To learn and grow you need to be humble

Someone wrote to me recently asking if I thought my workshops would be suitable for them.

They had struggled at a recent community workshop because the teaching wasn’t based on reading music or understanding music theory.

Choosing change: planning a new choir season

A new year and a new choir season don’t just bring change — they also bring choice.

This is often a moment to pause and reflect: what’s working, what’s not, and what might benefit from being done differently. For choir leaders in particular, it’s a chance to plan rather than simply react.

Become a better singer or choir leader by mastering new habits

I assume that we’d all like to become better at what we do. That could be teaching songs, singing, or leading a choir. 

Changes Ahead by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

Inevitably, to improve, we will need to develop new habits or change existing ones. But that can feel awkward and unfamiliar, even painful at times.

What are you going to leave behind this year?

As the year draws to a close, many people start to think ahead and make plans for the new year ahead. They might look back on their achievements this year, but the focus is usually forward.

But instead of reflecting on all those new things we want to have/achieve/create, what about those things that we’d like to leave behind?

Choir leaders: it’s important to put yourself in your singers’ shoes from time to time

I don’t often get the chance to be a punter. But this week I went on a two-day voice and movement course and loved it.

photo by ssalonso

It was great to be on the receiving end for a change, and I learnt a lot about what it’s like to be a singer in a group

Singing without using your voice – a silent technique for rehearsing songs on your own

I’ve caught some bug from all my recent travels and workshops. I have a sore throat amongst other things. 

But I have a whole weekend of singing to prepare for and need to sing through the arrangements. What can I do?

There is no ‘right’ time for taking stock, but it’s important to do so from time to time

Many people use the New Year as a trigger to set themselves goals for the future. And many people fail by being unrealistic.

Whether that’s you or not, it is vital to take stock from time to time, even if it’s not at New Year.

Choir starts back soon: is it time for re-invention?

Here in the UK, many choirs have a long summer break and start back in early September when the schools go back.

This may be the perfect time to try something new, a time for re-invention.

Procrastination: harnessing your subconscious to help with creative tasks

I’m a big procrastinator. I leave everything until the last minute. If I didn’t have deadlines, I would never get anything done!

But I’ve come to realise that this is my way of working and it has good results. Here’s why procrastination is not necessarily a bad thing.

Preparing for a new year of singing: how looking at the past, present and future can help

It’s that clichéd time of year again when people make New Year resolutions.

Whether you do or not, it can be a good time for reflection and to prepare for the year ahead. Here are some ideas that might help.

Coming down after a big event – how to land softly

It’s the day after Christmas Day and, however well or badly it went, there can be a sense of a let-down.

photo by Inga Munsinger Cotton

After any big event like Christmas or an important choir concert, there needs to be a transition back to ‘normal’. This is not always easy! Here are some ideas of how to deal with the come down.

How anxiety dreams can help you better prepare for concerts and workshops

I am due to lead a singing weekend in a few weeks. My first in over two years.

The other night I had an anxiety dream about it. Here’s what I learnt.

Reflect, reinvent, reboot, refresh – ideas for new beginnings PART 2

I thought I’d do a round-up of posts I’ve made over the years which are relevant in some way to new beginnings.

Part 1 was last week. This is Part 2.

Reflect, reinvent, reboot, refresh – ideas for new beginnings PART 1

People often use the New Year as a time for reflection and an opportunity to make fresh starts.

I thought I’d do a round-up of posts I’ve made over the years which are relevant in some way to new beginnings. This is Part 1. Part 2 will follow next week.

How to be a really successful singer or choir leader – deliver more than expected

If you want to be a real success, it’s not enough to just do the job at hand. You need to deliver more than is expected.

What does that mean for singers and choir leaders?

Back to basics: how to reawaken your passion as a singer in a choir

Do you find doing the same warm ups week after week a bit dull? Are you bored with the same old repertoire?



It might be time to revisit the basics of why you joined a choir in the first place and what inspires you as a singer. Read on to find out how to reinvigorate your singing as a choir member.

Back to basics: how to reawaken your passion as a choir leader

Ever found the same old warm up exercises a bit boring or ending up just going through the motions during a rehearsal?



It might be time to revisit the basics of what you’re doing as a choir leader and why. Read on to find out how to reinvigorate your choir leading.

Turning bad singing experiences into good singing lessons

Things go wrong from time to time, but it doesn’t have to be a bad experience.


It’s possible to consider things from a different perspective and find the positive. Here’s how.

Can you ‘be in the moment’ yet plan for the future?

There’s a lot of talk about ‘mindfulness’ these days. Of being present and in the moment.



But if you are truly in the moment, how can you think about the future and plan ahead? Let’s look at this apparent contradiction.

Taking stock – self-reflection for choir leaders and singers

In order to develop as a singer or choir leader it’s important to take stock from time to time.



People often use the New Year as a time for reflection, but you can take stock at any time.