Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Tonal Tuesday - If You "Wanna Be Happy" - Sing!

I love going to choir practice.  Well, sometimes, when I am tired I think I would rather stay home but once I have arrived and the singers start singing, I am transported.  The time flies by and I feel energized and happy no matter what happened that day.  See, HAPPY!!  Maybe the fake bikini helped.

There have been many studies done about endorphins and spiritual fulfillment etc.  I have a few ideas of my own.
1. It's a Different Activity - from anything else you might have been doing.  The switch from working perhaps with the left brain to relying mainly on the right brain, can give you a sense of peace.  "A change is as good as a rest" my mum used to say.

2. You are with Different People - than the people you probably see in your day to day life.  although, there may be a few overlaps in people, for the most part your singing buddies will be a different mix than usual.  That pushes very diverse buttons.

3. You Become an Important Part of the Whole - Your contribution is as important as the entire group.  Without you the choir would not be the same.  You realize that your efforts are effective and helpful.  You can really see it.

4. Learn Something NEW - Every single time we practice,  I learn something new.  It is never the same twice.  It is a novel sound, a singular adaptation - new and fresh.

5. It Feels Good - to be with people who want to sing and create a great sound.  You are all there because you choose to be and that general feeling carries over into all that you do.  Oh yeah.

Those are a few of my thoughts.  How about you?  Why do you direct or belong to YOUR choir?

Friday, February 22, 2013

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Embro Fair Dinner Theatre Puts on Hamish - ETS Supplies Talent

The Embro Fair is putting on their Dinner Theatre presentation of Hamish February 23,24, March 1 & 2,  February 28 is the show only and the Embro Thistle Singers are providing snacks for donations.

In the picture below from the Ingersoll Times  you will see our tenor, Doug Turvey as lawyer, Gordon Grant and Kathy Fraser, alto, playing his wife Kelli.  Norm Northmore is married to our soprano, Elaine who also helps with various aspects of getting the play on the stage.  One of our basses, Harold Arbuckle is doing the lighting.  Our newest alto, Mary Ellen Garner is the one to contact for tickets.   Way to go gang.  We are proud of all of you!!

“Hamish” by Michael Grant, a Canadian playwright was chosen for the 25th anniversary production for the Embro Fair Dinner Theatre. The director is Ann Parker, stage manager is Dave Parker and the producer is Sara Stephenson. Waiting to hear what the lawyer has found in the box of papers are, sitting - Norm Northmore, Chris Cockle and Doug Turvey. Standing: Jennifer Moodie, Alan Normand and Kathy Fraser. Two weeks before performances begin, the cast will be moving to the Embro Community Centre from the Embro Town Hall for final rehearsals.
“Hamish” by Michael Grant, a Canadian playwright was chosen for the 25th anniversary production for the Embro Fair Dinner Theatre. The director is Ann Parker, stage manager is Dave Parker and the producer is Sara Stephenson. Waiting to hear what the lawyer has found in the box of papers are, sitting - Norm Northmore, Chris Cockle and Doug Turvey. Standing: Jennifer Moodie, Alan Normand and Kathy Fraser. Two weeks before performances begin, the cast will be moving to the Embro Community Centre from the Embro Town Hall for final rehearsals.


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tonal Tuesday - Let a Smile be Your Umbrella?


New to the our ETS Blog?
Every Tuesday,  we present a topic about being in or directing a choir. Stop by every Tuesday for your weekly dose of ideas for keeping the Song, Service and Fun in choral work. Browse through our past posts or use the Google Search function on the top left of our blog to search for something specific.  Sign up to get an e-mail alert of each post at the top right of the blog.  Glad to have you with us.
Here in Southwestern Ontario it is snowing and blowing as I write.  An umbrella would be of no use whatsoever.  But it is a great day for singing and listening to your favourite music.

Have you ever listened to the radio or a phone message and you absolutely know that the person speaking is smiling.  You really can hear it.  Sometimes, when we are singing, though, we forget to let our happy feelings move up to our faces.  

