Finding your voice can be scary – but don’t let that stop you

I’ve heard a couple of stories this week from otherwise confident individuals who find it scary and embarrassing to sing with others.

photo by Howard Lake

What’s going on here? And is there a connection between our singing voice and “having a voice” in the wider sense?

Why do choirs stand in sections to learn songs? Here’s an alternative that might work better!

Most choirs rehearse and perform with voice parts standing together in blocks: all the sopranos will be together, all the basses together, etc.



But there are other ways to rehearse (and perform) songs which might make learning easier. Here is something you might want to try.

The 7 elements of vocal blend and how to control them

There is a balance in any choir between individual voices and the overall sound. Most choirs aim to blend voices so that there is a cohesion rather than individual voices sticking out.

photo by pinkbelt

If this is taken too far however, I believe that you lose the humanity in the choir. It’s still a good thing to aim for though. Here’s how to go about it.

Audition or self-selection? – how to select singers for specific projects

Most of my work is carried out using Natural Voice Network principles. That means my singing projects are open to anyone who wants to sing.



Occasionally though I do side-projects which involve selecting singers. What’s the best way to do this?

What to do when you run out of ideas

It comes to all of us at some point. We sit down to plan a warm up or rehearsal or singing workshop and we just go blank.



That’s exactly how I’m feeling now writing this blog post! Here are a few ideas that might help.

Lip trilling and bubbling – is it useful (and how to do it properly)?

I use lip trills (or lip bubbles) as part of my warm ups. Some singers find them hard to do. Others don’t see the point.



I’m going to share some expert advice so you can do lip trills properly then make up your own mind about their use.

Should conductors mouth the words for their choirs?

I’ve often mouthed the words for my choirs. I’d rather singers don’t use lyric sheets when performing, so it’s a kind of security blanket for them.

photo by Tambako the Jaguar

But it can be considered patronising or even a way of letting singers off the hook. Let’s look at the pros and cons.

When singers don’t show up – how to rehearse effectively

The other week it snowed quite badly where I live. I held a rehearsal as usual, but only 23 singers turned up out of 56.



We have a concert coming up soon. What do you do when so many singers are missing?

Should choir leaders socialise with their choir members?

Many choirs hold social events throughout the year. It helps build a choir community and encourages team spirit. That can only be a good thing.

photo by Split the Kipper

But should your choir leader be invited along, or should they maintain a professional distance?

Effective ways to make a song more interesting for your audience

Sometimes choirs think it’s enough to sing a song well. They stand in static rows and sing the whole thing from start to finish.

photo by John Cummings

But that can be like watching paint dry. You need to create some interest if you’re going to keep your audience interested. Here are some simple ideas that might help.

Making the space work for you – how to cope with unusual venues

I have run several singing workshops recently in less-than-ideal spaces.



Rather than being a problem, I found ways to embrace the situation. Here are some ideas you might find useful.

Leading your first ever singing group – a complete beginner’s guide

I am often asked for advice from people who want to start a singing group, but have absolutely no experience.

photo by The U.S. Army

Or sometimes people have been asked to start a workplace choir or to take over their church choir activities. Here are some tips to get you started.

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.