GCS Weekly Warm Up 091716
Posted September 19, 2016Hello my singing friends!
I was looking for ideas for an email to people who are thinking of joining our choir. I wanted ten reasons why one should join, and turned to Google for inspiration. I found this article by Ryan Holey. Ryan sings with the London Philharmonic Choir. I think he’s spot on.
Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Sing in a Choir
- You make so many new friends
I can’t count the amount of new friends I’ve made from the choir. They come from all walks of life, ages and parts of the world. Music breaks down barriers and there’s no better example of that than at a choir. Do you love meeting new people? Join a choir – you’ll be in heaven. - It’s one of the best feelings
You do have to spend hours going over bars of music in rehearsals and compute all the instructions from the choral director, choir manager and conductor. Then you have the concert where you expel all your energy and out-pour your emotion. Nothing beats the feeling at the end of the concert though when the baton goes down and the audience erupts in applause. It’s a great sense of achievement and one of the best feelings you’ll ever have. - Singing is a great way to relax
No matter how much you love your job, work can be stressful and exhausting. At home there’s a whole load of other issues to deal with! So after a long hard days sitting at a desk – singing will help take your mind off all the politics, deadlines and problems that seem to take over your life. Choir is a great escape – we all need to calm our minds sometimes. - Choirs are a great place to network
Although I didn’t go to choir with networking as one of my priorities – you do end up meeting members from all kinds of professions. You’ve got teachers, musicians, lawyers, doctors, marketers and students to name a few. You never know who you’ll meet and what relationships you generate that could hand you the advice that makes all the difference to your career. - You get to go on tour sometimes
Not all choirs can, but touring is one of the occasional treats of singing with LPC. We recently had a tour to Le Touquet in France and sang Beethoven 9 with three combined youth orchestras from around Europe. It was a brilliant to work with such talented musicians. It was also brilliant to bond (get hammered) with my fellow singers over glasses of French wine. - You might get lucky
Single? Looking for that like-minded, creative and entertaining special someone? Get yourself to a choir. I’m in the fortunate position of not having to look around – but for those speed-daters out there, go singing instead – it’ll be much more effective. There are a few married couples in LPC who would never have met if it wasn’t for a good old communal sing. - It’s good for your health
Studies have shown how choir can improve your health – I also believe it’s fantastic brain food. Brain game exercises are all over the place with the Nintendo 3DS or sudoku. Well why not start keeping your mind healthy by making music? Here are a few things you’ll see improve with choir:Multi-tasking – you’ve got to watch the conductor, keep an eye on the music and know when to come in
Memory – you’ve got to sing off by heart sometimes
Focus – concentrating for an hour on a performance
Maths – Yes, you’ve got to count! - The stories from the veterans
Name droppers much? Yes – but then again, some of the singers in LPC have been members for 40 years! They’ve worked with some of the most renowned musicians of all time including Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Haitink, Simon Rattle and Adrian Boult to name a few. - Your friends and family will love watching you perform
It’s great being able to invite your friends and family to your concerts – and you know what? They want to watch your concerts. They will be proud, no matter how well or badly you feel the performance went. If they can’t make it and you’re lucky enough to get a review – they’ll be proud to see your choir in the paper! - Making music is a privilege
The main reason I sing is the music. I love it, and choir is one way I cope with my unrelenting passion for putting notes together. Not everyone in the world is able to, and I can’t imagine what I would do without it – that’s why I think music making is a privilege.
Do you agree with Ryan? Personally, I believe singing in a choir also teaches you to look within as well as out. I love feeling your voices carry me. I can ask for no better inspiration, and this is why I love coming to choir on Wednesday nights.
Is Everyone Getting These Emails? Please ask your neighbours around you, especially new members, if they are getting this newsletter, in case I have missed anyone.
What We Sang Last Week
We sang Imagine, Danny Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. We also started Flashlight. It will help to listen to the YouTube Video. Look for it on the Practice Tracks section of our website (see below).
What We’re Singing Next!
What? You mean I get to practice ahead of time? Yes indeed! This coming Wednesday we will be working on:
Last Rose of Summer
Flashlight
Always look on the Bright side of life
Practice Tracks
Many thanks to Janna Pardy who has been so speedy recording our practice tracks! She has already recorded and uploaded these pieces to the Guelph Community Singers website. Click on https://www.guelphcommunitysingers.ca/members/practice-tracks/. The password is ‘gcs’. By the way, Janna is a brilliant voice and piano teacher. If anyone is interested in taking lessons to improve their singing voice, range or projection, contact Janna at jannapardy@hotmail.com.
Friends of GCS FaceBook page
Did you know that when I’m not singing I work in real estate? We’re putting together a Friends of GCS page on FaceBook, so you can connect with your fellow members. It will include a voluntary members directory for those of you who would like to share what you do, offer your products or services, and round out the social experience of being in this phenomenal choir. This is also where our social events will be posted. If you’re on Facebook, find us and join the group!
If you’re wondering, The deadline to register is this Wednesday, September 21, 7:00PM. Bring a friend! Wouldn’t it be great to get our choir up to 100 voices? We’re at 73 right now.
Fees per Session: (See Session Dates below)
We’re pleased to report that we are NOT increasing the fees. Still the same low rates:
Regular: $90
Student: $60
Benefactor: $110*
*A GCS Benefactor membership rate of $110 includes your membership fees plus a donation to our “sponsor a member” fund for those facing financial difficulties. The GCS is only as strong as its members so please consider strengthening our choir by giving someone the gift of music.
SESSION DATES
SESSION ONE (18 rehearsals)
REGISTRATION September 7-21, 2016
REHEARSALS September 7- December 14, 7:30-9PM
BREAK December 21-28
REHEARSALS January 4-18 2017 (2 hour rehearsals) 7:30-9:30PM
SECTIONALS October 19, January 4
CONCERT January 21, 2017
SESSION TWO (17 rehearsals)
REGISTRATION February 1-15, 2017
REHEARSALS February 1-March 8, 7:30-9PM
BREAK March 15
REHEARSALS May 17-31 (2 hour rehearsals) 7:30-9:30PM
SECTIONALS March 22, May 17
CONCERT June 3, 2017
See you soon!
Lise Anne Janis
Membership Coordinator