"When singing, use facial expressions that add dynamics and sing with confidence. Remember that your camera is the ‘eye’ of the audience into your world; you want others to enjoy this experience and come back for more".  Simone Niles in 'Your YouTube Vids -Top Tips'.

1. Choose a song you love to sing as Simone suggests.  Nothing warms the heart or the smile more than a song you really enjoy.  That doesn't mean that you have loved it right from the start.  Remember sometimes what we don't love or appreciate when we start, grows on us.  Always give a song time to become YOURS.

2. Take a video of your choir.  As a choir member you will be able to see what your face looks like.  As a choir leader, you won't have to keep explaining.  

3.  Have fun while you work at learning music.  If when you are singing the songs, you can remember the FUN you had while learning it, especially if it was tricky, you will smile as you sing.  


Check  out the pictures of Perry Como as he sings.  What a SMILE!!  Then close your eyes and you know he is smiling.  Oh yeah.  Snow, what snow?





Friday, February 15, 2013

Fun Friday - Only Boys Aloud - Oh Boy!!!

What a great sound!  Look at their happy faces!  Watch the conductor use his entire body to lead!  This is just yummy indeed.  Those boys will always have that wonderful memory and it was being a choir that did it!!  Choirs ROCK!



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Tonal Tuesday - Lip Trills to Extend Your Range

New to our ETS Blog?  Every Tuesday,  we present a topic about being in or directing a choir. Stop by every Tuesday for your weekly dose of ideas for keeping the Song, Service and Fun in choral work. Browse through our past posts or use the Google Search function on the top left of our blog to search for something specific.  Sign up to get an e-mail alert of each post at the top right of the blog.  Glad to have you with us. 





Last week, our post talked about warming up the voice before singing.  This week Lisa Popeil has an exercise to help you find or define your upper and lower ranges.  She uses an "aw" sound that has, in my view, a bit of a twang.  Listen and notice that her sound has more of a throat sound.  My suggestion would be to drop the jaw a bit more and make the sound more as you would when you see a cute baby - "ah".
Then, for the upper range, Lisa pulls out the lip trills or "bubbling" discussed last week.  This does work better I think.  Is there any reason you couldn't use the lip trills for the lower sounds?  Try it and see what you think.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Fun Friday - Oh Happy Day

The Soweto Choir sure has energy and show that you don't have to be loud to be good.  Now this is a choir who loves to make music, wouldn't you say?


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tonal Tuesday - New Name for an Old Game for Warming Up the Voice

New to the our ETS Blog?
Every Tuesday,  I present a topic about being in or directing a choir. Stop by every Tuesday for your weekly dose of ideas for keeping the Song, Service and Fun in choral work. Browse through our past posts or use the Google Search function on the top left of our blog to search for something specific.  Sign up to get an e-mail alert of each post at the top right of the blog.  Glad to have you with us. 


Warming up the voice before singing is very important.  This exercise has been around forever. I used to do it riding my tricycle around pretending it had a motor.   I don't recommend the fingers at the side of the mouth because I think the mouth should be more relaxed (not to mention losing control of your trike).  Watch this, giggle a bit and then try it.  Ahh, that feels better.  

The good news is that the sound is kept more to the front and not back in the throat which is bad sound, technique and can cause damage over time.  


My favourite warm up of all time was standing in the tiny cell that was our singing classroom with our teacher and the nun whose favour she curried.  The old nun sat ensconced in the single chair while 9 fifteen year old girls pinched their noses and sang,"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow" on each note in a descending scale.  We valiantly looked down because we knew if we ever made eye contact it was game over.

However, it is an amazing warm up.  It makes me smile every time.  I always tell that story and we have a grand time getting our voices in the right spot.  Someday, if I can keep from giggling like a fool, I will made a video.  In the mean time, enjoy this one.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Fun Friday - Mr. Bean Sings the Words?

My choir will tell you that when you don't know a word you use the indefinite sound called a schwa.  Mr. Bean rocks with this one.  It is reminiscent of a Bill Cosby sketch where he sings the Amen's.  Singers just gotta have fun!!  Where did that cough drop go?