that you’re still the same person. How much can things really change?