Why being ‘pitchy’ can be in the ear of the beholder

Sometimes when I watch TV singing talent shows like The Voice or X-Factor I think that the singer is out of tune, but the judges don’t seem to notice.



At other times the judges point out that a singer is ‘pitchy’, but I think they’re perfectly in tune. What’s going on here?

What do singing and sex have in common? – more than you think!

Sex is (mostly) a private activity. If somebody were to observe you, you would (probably) find it embarrassing.



Singing with others is an acceptable public activity, but it too can be embarrassing. Often in surprising ways.

A little self-doubt as a singer can help – especially if you’re a man!

There was an article in The Guardian about how women tend to experience more self-doubt than men.



I’ve noticed that the men who come to my singing weekends are often not as good as the women. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s because men over-estimate their singing abilities.

Not everyone will like your singing voice – but that’s OK

Your friend plays you one of their favourite singers and you just don’t get it. To your ears it sounds pretty awful.



Liking a singing voice is very subjective. We all know that. However, it can get us down when it’s our voice that’s being considered.

Can you join a choir if you can’t hit a note?

I had an enquiry this week: “Am I correct in believing that, to join your choir, it isn’t necessary to be able to hit a note?”



I said that yes, that was the case. But it’s important to unpick what “unable to hit a note” means.

New year, new plans – how to get what you want

Many people use the turning of the year as an opportunity to reflect on the past and make plans for the future.



It’s easy to go overboard though and end up trying to become a completely different person or making unrealistic plans which will inevitably fail.

Making a good impression is what counts whether you’re a business, singer or choir leader

I’ll let you into a secret: I’m not glued to my computer on this Christmas day!

photo by Nigel

I wrote this piece a while back and have scheduled it to be published on 25th December.

A little praise goes a long way for both singers AND choir leaders

When things aren’t going well, it’s noticeable. That’s when you give constructive criticism.



But when everything is going smoothly, it’s easy to take it for granted. That’s when a word or two of praise can work wonders.

What to do if you catch a cold and a concert is looming

At this time of year many of you will be singing in Christmas concerts.

photo by Courtney Carmody

It’s also the time of year when there are plenty of bugs around. Here’s a timely reminder of what you can do if you catch a cold and a concert is coming up.

12 false beliefs about singing that can prevent you from even trying – don’t let them stop you!

Many of us had bad singing experiences at school. You might have been kicked out of the choir or told to stand at the back and mime.

photo by Northern Ireland Executive

Experiences like that can put you off singing for years, and even if you really want to give it a go in later life there are many ridiculous myths which may prevent you from even trying. Time to explode them!

Is your choir name fit for purpose?

Many choir names are descriptive and give a clear idea of what kind of choir it is.



But choirs change over time. Maybe your choir name doesn’t fit what you do any longer.

Four ways that your choir can begin a song badly – and how to correct them

It’s wonderful when a choir starts a song in a crisp and precise way. But there are so many ways in which this can go wrong.



How can we ensure that every singer gets off to a good start?

Why it’s vital to include voice training in your choir leading

I’m just back from leading a singing weekend for singers who want to improve their small group harmony singing skills. We focused quite a lot on blending which required us to look at vocal technique.

But should you make space for this kind of work in your regular choir? Or have people just come to sing?

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?

8 reasons why choir leaders should go to more singing workshops

Recently I went to an amazing weekend for choir leaders led by Stephen Taberner of The Spooky Men’s Chorale.



I don’t spend enough time on the receiving end so found it thoroughly refreshing and stimulating. Here’s why it’s good for you.

Mixed tenor sections: the weirdness of men and women singing the same note

Many community choirs have mixed tenor sections with men and women singing the same part.

photo by Stefan Karpiniec

That’s when things can get weird! Let’s look at what’s going on.

How to keep your performances interesting

Is it enough for your choir to stand in front of an audience and just sing?



Or do you need to make your performances more ‘interesting’ somehow?

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.

How do you know how loud you should sing in choir?

Your singing teacher is always telling you to be more confident and sing up.



But your choir leader asks you to sing quietly and listen to each other. So how loud should you be singing?

How to help singing groups harmonise even if it seems they can’t

Katharine leads a small informal choir where music is not part of the singers education and the level of musicality is low.



She’s tried some simple harmony songs and rounds with them, but they seem to have a total inability to harmonise. What can she do?