What Actually Happens at Choir?
/So you'd like to join a choir but you have no idea what actually happens during a session? Read on for a little sneak behind the Starling Voices rehearsal doors, and find out more about how the magic unfolds..!
Choir Begins Before Choir Begins
Our members often travel straight to rehearsal from a busy work or homelife setting. This makes those quiet, magical moments before a session even more important. Before the rehearsal begins, our members chat, catch up, might grab a bite to eat, or simply take five minutes to themselves. This is a great time to get to know other members. During this time, Team Starling begins to take a register and set up the room ready for rehearsal to begin.
Getting in the Zone
Great singing starts with the mind. We offer simple guided mindfulness techniques to transition members from their day. For those who are totally new to any form of meditation, this is done in a really simple, easy-to-follow way. It's not at all awkward or 'woo woo'. Instead, we offer simple ways to relax, unwind, 'arrive' and let go of the stresses of the day.
Getting to Know You
We believe that group singing is a social activity, improved by getting to know those around us. When we make connections with those we sing with, we feel more relaxed, energised, and in control. We use simple exercises to get the group feeling comfortable and ready to sing together!
The Starling Arts team get the group warmed up ahead of a singing session
Warm it Up!
Physical warm-ups help us release and relax our bodies, preparing them to sing. A purposeful, aware body is the foundation of good singing. Again these exercises are simple and easy to follow. They are adaptable for different needs, so don't worry if you have an injury or disability. The aim is to relax, bring awareness to the body, open up and engage all the parts of the body. These qualities will assist us in making a healthy, full and rounded singing sound.
And Breathe!
Breathing exercises are at the heart of good singing. Having developed a clear mind and good posture, we get our breathing apparatus ready! Using simple to follow activities, we develop our lung capacity, breath control, and breathing support.
From working on our body and breath we will have sufficient control to begin to make sounds…
As Easy as Do Re Mi
Once our mind, body and breath are engaged, we can start to add sounds. We do this using vocal warm-ups and exercises. Examples include scales, tongue twisters, and short singing rounds. Don't worry if these are all new to you - we teach everything from scratch and there's no expectation to be perfect! We simply encourage everyone to give it a go! Mistakes are natural - and as a group we embrace them with fun, silliness, and a sense of humour.
Power Songs
We often move towards learning new songs by singing what we call 'power choruses'. These are songs you already know and get everyone singing confidently. Because we sing songs people are familiar with, you don't need to worry about lyrics or tricky vocal lines. The aim is to make a satisfying sound quickly. When we do this we move into more difficult singing sections with confidence and ease!
Sing it Out!
We are then ready to move on to learning our music. We do this gradually, line by line. We don't expect anyone to read music, so we play all the lines and sing them back until they feel good. We build up the different voice parts to make a lovely, full, and satisfying sound!
Don't worry if singing in harmony is new to you. That's where singing in a choir is so useful - you'll be surrounded by other people who are singing the same notes as you. This support is invaluable! How much we get done depends on the song; in some rehearsals, we might learn a whole song, whereas in others we may focus intensively on a small section. Both approaches are fun and incredibly rewarding!
I Like To Move It
Occasionally, when the song calls for it, we add some simple movement. Again, this is broken down into smaller, bite-sized chunks which complement the singing. We appreciate that movement comes more naturally to some so we carefully create any movement. This makes sure it's suitable - and flattering - to all taking part. If this is new to you, be patient with yourself and allow yourself the time and space to take it in. We know from experience that movement gets easier the more we do it. Once again, being surrounded by the group is super helpful in developing together.
If, on the other hand, you love to dance or have loads of experience, we can always find extra bits of choreography for you! Just let us know and we'll build it into the song.
Practice Makes Perfect
Shows like Gareth Malone's The Choir or the Pitch Perfect movies have been great for raising the profile of group singing. What we don't often see, however, is the hard work that goes into refining songs. In reality, singing groups spend the majority of their time rehearsing and perfecting their performances. This is a really satisfying and enjoyable part of the process but it can take time. In working together, we work towards something to be proud of.
Don't forget the Cake!
We always take a break in our rehearsals. This gives members a chance to chat, catch up and take time for a quick snack or slice of cake. Our members bake each week and raise money for different charities in the process. The break is a chance to get to know the group, take a drink or loo break if you need one, and give yourself a chance to take in all of the awesome from the rehearsal!
Want to sample a session for yourself? Come to a Starling Voices taster session in September, before you commit to joining. All the details you need are here - we can’t wait to sing with you!
