Its good to force yourself to do things sometimes especialy Music

seacliff to answer your question, ‘Yes, it is!’

I’ve often had to force myself up and out the house, to walk the dogs, go to a concert, out for a meal, go to my band practice, even go shopping, and always been glad I did so.

Oddly enough the more negative I feel about going, these times usually turn out the best.

This is the theme of my life - trying to give people the opportunity to play music or sing, in particular. Why is it that we think the only worthwhile music is that produced by experts? Music is the birthright of everyone and it matters not whether you are "good" at it.

Clearly there is a time and a place for each thing - you would not expect to go to the Festival Hall to listen to anything pother than high quality skill.

But that does not mean that there is no place for music making purely for the fun of it.

I have run many singing workshops for people with various disadvantages (old age!, mental health problems, learning difficulties), as well as running community choirs where it does not matter whether you can read music, or whether you think you can sing - it is about joining in with an activity that releases happy hormones and gives an opportunity to be part of a "team" all working together.

I fondly remember the letter I had from one lady with severe depression, in which she said that the weekly singing workshop was what kept her going.

I am so glad that you are enjoying your ukulele sessions - but not the least bit surprised!

Yes Meg, it's so easy to give in and not bother.

I've just noticed my spelling mistake, "especially" so annoying I can't change it !!! We want an EDIT button!

Luckygirl - I have found to my surprise that my croaky voice is getting a bit stronger with weekly singing.

I have always felt I couldn't join a choir, as I honestly can't sing in tune, my OH agrees. My voice seems to go up and down all over the place. I would be embarrassed at being heard. But now I am tempted to see if there's a very easy going choir in the area.

Look for a choir that doesn’t audition, go along to a rehearsal and see whether you like it and its repertoire. There is likely to be something to suit you.

A vague relation of mine belongs to something called The Raucous Chorus, which sounds fun.

Where I am there are adverts for people to join the 'Tuneless Choir"!

naturalvoice.net/choirs

seacliff - try link above or just google community choirs - there are several directories that tell you what is in your area. Do it!!! - and please let me know how it goes.

Seacliffe Sounds fun. I am also looking for activities which will lift my mood. I wish you lived near me luckygirl have just looked through your link and can't find anything in my area. There are a couple of choirs near me but you need to read music and audition. Not good for someone who does not read music and can' t sing but would love to.

pm me and tell me where you live and I will find a choir near you!

A suitable non-auditioned one of course.

I'm hoping to join a choir too, when we eventually get back to the UK and get settled.
I used to enjoy playing piano to get my music 'fix', but those days have gone - arthritis.

I also couldn't find a Suffolk choir on that link. I know of one near me, I think they may be too good for me !! I'm near Saxmundham, if you know of any please Luckygirl.

Shame we can't have a Gransnet choir.

Yes. I had only lived in the village for 3 months, not a natural 'joiner' and the only thing that appealed to me was the village choir. First meeting after Christmas was a wet,chilly night in early Jan. Forced myself to shower(bathroom was freezing) and then had to force myself to walk down a dark road to the village hall and even worse... to actually walk through the door knowing no-one. Looking back. I don't know how I did it after 50 odd years of going nearly everywhere with DH, but am I ever glad I did! I love it... love the challenge of new music, and the concerts we give. And when I come home after rehearsals I'm on a real high and treat the dog to an impromptu concert... which she ignores! She's not in the least musical!

"Welcome to the Rabble Chorus Website. We are East Anglia's biggest community choir of around 300 singers split into four Suffolk groups, one based in Easton, near Framlingham, one in Woodbridge, one in Saxmundham and one in Needham market."

www.therabblechorus.co.uk/

Another list of choirs of all sorts here: www.suffolkmusic.co.uk/choirs

lovetosing.onesuffolk.net/love-to-sing-suffolk-choirs/

suffolksoulsinge.onesuffolk.net/

www.vivavoices.com/

activlives.org.uk/activsinging/

The Rabble Chorus is on your doorstep.

I am not good on Suffolk geography, and some of the other links may be too far away - but do take a look!

Good luck!

A Gransnet Choir - now why not!? - Eric Whitacre created a world wide choir all out in the ether. ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir
Mind you he has got the dosh to have the technicians sync the individual videos.

It is almost always better to do something than nothing. Making music is very uplifting.

Who was it who said "you should try everything once - except incest and morris dancing"?

Ha ha, I have to admit to Morris Dancing in the dim and distant past. When I first moved to Suffolk I knew hardly anyone. An old friend persuaded me to join. My OH and children thought I was mad, some of the members are a bit weird I admit, but harmless. A lot of old hippies lol.

The good things about it - a good work out, quite good mentally too learning all those steps. When dancing out on a summers evening, I found so many pretty country pubs in remote parts of Suffolk I never knew existed. It was a very sociable and fun thing to do. Eventually knees stopped play. Dancing in wooden clogs on hard surfaces isn't good for the joints.

I’ve never done Morris dancing, but I love watching it. It’s a wonderful old tradition. I think the quotation just said ‘folk dancing’. Was it Lord Berners? Somebody trying to be clever.

I’ve googled the quotation and it’s attributed to several different people. I don’t think anyone knows who said it first.

I absolutely love watching Morris dancing, but it looks far too complicated to take part in. We used to go square dancing years ago - that was complicated enough for me! As for music, we have choirs in the city but they are either audition choirs (they would throw me out bodily as soon as I opened my mouth!) or they are too far away for me to get to. So I play my piano and sing to myself - and sometimes DH joins in (selections from South Pacific, anyone?).

When practicing the uke, I have found some easy "play along" videos on youtube. They show all the chords and words, and I can keep rewinding and having another go. Very useful.

I love a sing along, how lovely to be able to play the piano. The South Pacific songs sound great.

Isn't it amazing how it's sometimes so difficult to get over the door. Even though I know the joys that may await me I find myself procrastinating. Never have understood this about myself. I persevere and invariably enjoy the result no matter what. Crazy!@

Not music for me but I have started Pilates, a big step for me as I'm unfit, not co-ordinated, few mobility issues & walking into a new group of people. It's good to do something new.

My local U3A, has a Ukulele and singing group, but I have been hesitant to go as I have never played a musical instrument!

Your experience seacliff has spurred me on to go along!

Me too, just about to take early retirement. I’m already in a natural voice choir, great fun, and started Pilates too after not exercising for many years. So far it’s great fun, though challenging. Everyone seems very friendly although I had to force and cajole myself to go the first time, then I found I already knew someone there. On to my next challenge.