[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across th...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Despite an apparent re-awakened interest in singing, we don’t sing together like we used to.     TV programmes like X Factor, The Voice...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Many of us wait until the mood hits us before we do something. But often the doing something is what changes our mood for the better.     Th...

[this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I was in the middle of planning a workshop and was checking through a few songs to make sure I had the correct lyrics, source, meaning, backgr...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many’s the time I see Ann lean over to Gill (not their real names) to help her get her part right. And every time I see a pained expression on ...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I realise that apart from my profile page on this blog, You probably don’t know much about me or my journey to become a choir and singing workshop lea...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I often get people writing to me for advice about choirs. Some of them don’t agree with the direction their choir leader is taking them, some ...

to the third edition of PER MUSICAM AD ASTRA Copernicus International Choir Festival & Competition!  Between June 27 - July 1, 2015 it will be again Toruń, Poland the host city of another meeting music event.   Don´t miss the deadl...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   You know those people who sing all the time — when they’re cooking, hoovering, gardening, whatever? Well, I’m not one of them.   ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Most singers in choirs don’t fit neatly into choral vocal ranges. Yet we try to squeeze them in to our off-the-shelf arrangements, chastising them when ...