Choir leading as low-impact aerobics, or, how I gained weight during lockdown

Although I don’t have a regular choir, before the pandemic I used to lead one or two singing workshops each week.

I now realise that was my main exercise! Since lockdown, I’ve become a couch potato.

How to make plans for your choir when the future is uncertain

The socially-distanced reopening of indoor performances in England was due to take place last Saturday, but the government has now postponed it for at least another two weeks.

With circumstances changing so frequently, how do you prepare for future concerts and rehearsals?

Balancing individual creativity with group collaboration

During lockdown many of us have had to fall back on our own devices. We’ve been cast ashore on a virtual desert island and asked to fend for ourselves.

It’s tough when you have to do everything by yourself, but it can also be liberating as you have nobody to account to. There are pros and cons to both ways of working: by yourself or in collaboration.

Is a choir a family?

People join choirs for many different reasons. Whatever those reasons might be, a choir ends up being a small community.

Photo by U.S. Embassy London

In fact, some consider a choir as a kind of family. But what might that mean?

Whatever you’ve managed to do during lockdown, you’re doing great

I keep seeing virtual choirs on Facebook and hearing about amazing Zoom singing sessions.

Photo by Virginia State Parks

It’s hard not to compare and feel that you’re not keeping up. But whatever you’ve managed to do, you’re doing great.

How to keep your choir or singing business alive while it’s shut down

I started my first community choir over 20 years ago. I used to worry that, after the long summer break, the singers would have forgotten me and wouldn’t return to choir when it started up again.

With choirs and singing groups not meeting in person, those worries are magnified. How can you keep your singing groups alive and ensure that your singers are still there when this is all over?

When did you last sing together? You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone

That last time I was in a room with a group of singers was nearly four months ago.

If I had known then that I wouldn’t be singing like that for the foreseeable future, would I have behaved differently?

Singers listen with their eyes as well as their ears

I've been trying to sing against a recording of two other people singing different harmony parts.

I found it almost impossible to pitch accurately because I couldn't see them.

What singing online can and can’t achieve

Last week I looked at What is unique about singing together.

In this post, I’ll consider which aspects of singing together can be duplicated online and which can’t.

What is unique about singing together?

Singing together in a group is something special. It is a very different experience from singing on your own.

But what exactly is it that we get from singing with others?

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.

How to get the most out of singing online – a guide for singers

Choirs are not meeting at the moment so lots of you have gone online to sing.

Given that it will be just you singing at a screen, what can you do to get the most out of an online singing session?

How to use singing to lift you out of a low mood

Like everyone in lockdown we all have good days and bad days.

Today I’m feeling particularly low and unmotivated. But I got out of it. Here’s how.

What to write about when there are no choirs or singing together?

I’m finding it hard to come up with an idea to write about today.

Writing about choirs, harmony singing, vocal technique, etc. seems a little like adding salt to a wound when choirs aren’t able to meet. What shall I write about for the next few months?

Discover the joys of singing on your own

Opportunities to sing with others, especially in harmony, are very rare when you’re confined to your house.



This could be a chance to discover the joys of singing on your own.

Create your own deadlines and bring some structure to your life and work

Essentially I’m a very lazy person. I don’t do anything unless I absolutely have to.



The way I manage to get things done is to set public deadlines. That way I can’t escape!

The sound of silence – rediscovering the art of listening

With far fewer people around at the moment, I am starting to hear things that I don’t normally notice.



It made me realise that in our usually busy daily lives, many of us have lost the art of listening. It’s time to reconnect with the world.

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 sing harmony on your own

I love harmony singing. But sometimes I don’t have the luxury of other people to sing with.



Here are some ways to sing harmony, even if you’re on your own.

10 things singers can do at home when there’s no choir to go to

There are many reasons why you might not be able to get to choir and have to stay home.



How can you keep your choral and musical interests alive? Here are 10 ideas.