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Your Guide to becoming a Superstar Choir Member

Writer's picture: Tanya LawrenceTanya Lawrence

If, like many people, you long to join a choir but hesitate because you're not sure what to expect, you're not alone. This blog post explains what you can expect from your first rehearsal through to your first performance.


1. First Principles - It's Not About You

Joining a choir means becoming part of a team. An equal amongst many. Each individual contributes to the overall sound and success of the group. Just as every singer has their own unique “voiceprint” so does every choir.


The person who “sets up” a choir's overall sound and presentation style is the Musical Director. They are the Team Leader. Every member of Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs ® receives a copy of our Member’s Handbook, which explains more about the role of the Musical Director.


However, when you join any choir, there are a few universal golden rules to follow :


a) Trust your choir director’s guidance to achieve the best results for the

group. This may be your first experience singing with a choir but, in most

cases, it certainly isn't your Director's first time leading. They know their

stuff. Listen, learn and follow.


b) Prioritize the aims of the choir over personal preferences. Once in a

while, there may be a song in the programme you're not familiar with or

don't particularly like. A memorable musical programme has structure,

theme and flow, so your Musical Director will have their reasons for

including that song. Other members may really enjoy it, and it may be

popular with audiences. Trust your Director's judgement.


c) Listen actively to other singers around you, and blend your voice to

create the group sound. Solo and team singing are two very different

arts. No section of the choir and certainly no individual voice should

“stand out”. It's all about the blend.


d) Offer support and encouragement to fellow members. Most choirs are

made up of people with widely varying levels of skill and experience. So

be patient with and kind to one another. Remember, rehearsals are

where mistakes get made on the way to the polished performance.


2. Rehearsals Are Not For Note Learning

Many adults, new to choir singing, arrive with the notion that rehearsals are for being “taught” your notes. This is not the case. Rehearsals are for perfecting the performance as a group. So:


a) Arrive prepared, knowing your harmony part. Women Rockin' Harmony

Choirs ® members are provided with audio demos of their harmony

part and a tailored lyric sheet to help them practice at home. No one

enjoys waiting around while the Director goes over one section's notes

yet again. Choristers look forward to and gain fulfilment from perfecting

the whole group sound. So, your preparation at home ensures

rehearsals are productive and enjoyable for everyone.


b) Focus on blending with others in your section to create a solid harmony

line together. Then follow your Musical Director's leadership to create a

whole choir harmony blend. It's like the sound equivalent of painting a

picture. Each section adds a particular “colour” to the final result.


c) Pay attention to instructions around volume, expression and speed that

help lift the sound from merely singing all the correct notes to creating

a thrilling performance that audiences will enjoy and talk about for

weeks after the show


3. Structuring Your Home Practice

If you're new to choir singing, it can take a while to perfect your own home practice routine. Effective home practice is key to your personal development as a choir member. Here’s how to make the most of your time:


a) A successful performance depends on everyone in the choir

following the same “arrangement” which your Musical Director

will have worked out very carefully to suit your choir's capabilities.

They will have put a great deal of time and thought into this, in

order to achieve the best possible result for your choir. So, make

good use of all the resources provided and refer to them often.


b) To avoid overwhelming yourself during your first few weeks, focus

on just one or two songs and break practice sessions into

manageable time-chunks. Utilise the stop and rewind features of

the audio demos to help with more challenging sections.


c) Spend time listening to the audio demos, paying attention to

details like breathing points and note length. These are the details

that make the difference between a Sing-A-Long session and a

choir rehearsal. And there's a BIG difference.


  1. Understanding Rehearsal Structure

Your choir director carefully plans rehearsals to prepare the group for performance day. They will know which songs are more likely to need extra time and attention and which will come together pretty quickly. A competent Musical Director will plan the best practice sequence and time allocation for each song to achieve the desired end result. Women

Rockin' Harmony Choirs ® members receive a copy of the rehearsal plan at the beginning of each project, so they can plan their home practice accordingly.

Here’s what to expect in at a typical choir rehearsal :


a) Warm-ups and musical exercises. These are often tailored to specific

aspects of the songs you're going to be perfecting, so missing out on

these will lower the level of the final result. Besides, arriving late, in

dribs and drabs, interrupts the flow of the rehearsal for others. So,

arrive on time and participate in the warm-up.


b) Whole group practice of more challenging sections. Your Director will

explain how the parts fit together and give you hints and tips on

getting the arrangement just right. Women Rockin’ Harmony Choirs ®

members also have the option to attend section specific “Note-Bash”

sessions in addition to whole choir rehearsals. Not all directors provide

this, but if they do, it's well worth going that extra mile and attending

those.


c) Time spent attending to fine details such as changes in volume or

speed, accurate word endings and general stagecraft. Not all choirs are

choreographed, but learning how to get on and off the stage and take a

bow with some grace and dignity is an essential part of a good

performance.


d) Trust the process, and remember that every rehearsal builds upon the

previous one. If you miss a few, you're very likely to get left behind and

start to feel disillusioned with the whole experience. Other team

members should not have to “carry” people who are unclear about the

arrangement. So, make sure you're going to be able to commit to a

minimum 80% of rehearsals before you join.


5. Help Build Your Audience

Being a great choir member extends beyond singing. Helping to promote the choir’s upcoming performances to ensure a full audience is all part of the experience. Here's how you can help:


a) Share event details on social media. It takes just seconds to click the share button and let your contacts know the show is happening. Encourage your friends to re-share the details on their own pages.


b) Talk about how much you enjoy your rehearsals and how excited you

are about the upcoming show to your friends, family, work colleagues,

the people at the bus stop, in the coffee shop, at your hairdressers,

everywhere you go. Show them your choir's Social Media pages and

generally “talk it up”.


c) A memorable event takes teamwork. Volunteer to help with event

logistics, such as set-up before the show (and take-down) or raffle

sales. Being welcomed at the door makes all the difference to how

people remember and feel about your event. Every bit of effort

contributes to the choir’s success and visibility. Sell tickets to your friends and family.

Be proud of what you've achieved and embrace the opportunity to share it.



And Finally:

See it through. There’s nothing more disorienting and disappointing for your team-mates than rehearsing with you beside them for weeks or months, only for you to opt out one or two weeks before the big day.


Remember, performance is a team endeavour. You’re in this together from beginning to end. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of having achieved a performance for building self-esteem and confidence.


Remember, becoming an excellent choir member takes time, practice, and dedication. Be patient with yourself and enjoy your journey. Anyone with the right mindset can become an valued choir member.


Together, members can build an outstanding choir that creates unforgettable performances. For adults who have never been involved in the performing arts, the musical journey can be life changing. For those returning, it can feel like coming home.


Ready to join us?

There are just three opportunities per year to join Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs ® . Click here to sign up to our waiting list and receive notifications about our next events, or email us at harmonychoirblackpool@gmail.com to find out more.



Members of Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs enjoying their Summer Show at Layton Institute Blackpool, July 2024.


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