singing for fun

merlotgran - the hours with cyberbass really struck a chord with me, to coin a phrase. This is my plan for the afternoon, plodding along with the alto part of Haydn's creation. I haven't got a very good voice, and I have to use a hearing aid, but I shall just keep going until someone asks me to leave

My most treasured memory is singing Mahlers' choral symphony under conductor Charles Groves at a Three Choirs festival. The choir comes in very very quietly in the last movement, just as shimmering magical sound - Charles Groves achieved this my simply not bringing us in!!! - there are hundreds of bars to count before the entry, so we all filtered in somewhat fearfully and achieved the exact effect that was needed. Magic!

A friend who sings in a huge ladies choir posted this link on her fb page this morning

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/11/join-a-choir-do-something

It perfectly describes the feeling of euphoria that you can sometimes get, especially when you first start. I find it very hard to get to sleep on the first night after the first rehearsal of every term, because the music is going around in my head and I think I am probably singing it in my head all night!

I've just returned from my 'weekly night out'. A couple of years ago I started a music session in a local pub which embraces all types of music. It's really taken off - every week there's around 20 of us that come together and sing/play music in the style we enjoy, some professionals, most amateurs. All ages and music styles - it doesn't matter. Everyone can sing…it's very therapeutic. We all have a great night out singing, which for all of us, no matter what age, or style, is the most important thing :-)

Merlotgran - I love Ely cathedral but wouldn't like to have to practice there. It's a bit dark and cold! I really do hate having to go out at this time of year and we can end up all over east anglia. It's awful when you drive somewhere in the dark on ice, then come out to snow when you are shattered and you have an hour's drive home. I am starting to make excuses for some of the more distant concerts.

Yes, we only rehearsed flinging wide gates etc. for three weeks, we were about to start a rebellion so now we have swiftly moved on to doing some nice gentle Rutter stuff and madrigals, Sprig of Thyme being one set. Any of you in Gloucester? We are doing a joint concert with another choir from Gloucester for some reason in May, but I don't know why or where yet. The Easter church concerts are not my favourites, as there is always a requiem or something involved. I know they can be beautiful but there are so many lovely Springtime songs around, so it's nice to be able to do both at a variety of concerts, it's hard work learning so much in a short space of time though. We often only rehearse something a few times so I always feel I am living on the edge!

I joined Singing for Please at my U3A and really look forward to it and we sing for charity We go to the Sage at Newcastle to a workshop and have coaching on morning and concert in afternoon We sing some great pieces I like You raise me up. and Let it be me and our signature tune is Thank you for the music Join and enjoy

Lucky you!

Not come across a Malcolm Archer piece with this choir Galen but I have only been in it for 18 months. I find I have got lower with age (in all respects!) and can't manage above a D but I can get very low. I reckon I'll be a basso profundo before I've done!

I used to sing 1st alto with Ely Choral Society but dropped out for a while when DH had a stroke. I then had three years of coping with mum's care issues and although I would love to go back I now find myself backing away from anything that spells commitment. Driving home from rehearsals late at night in the middle of winter, shivering in a freezing cold cathedral, fund raising, hours of practising at home with cyber bass, a long rehearsal on concert day and then the performance itself (best bit, of course). I wish I could summon up the enthusiasm I once had but I just can't.

And then there's the feeling.....Oh not another Requiem Mass.

Gaga do you sing Malcolm Archer? I hated singing him. Was an alto!
Now a raspy growl. Given up.

I bought our organist a door wedge, so that we could stop flinging wide those B----y gates!

Stainer's Crucufixion - groan! I hate that piece!

Jane - your choir experience sounds much like mine - but it has been a bit curtailed in the last year or so because of ill health. I am determined to get back into the swing of it.

We all sing in my family. Ex-Cathedral choristers, DBH and DS. DBH sings and actually gets paid for it. He sings for a few choirs. I belong to three, one of which is a community choir and I just turn up towards the end of their term, but my main one sings rather obscure stuff, there is very little light relief as much of it is mediaeval church music. However, it is very beautiful. I breathe a sigh of relief though when we have a concert at short notice and are allowed to do something nice and easy and happy such as Vivaldi's Gloria - this term's easy piece is The crucifixion by Stainer, so not exactly happy... We sing mainly for charity and there are maybe a dozen or so concerts a year. I love it but would be happy without the concerts, although some are amazing, particularly the ones with good orchestras and conductors, but I just like to sing and to learn new songs. I am a first alto, occasionally I sing second soprano. I love it, but hate having to travel through the snow and ice in the winter to choir practice!

Friend lives near Southam and I live in North Herts (there is one group in my area as friend comes down once a year to sing)

Another singer here - alto in my case (and nearly a tenor!). We meet every Wednesday evening and sing a wide variety from some John Rutter pieces, which I love, to a selection of Queen, musicals, standards and folk songs. We are currently learning and rehearsing some 40s popular songs ready for giving two concerts to commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE day.

As others have said, it's a three-line whip for family to attend and enjoy our concerts but I think they do actually like to support us. I would recommend anyone who likes singing to find and join a choir - it's very good for you and it's enormous fun!

I am also in a "sing for fun" group and I love it. Our choir master says singing is a physical activity and makes us breathe and then breathe some more! He also makes us stand on our toes when we say we can't reach the high notes. I was in it on my own for a while, now husband comes too. He has a lovely, lovely tenor.

Once a year we have a concert to a mostly captive audience of family, and one year our children came and brought some friends, saying "Miss hearing dad sing Michael Buble? Never!"

www.naturalvoice.net/choirs Yes indeed. Enjoyable and no pressure.

Not sure what the definition of a community choir is!
But I belong to a U3A group called 'Singing for Fun' in Didcot. Anyone who is in U3A can join and there are no other qualifications - and it is fun.
It's done a tremendous amount for my singing confidence.
I insist on making suggestions and telling the leader what I don't like!

http://www.naturalvoice.net/choirs Try this link if you are looking for a choir in your area.

If there was a way of leading a gransnet choir I would definitely do it!!!

Shape note singing comes from USA where the shakers and similar used square notation instead of our round blobs - and I guess this group will have named themselves after that.

Don't know Shape Notes which part of the country are you ?

friend of mine belongs to a thing called Shape Notes. Anyone else heard of this.

I would love for everyone to be singing, in of out of tune, my grandsons have taught me that singing is natural and instinctive, we are only inhibited and disillusioned by criticism. SING !

It looks as if it's just for Scotland especially Glasgow and the Commonwealth Games but if you go into start singing then find a choir it lists them for all over the UK.

If you go into a website called Big Big Sing it lists choirs throughout the UK, hopefully the right choir is there for everyone.

bigbigsing.org

Oh another who would love to join a choir. I love singing with the grandchildren.