For the second half term until 2nd April - (the Choir's 5th Birthday celebration)

Part of the time we'll be revising old favourites such as Hallelujah, London Medley, Edelweiss, Heal the World, Lullaby of Broadway and Can you feel the love tonight - just to keep those in mind. However, we will be working specifically on the following songs. There are a number of youtube links (similar to the versions that we are going to learn) you can listen to:

The Candyman - have a listen to the Sammy Davis Jnr version (which is closest to the one we will sing). This is a really happy, feel good song and will be easy to learn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu49gV-fefE&feature=related

Revision -The Lark in the Clear Air (in the Danny Boy booklet) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-P55Bk9CfA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Revision and some more work on - Aquarius http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp_dhAXKrXo&feature=related

Complete - Phantom of the Opera medley (full of the best tunes, sounds very effective but should not be too difficult to learn) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caAU4T6p1IM&feature=related

In addition, we'll sing Thank you for the music from the Mamma Mia! booklet.

Two new songs - either Michael Jackson's I'll be there or Katrina and the Waves' Walking on Sunshine! 

I've just got the syllabus for my conductors course starting in April. Part of the course requires me to write an arrangement of a folksong for us to sing. So, if you have ideas as to which folksong would be good to work on I'd be delighted to take suggestions. Once I have done the arrangement we will have a go at singing it - so I'd like to do something that we'd all enjoy! Thank you very much.

 

 

WENDY WASELS - MUSIC DIRECTOR

  
1. WARM UPS and EXCERCISES

Introduction: As this is the beginning of a new term, let’s spend a while reacquainting ourselves with our singing muscles.

Relaxation
Shake out, stretch arms, roll shoulders back and forward
Posture – body relaxed, shoulders down, stand straight, feet shoulders width apart, slightly bent knees
 
Warm up:
Start by warming up the feet – shake for a few moments then put your foot down gently – feel it tingle! This helps you make contact with the ground.
 
Singing is better when the jaw and throat are relaxed. Try yawning making an “ah” sound – hold the ending “ah” sound – relax your throat and jaws
Make the sound of letter “n” and chew the letter “n” on both sides of your mouth
 
Sirening – mmmm hum as a siren up and down – good at clearing the passages!
Feel the vibrations as you do it. Try it to mmm and nnn
 
Va va va up the scale and down again.
 
 
Supporting our singing and building the muscles
 
Breathing
First breathe in naturally open your mouth (feel your jaw relax) and let the air slide in, feel rib and lower back expansion (out and up), make sure shoulders don’t rise when you breathe in. To prevent your shoulders lifting try imagine you are holding a shopping bag in each hand full of groceries – try holding breath for 5 then 10 – feel the control and the potential energy.
Breath test
Place your hands on your ribs at the side now breathe deeply (to the bottom of your lungs). Feel the movement.
Place your hands on your lower back and breathe deeply again.
Feel the movement.
 
TIP Think from the lower back and abdomen up, to support the sound.
 
This exercise is good to help co-ordinate our muscles and to produce an even and active tone.
 
Imagine you are holding chest expanders pulling them out as you sing yah, yah, yah - start from a note you feel comfortable with and work downwards. Try this out from time to time!
 
Posture and sitting practice
 
We spend quite a lot of time sitting when we sing, here are a few tips
  1. Try sitting with your feet flat on the ground and stretch tall.
  2. Notice the strain on the lower back?
  3. Now sit back against the chair. It feels comfortable for a few moments, but eventually you can feel the muscles around the waist collapsing.
  4. Instead – try sitting with your centre of gravity above your toes (tuck your feet in, rest on your toes and keep your back straight).
  5. Alternatively – sit forward with your bottom away from the back of the chair and feet flat on the floor. Make sure you can feel your thighs involved in supporting your weight.
 
Pre-flight check before singing
 
– just check you are standing correctly (see Balanced stature below) – don’t forget to bend the knees slightly – it reduces the tension!
 
Balanced stature
Stand with feet slightly apart (not parallel, better at 5 minutes to 1 than absolutely parallel) weight balanced equally on both feet. Feel how you are grounded. Sway slightly from side to side returning to the most comfortable position.
 
 


 
 

 

 

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Some of our music repertoire so far...

 

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