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Looking for a choir to join

10 replies

Bloodybridget · 23/03/2017 11:30

Just wondered if anyone has tips or recommendations. I already sing with a choir which I like a lot, but I'd like to find one that's a slightly higher standard. However, I can't sight sing, which is a requirement for most of the audition choirs.

I live in Hackney, am retired so have plenty of time, but wouldn't want to travel more than say an hour for rehearsals. Classical repertoire is a must, not popular songs or world music, and not just contemporary pieces.

It would be great if someone created a website where you could search under lots of criteria, but I don't think there is one! All suggestions welcome, thanks.

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HalfCarrot · 23/03/2017 11:44

If you have plenty of time I would teach yourself to sight sing, it's hard but not that hard and would give you a lot more options. I bet YouTube would help.

Bloodybridget · 23/03/2017 11:47

I guess I should try. I have always found it very hard to pitch. Thanks for advice.

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HalfCarrot · 23/03/2017 11:52

Sorry not very helpful on choirs though! There are a few near us but I'm sure they're no better than the ones nearer you. I think you just have to go on all their different sites and read their entrance criteria.

Sight singing is mostly memorising intervals I think. I'm not good or fast but I can remember a 4th is away in a manger, plus quite often things are just arpeggios. Confused that's the sight singing emoticon. Once there are a lot of accidentals I just copy the person next to me.

Bloodybridget · 23/03/2017 21:15

Yes it's true there are ways to remember intervals - but sometimes not enough time to recognise, recall and reproduce!

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DancingUnicorn · 23/03/2017 21:24

If you like classical music you could try a church choir. The rscm website I think has a list. Can you read music but not sight sing? If so, the easiest way to learn to sight sing is to do it regularly! If not, maybe get a book of basic music theory?

Bloodybridget · 23/03/2017 22:57

Yes, I can read music well enough to follow a score. I'll have a look at the RSCM website, thanks for the suggestion. I have theory books, books on sight singing, etc. - sadly the ability has not leached into me through the covers!

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glorious · 23/03/2017 23:03

If you can already read music well then the only thing you need to do is practise it as much as possible. People who are really good at sight singing have done it almost every day for a long time.

You can download heaps of scores from somewhere like imslp (legally as long as they are old editions or non copyright editions, which most of the stuff on there is). Then find the piece on YouTube and sight sing along.

Another thing you could look into is some kind of system like Kodaly, but I think it might be a bit hard to learn by yourself.

A good understanding of harmony will also always help you with sight singing tonal music (I.e. Most things you are likely to do in all but the best amateur choirs)

I would try but I can't help with choirs that don't require sight reading I'm afraid. Good luck whatever you do!

Bloodybridget · 24/03/2017 01:52

Many thanks glorious. I know I am a bit better at it simply through singing a lot.

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DelphiniumBlue · 24/03/2017 03:05

Have PM' d you.

Bloodybridget · 24/03/2017 12:19

Read and responded Delphinium Smile.

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