About Me
I specialise in working with amateur voices and helping people develop their confidence and technique. I'm also an accomplished choral arranger, with arrangements being performed worldwide, including at The Royal Albert Hall, London, and venues across America.
Welcome to BeVox - the singing group that helps you to sing - whoever you are and whatever your ability. If you want to sing, be part of a community, or just increase your confidence, then we can help. Singing with us will leave you energised, exhilarated... moreWelcome to BeVox - the singing group that helps you to sing - whoever you are and whatever your ability. If you want to sing, be part of a community, or just increase your confidence, then we can help. Singing with us will leave you energised, exhilarated and raring to go.
Be part of the BeVox community and get ready to Find Your Voice!
Timothy Allen commented on Dominique Hogan's blog entry: I think the problem is one of terminology. People use "tone deaf" when they mean "I'm not a good singer". Tone deafness is a real condition, and the Wikipedia definition you use is a good one - it's a difficulty or impossibility in HEARING the difference ... moreI think the problem is one of terminology. People use "tone deaf" when they mean "I'm not a good singer". Tone deafness is a real condition, and the Wikipedia definition you use is a good one - it's a difficulty or impossibility in HEARING the difference between two pitches. If you genuinely can't differentiate between two different notes when they're played on a piano, you're tone deaf. However, it's also very rare. The quickest way to disabuse people of the idea that they're tone deaf is to sing or play two different notes to them and ask them to tell you whether one was higher than the other. If they say yes, they're not tone deaf.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about screening out people who have enthusiasm and a love for singing - why should they be excluded? They are the people who would benefit most from being in a choir - having that shared experience will give them the confidence to develop their voices further and become better singers.
Passion is certainly the most important ingredient - h... less
January 25, 2012
Timothy Allen commented on Chris Rowbury's blog entry: I agree Chris - I find all the things you list above come naturally too. It's the definition of being a good leader (there's lots of great research being done into this at the moment - fascinating stuff). When everything goes right, we let the singers tak... moreI agree Chris - I find all the things you list above come naturally too. It's the definition of being a good leader (there's lots of great research being done into this at the moment - fascinating stuff). When everything goes right, we let the singers take the credit - when everything goes wrong, we take the responsibility ourselves. We listen to our singers, we help them to understand how to learn, and in doing so, we learn more ourselves.
I've had the misfortune of working alongside other conductors who don't have these qualities of patience - ones that do get frustrated, do shout at singers, do single people out for making a mistake. And you're right about the end result too - tension, fear and insecurity. People keep coming back for more though, which I've never understood. Maybe it's because they haven't experienced the alternative, and think that's what being in a choir entails? If so, how can we show them what they're missing?! less
Singers from the amateur choir BeVox singing their "signature song" - Bill Withers' "Lean on me". Filmed during the BeVox@Magna concert, July 16th 2011.
Welcome to BeVox - the singing group that helps you to sing - whoever you are and whatever your ability. If you want to sing, be part of a community, or just increase your confidence, then we can help. Singing with us will leave you energised, exhilarated... moreWelcome to BeVox - the singing group that helps you to sing - whoever you are and whatever your ability. If you want to sing, be part of a community, or just increase your confidence, then we can help. Singing with us will leave you energised, exhilarated and raring to go.
Be part of the BeVox community and get ready to Find Your Voice!