Singing with choirs

Whether you are just beginning to learn to sing or have considerable experience as a musician, joining a choir can be a great way to improve your musicality, extend your repertoire,  learn about music theory, and make some fabulous new friends.
Aber Mads performing 'O Magnum Mysterium' in Holy Trinity Church, Aberystwyth.

Learn through singing :

I am currently the musical director for Coalville Male Voice Choir which meets on Thursday evenings at 7:00 in Hall Lane Methodist Church, Whitwick. This choir is open to all male voices, whether you are an experienced singer or a complete beginner and performs a number of concerts throughout the year, including an annual tour.

Singing with others is an excellent way to learn about one's own voice, to improve tone, and to gain confidence in one's abilities. It's also rather jolly just to get together with like-minded people and have a bit of a sing-song.

Being part of a choir can be an excellent supplement to private lessons as it allows one to practise vocal technique in a friendly, teacher-led environment. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to improve sight-reading and to experience different styles of singing (e.g. choral works with their individual parts, harmonies and requirement of vocal blending).
I am an experienced conductor having studied and been examined in the practice during my Bachelor's degree (for both choral and orchestral groups) and then later working with a variety of musical ensembles as musical director. I have led a range of groups through rehearsals and performances including the Aberystwyth Madrigal Singers (who may be seen above), and have directed workshops including Learn-to-Sing programmes, special choral services and oratorios for churches, and an Early Music workshop for the Narberth A Cappella Festival amongst many others. I have also sung with a number of choirs and vocal ensembles over the years in a variety of styles and situations including a backing choir for Florence and the Machine and Dizzie Rascal , pocket opera groups, community and society choirs, Cathedral and church choirs, and professional groups.

What is 'A Cappella' Music?
- Click the link for more information -

I already sing with a choir
but want to learn more...

Singing with choirs is wonderful; this we have established.
But what if it isn't?
Sometimes, however much you enjoy singing with your group, there are moments when we just find it hard. This can be for a variety of reasons.
  • Perhaps you have decided to tackle a particularly challenging piece.
  • You may have changed to one of the inner parts and no longer know how to place your voice within the texture.
  • Maybe you don't read music and so have to rely on your ear and learning your individual line bit by bit.
  • It could be that a particularly strong voice or accompanying line has vanished from the texture and left you feeling uncertain.
  • Possibly you are frightened to sing out in case you are wrong and the conductor glares at you. (They can be fearsome beasts!)
  • You might even be thinking of leaving/have left your choir because you don't feel good enough.
Whatever the case, these difficulties or stresses are distracting you from your true purpose: to make a lovely sound and enjoy being part of a wonderful group.

If this sounds like you then I may be able to help.
Whilst teaching at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, a number of my pupils came from the local choirs in need of some assistance. Some merely wanted help in learning their individual parts (there is very little time for note-bashing in rehearsals when one is on a tight concert schedule), but others were facing the difficulties of ageing voices, contending with new music without being able to read from the score, struggling to extend for more demanding musical lines, or becoming confused by additional overlapping lines.

I provide tailored lessons in singing and music theory based upon the needs of my students. Therefore, if you come to me merely wishing to learn a particular part from a particular work I will make that our focus and help you to achieve your goal. Alongside this you will begin to learn other skills including simple reading techniques, getting used to the relationship between the notes, and understanding how your individual line fits alongside some of the others. Your aim will be my aim with a few useful extras added in to help you in the future.
Alternatively, you may wish to take lessons that are based upon the work you are doing with your choir, but that extend dramatically away from this. For example, one of my previous pupils began by learning a new part for a choral work having recently moved from Soprano to Alto, but found our lessons so helpful that she continued her work and began to look at solo repertoire in her new register that she might use later at the Eisteddfod.

Whoever you are, and whatever your goal may be, I have never yet sent anyone away without the knowledge required to proceed further. For more information on my private and group singing lessons and on my 'Learn-to-Read' music theory classes please click on the buttons below:
If you are looking to further your abilities as a singer, Music Theory or 'Learn-to-Read' classes could be just the thing for you. To find out more about my theory lessons follow the link below :