Choir FAQs
What Do We Do Every Week?
While we do rehearse for performances, enjoying the singing and the harmonies we create in the moment, each week, is just as important. As a community choir, we move at the pace of the group, we play and muck around.
As a rough guide:
While we do rehearse for performances, enjoying the singing and the harmonies we create in the moment, each week, is just as important. As a community choir, we move at the pace of the group, we play and muck around.
As a rough guide:
1st Hour
- Body/voice warm ups (~10 mins)
- Sing a familiar song (~ 5 mins)
- Learning new /polishing current songs. This could be a very quick round followed by a longer piece learnt over several weeks (30-35 mins)
- Body/voice warm ups (~10 mins)
- Sing a familiar song (~ 5 mins)
- Learning new /polishing current songs. This could be a very quick round followed by a longer piece learnt over several weeks (30-35 mins)
2nd Hour
- Coffee/Tea break (10-15 mins)
- Learning new/polishing current songs (~20-25mins)
- Singing through previously learnt songs (last half hour)
- Coffee/Tea break (10-15 mins)
- Learning new/polishing current songs (~20-25mins)
- Singing through previously learnt songs (last half hour)
Choir Etiquette
All Choirs have slightly different etiquette, so I thought I would put ours down to ease any anxiety/stress about breaking "unwritten rules".
1) Arriving
- Aim to arrive by 6:15pm this gives you enough time to sign in/pay & and have a chat. If
- If you can't arrive by 6:25, or arrive after we have started, please go straight to your seat and sign in/pay during the break; it can be very distracting/difficult to focus on warm-ups if people are moving about.
2) What to do when another section is learning their part
- If you have already learnt your part you can usually sing it under your breath/at quarter volume. Assume I am happy for you to do this unless I tell you otherwise
- Mark the beat with your feet or hands. Chant the rhythm of the other part under your breath (at least half our songs have the same rhythm across all parts, I will let you know if they are different)
- Chill out, notice your breathing, do a body scan/progressive muscle relaxation, feel the floor against your feet, read over words,
- If you need to have a quick word with someone next to you about the song, please keep it at minimal volume. Please leave any other talking for the tea break.
3) If you can't make every session
I'm keen for the choir to be shift-worker friendly so you are still welcome to come, even if you can't make every session.
Generally any new piece/section of a song takes two sessions to learn. If you miss one or both you have 3 main options:
- Make recordings during the rehearsals you are there.
- If you have a quick ear, you may be able to keep up without referencing the practice recordings, but make sure you listen well to the others in you section to ensure you are with them
- Sit back and just enjoy everyone else singing the songs you aren't sure of and join in the ones you know.
All Choirs have slightly different etiquette, so I thought I would put ours down to ease any anxiety/stress about breaking "unwritten rules".
1) Arriving
- Aim to arrive by 6:15pm this gives you enough time to sign in/pay & and have a chat. If
- If you can't arrive by 6:25, or arrive after we have started, please go straight to your seat and sign in/pay during the break; it can be very distracting/difficult to focus on warm-ups if people are moving about.
2) What to do when another section is learning their part
- If you have already learnt your part you can usually sing it under your breath/at quarter volume. Assume I am happy for you to do this unless I tell you otherwise
- Mark the beat with your feet or hands. Chant the rhythm of the other part under your breath (at least half our songs have the same rhythm across all parts, I will let you know if they are different)
- Chill out, notice your breathing, do a body scan/progressive muscle relaxation, feel the floor against your feet, read over words,
- If you need to have a quick word with someone next to you about the song, please keep it at minimal volume. Please leave any other talking for the tea break.
3) If you can't make every session
I'm keen for the choir to be shift-worker friendly so you are still welcome to come, even if you can't make every session.
Generally any new piece/section of a song takes two sessions to learn. If you miss one or both you have 3 main options:
- Make recordings during the rehearsals you are there.
- If you have a quick ear, you may be able to keep up without referencing the practice recordings, but make sure you listen well to the others in you section to ensure you are with them
- Sit back and just enjoy everyone else singing the songs you aren't sure of and join in the ones you know.
