Singing

Thanks maniac and rubysong. You wouldn't think it was so hard!

janerowena
Re songs with place names in title -we sing Bodmin Carol,Dunster Carol,
Ferry to Glastonbury,Up from Somerset,Mingalay Boat song,Pill,Pill
(Pill is near Bristol)
I'll ask my DD1 for some more.

Coming from a singing family I've been in choirs and love singing.
DD1 teaches choirs and voice groups and believes anyone can learn to sing.
My soprano voice became very croaky.Recently had a few singing lessons. Now in my 80s I've joined a local choir (Barley Rye Choir) and sing with the tenors -mostly folk songs e.g.John Barleycorn,Wild Mountain Thyme,Up from Somerset etc.. We perform at local events and next week will begin rehearsing carols.etc .
Newbies have to stand in the front row-daunting but it means one is supported by the stronger voices from behind.
Enjoy your singing!

Sorry. We DO not don't and carol not carrol. (Blooming predictive tablet! )

We don't one called 'Penzance Carrol' unfortunately it is not on YouTube but Sans Day (St. Day in Cornwall) is.

Nellie I was just trying to help Janerowena who asked for suggestions of Christmassy stuff with a place name as she has to organise the repertoire for her choir.

My own choir is already rehearsing lots of Christmas stuff as we have a concert on 10 December and we need as much time as we can manage to achieve a reasonable level of performance, so there's no way we could "wait a few more months"!

The Sussex carol is lovely gagagran but wait a few more months please.

Yes, we learned Fall at Your Feet last term, I love that song! We've just learned Viva La Vida.
The way the songs are taught by ear suits me, and the harmonies sound so good.

Try and keep me away Treebee! Are you learning Viva La Vida and Fall at Your Feet too. I've never sung 5/6 part harmony before and amazed at how easy our choir master makes it.
Wonderful to find another Rock Choir member

Hi Anya! Yes, I'm in Rock Choir too, currently learning Time After Time as sung by Cyndi Lauper.
I've been in choirs on and off throughout my life and am loving Rock Choir. Singing upbeat songs is so uplifting and the choreography is a bonus, as long as it's not too complicated!
Will you be going to the NEC next year?

In the UK I used to belong to a church folk group that sounds similar to rubysong's one. We weren't very folky just more of us and mostly younger than the actual church choir. Some people belonged to both.
It is one of the things I miss living in Portugal. Our choir mistress said that anyone could be taught to sing. In fact a couple of girl friends and I only joined because she had press ganged our husbands into joining to make up for one very good tenor who had moved away.

I did once get roped in to sing in Songs of Praise from the Algarve. We practised all day and sang in the evening. The musical director was fantastic and it was a lot of fun.

Yes!

We have to start next week, and our librarian is away so I am the lucky person charged with tracking down scores we don't already possess.

Sussex carol any good?

Oh sorry Jane - I didn't realise they had to be Christmassy! I'll have another think and see if any come to mind.

Those aren't Christmassy, but I think next summer we are carrying on the theme so they would certainly be useful for then!

Funny - my mind goes blank when trying to think of some. We do a couple of charity street concerts in the summer, those would be perfect for that.

Scarborough Fair, The Lass of Richmond Hill, Widdecombe Fair, Eton Boating song, Ilkley Moor B'aht Hat, Liverpool Lullaby, must be loads more but that's a few that came to mind without trying jane

Nellie after the first time it gets so much easier. I used to hate being in the front row, let alone singing on my own, but after a while you think nothing of it.

My breathing isn't perfect by any means. Last week I got picked on by our new conductor, my diaphragm was displayed and discussed and this week, I thought - floaty tunic time! Thank heavens, it worked, and another poor soul was used as a teaching aid. But I have to say, it and the exercises worked and it's easier to hold long notes as a result. Which in turn leads to less public humiliation.

One of our Christmas concerts is going to be all british pieces with british place names in, if anyone can think of any with a place or county name in either the piece or the title? There are various wassail songs, but mostly variations on the same tune with varying place names, and the Coventry carol, that sort of thing.

Baubles. I can't sing but I don't let it stop me! I have joined a choir at work and it is great fun x

JaneR I think I would still find singing solo and knowing someone was listening very difficult.

Feeling confident, breathing properly and controlling the way you use the breath makes a huge difference. It does get easier with practice.

I don't always get it right, but when you realise you can do its a great morale boost. I am not sure if I could do it in front of a group.

I belong to a U3a Singing for pleasure and I really enjoy it We went to venue where we were coached morning and afternoon and a concert at 7 It was the Pirate of Penzance 200 voices The sound was unbelievable and so pleased I joined

Thank you LucyGran

They didn't know I could hear them. Otherwise I think some of them would have walked out, they were so nervous!

DBH is a professional singer (also used to be a head of music at a large private school) and he says that confidence is the biggest problem. When we were first together, broke and with a small baby he used to give singing lessons at home to adults, and the difference by about week four was incredible.

grandma60 I do think just a very few people will never learn to sing (in tune) but most are teachable. But if you enjoy singing what the heck, does it really matter?

Just go for it.