[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Sarcastic remarks from X Factor judges. Teachers telling kids to “stand at the back and just mime”. Being made to stand up and sing solo to get...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I always teach songs by ear. Despite my strong belief in the oral/ aural tradition, there is an increasing number of handheld recorDing devices appearing i...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There are times in most choirs when a soloist or a small ensemble is required. These roles can be allocated by the MD but in many cases singers are a...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I ran a gospel singing weekend recently. one of the songs was flagging a bit so I suggested people ham it up a bit and be more “American”.  ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Some people are put off when they come across a song with foreign words. They prefer to sing songs in English. photo by Chell Hill Not only are they missin...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]Sometimes I bring a great song to choir and for some reason the singers really struggle with it. photo by Clear Path International How do you decide whethe...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I used to run a small women’s choir of 12 singers. one day it dawned on me that my job was to make myself redundant.     I researched,...

Raising voices, raising spirits Ignite Gospel Choir was founded by Keara Sheeran... In Oct of 2008 I returned to the Jes church, the place I had grown up with my father running the folk mass choir. He had retired 12 years previously. What was once a p...  onclick="$(this).getParent().getNext().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">moreone;">Raising voices, raising spirits Ignite Gospel Choir was founded by Keara Sheeran... In Oct of 2008 I returned to the Jes church, the place I had grown up with my father running the folk mass choir. He had retired 12 years previously. What was once a packed out mass full of joy and prayer, families and young couples, singles and religious, was now a quieter mass with no choir and I saddened by this. I offered my services as a singer and musician to come and provide music for the 5:30 mass and within a few short weeks I returned to the place I consider my spiritual home. I had not purposely set out to start a choir but people began to approach me with a desire to sing and it was a need within the community I was not going to Ignore. on the 12th Dec 2008 The Jes Gospel Choir was birthed with 5 singers and me & it was a wonderful experience and we received a very warm welcome. Within a year the choir grew to over 15 members and some musicians. The wonderful thing about this choir is that it is a choir th...    onclick="$(this).getParent().getPrevious().style.display='';$(this).getParent().style.display='none';">less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Apparently singing is the UK’s second most popular activity after sport.     Photo by Shaunette Babb   AccorDing to The Gua...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Two weeks ago I wrote about how individuals choose where to stand within their part (Don't stand too close to me! - finDing the right place to stand in yo...