How to lead your choir when you’re just not in the mood

We all have off days, even choir leaders.



Here are a few hints on how to cope when you’re feeling low or burnt out.

Is there an alternative to being patient when leading a choir?

I’ve been praised many times by the singers I work with for being so patient.



Which makes me wonder: what’s the alternative?

Do you need to practice outside choir rehearsals?

Many singers come to choir – especially “singing for fun” groups – to get away from the stresses of regular life. They love to sing and find it a relaxing escape from the daily grind.

photo by Aka Hige

But if your choir performs, there comes a time when you need to be “off the book”, know all the lyrics and be totally familiar with your part. Can that all be done within the rehearsal sessions?

What singing subjects would you like me to write about?

I’ve been writing this blog since December 2006 and have written over 600 posts. I keep thinking I’ll run out of things to write about, but I’ve not done so yet!


However, there may well be subjects that I’ve not considered or haven’t got around to yet. Which is where you come in.

Why I don’t use name badges at my singing workshops

I’m just back from leading a singing weekend and one of the feedback comments was “It would be good to have name badges.”



I don’t use name badges at my singing weekends, nor in the choirs that I run. Here’s my reasoning.

Why you should stand front and centre if you’re not a confident singer

When we try something new, we are tentative and like to hide until we feel we know a bit more about what we’re doing.



However, if you’ve not sung in a group before then this is the complete opposite of what you need to do! Here’s why you should stand front and centre instead of hiding at the back.

7 ways to hold onto your choir members: why retention is more important than recruitment

I often hear choirs asking how they can recruit more members.

photo by Laura LaRose

But if you hold onto your existing members, you won’t need to recruit that often. Here are some of the reasons why singers might leave your choir and what you can do to stop it.

How to sing songs from other cultures more authentically

The other week I wrote about why you shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss songs that aren’t in English.

T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)

This week I want to consider how you might make songs from other cultures sound more ‘authentic’.

How to develop perfect warm up exercises for your choir

The choir leader’s (and singer’s) lament: “I’m bored with the warm ups and want new ideas.”



It’s very easy to create your own exciting new warm up exercises. I’ll show you how.

Don’t be too quick to dismiss songs that aren’t in English

Some people are put off when they come across a song with foreign words. They prefer to sing songs in English.

photo by Chell Hill

Not only are they missing out on so much great music, but it also widens your cultural horizons. Here’s why you should consider songs that aren’t in English.

How to give and receive starting notes 3: all the ways it can go wrong

There are many ways that starting notes for a song can be given out. There are also plenty of ways that starting notes can be confusing or misheard!



Here are some useful tips for making sure you start off on the right note. In Part 3 I look at all the ways in which giving and receiving starting notes can go wrong.

How to give and receive starting notes 2: receiving your note accurately

There are many ways that starting notes for a song can be given out. There are also plenty of ways that starting notes can be confusing or misheard!



Here are some useful tips for making sure you start off on the right note. In Part 2 I consider how starting notes are received by the singer.

How to give and receive starting notes 1: giving notes out

There are many ways that starting notes for a song can be given out. There are also plenty of ways that starting notes can be confusing or misheard!



Here are some useful tips for making sure you start off on the right note. In Part 1 I consider how starting notes are given out.

Should you pander to your choir or just run things your way?

Many choir leaders have a strong style and particular choice of repertoire. They lead large, thriving choirs which have a strong vision.



Other choir leaders involve their members more and ask their opinion on repertoire, warm ups, performances, etc. Is one approach better or more successful than the other?

Do your singers know what kind of choir they’re in?

When you lead a choir you have a clear idea of what you want that choir to be. But have you made sure that your choir members are on the same page as you?



Everyone makes assumption and you may be surprised at how many different views there are within the same choir.

Before you use songs from other cultures check your sources!

Just because a song is in a foreign language, you still need to respect its origins.

Sami family by Morten Oddvik

There is a huge amount of misinformation out there when it comes to songs from other cultures. Before you pass a song along, make sure you know as much about it as you can – and make sure the information is accurate.

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?

Why you should start the year singing – and then sing some more!

Those of us who sing regularly or who work with singers know how beneficial singing together is. There is now a growing body of research to support our beliefs.

photo by Garry Knight

Why not start singing regularly this year – you might even persuade a friend to join you?! You don’t even have to be able to ‘sing’ – there are plenty of choirs out there which don’t require you to have any experience. Here are some good reasons why it’s time to get singing.

Singers and choir leaders: what bad habits have you got into?

We are all creatures of habit. Which is no bad thing until it starts to affect what we do adversely.

photo by CTRLF5

How many bad habits have you got into this past year and how might you change that?

How to care for your voice over the festive season

Christmas is a time for singing. It’s everywhere. Sometimes it seems that Christmas is the only time that many of us sing!

photo by Richard Towell

Whether you’re in a choir or just singing carols with friends, you need to look after your voice. Here are some ideas.