Pre-Term Training

Welcome to Blog No.2!

Last week was a very busy one! 

The week before a new term begins, the entire Rock Choir team meet down in Farnham for a few days to discuss new projects and practice the songs we'll be teaching this term. 

It is so great being able to see the rest of the team. We don't get to see each other often as we're darted all over the UK so when we do... it's party time!!! :D

As training finished on Thursday evening, I had a busy weekend full of gigs/shows. Rock Choir Leaders are all graduate musicians and many still work professionally in the music industry, me being one of them. 

I spent the entire weekend on the road. Fridays show was in Oxfordshire, Saturdays show was in Kent and Sundays show was in Derbyshire! (Rock n' Roll!!!!)

Yesterday, Monday 16th September, was the first session of Autumn Term 2013 and took place in Leigh-on-Sea. My Leigh-on-Sea Choir are such an incredible bunch, as are my choirs in Chelmsford, Wickford and Brentwood. They're always up for a laugh and are so hardworking at the same time. I've seen them grow in confidence over the past year, it's amazing to see. Makes me very proud to think of what they've achieved over the past two years. 

As we start our third year of being a choir, we began learning a new song called 'Just The Way You Are' by Bruno Mars. The Alto section were overjoyed to find out that they had the main melody part (a rare occasion). The Soprano section have a beautiful counter-melody whilst the bass section are supporting the Altos with their lower harmony. We also had LOADS of new faces with us last night, as we do for Wickford choir on Tuesday, Chelmsford choir on Wednesday and Brentwood choir on Thursday. 

I can't wait to see the rest of the gang this week. I teach approximately 400 choir member across the week, most of which have been with me since day-one! 

If you know of anyone who might be interested in coming along for a taster, now is the best time! :) They can book their FREE fun-filled Rock Choir taster session online at www.rockchoir.com

The Dawn Of A New Term

Welcome to my first blog....EVER!

So I've decided that I'm going to try and keep a weekly blog of what goes on behind the scenes in the life of a Rock Choir Leader.

Like all Rock Choir Leaders, I have many incredible stories to tell. Some stories will move you to tears and others will have you in stitches for weeks. The following link will take you to a story that will have you in stitches:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IOtlblcWg0

On this occasion I was lovingly pummelled with ping pong balls during a warm-up with my Chelmsford Rock Choir during our rehearsal, in which we learn classic Pop, Gospel and Motown numbers and have incredible fun in doing so, normally at my expense!

We also have fun and exciting Rock Choir rehearsals in Brentwood, Wickford and Leigh-on-Sea. We've got most of Essex covered!

So as a new term arrives, I spend a lot of my time at the piano. We, as choir leaders, need to know the songs we're teaching inside out. We've got 90-minutes to deliver a fun-filled, productive rehearsal and must know how to play the song at the piano, the solo vocal part, upto SIX harmony parts, the lyrics to all the different harmony parts, the routine and how to conduct the song... And this applies to three or four songs per term. We have to do all of the above whilst standing in front of singing groups of up to 100 people! The life of a Rock Choir Leader can be challenging and demanding so it's a good job Caroline only takes on the best music graduates (if I do say so myself) :P

Next week we have a pre-term meeting to discuss Autumn Term songs and new projects. I also suspect we'll be discussing Rock Choirs 10th birthday in 2015. I've heard Caroline has some big ideas but who knows exactly what she's planning this time...

To get involved, book your FREE taster session at www.rockchoir.com. Come and have some fun singing with us in Essex!