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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

WIBU to say that choirs full of people who can't sing (Rock Choir) are awful?

433 replies

PleasantPheasant · 21/01/2017 22:06

Honestly? I love singing, I think everyone should sing, and sing in groups - it's great. But why all the performances, crap choreography, shitty leaders who also can't sing and are presumably failed musicians. Why can't the ladies (and men) - very few of which can actually sing or understand rhythm, harmony, pitch... - just do it for fun and leave it at that? Why do they think they're amazing singers and their performances are great. From what I've seen they are largely outside, with shit backing music, crap acoustics making the whole thing even worse. AIBU?

OP posts:
Foureyesarebetterthantwo · 22/01/2017 11:16

I don't have a problem with the Rock Choir business model. My mum is in a community choir and they have to source and pay for their own music, arrange rehearsals, have a treasurer and so on, it's quite expensive if you pay royalties, printing music, putting it in binders, find and keep a musical director, and they are all volunteers. They still have to pay to join for this reason. Their choir is always in danger of folding as people come off the committee, don't want to spend hours photocopying, sourcing music and so on. It would make business sense to stop that huge individual effort and scale up, that's all Rock Choir are doing.

Wellthatsit · 22/01/2017 11:16

MrsHathaway, I don't think people are saying we should encourage and praise rock choir. They are saying please don't slag it off in such a nasty way.

I agree re taking issue with the cost. Most choirs are much cheaper.

EvilTwins · 22/01/2017 11:19

Rooi don't go then.

I don't want to pay money to watch fireworks or football or robot cars or small children dancing but I don't demand that it shouldn't be allowed.

Wellthatsit · 22/01/2017 11:20

Ha ha Furry - choir uniforms What a minefield!!!!!

orenisthenewblack · 22/01/2017 11:24

Shit. SHOULDN'T be for the elite. Pardon me, as you were.

ghostyslovesheets · 22/01/2017 11:27

Furry do you have a colour? My mums group is all black with a splash of light purple Grin

ChristopherWren · 22/01/2017 11:28

I think changing the title of the thread is pretty ridiculous.
Actually, when I think about it, I'm pretty proud to be middle aged.

Sallystyle · 22/01/2017 11:30

Omg! £10 a session, that's a hell of a lot.

Who pays £10 a session? All the choirs in my area are £20 a term. You can pay yearly but I can't remember what that works out at.

helensburgh · 22/01/2017 11:35

You are not being unreasonable however you are missing the point of them
I am.a member of one. I genuinely can't song a note but I love it. I love the fact no one cares.
It's the best stress buster ever. Great fun. Good company.
Maybe give it a try

EvilTwins · 22/01/2017 11:38

U2 depends on how long the session is, surely? I pay £90 per term. My kids' choir is £60 per term (same as their youth theatre) but my session is longer. £5-£6 per hour seems fairly standard for lots of activities. I pay similar for my kids' gymnastics club.

ithakabythesea · 22/01/2017 11:43

I can see both side - sits on fence- Music should be for all and it is great it gives so many such pleasure...
But..
My mum is in a choir and of course she doesn't 'force' me to come to the performances, but there is a sense of obligation. And she loves it, she is as high as a kite afterwards. So, yay for that. But it is shit and painful to sit through.

So what do the pro-choir posters suggest the reluctant audience do? Refuse to attend? - that seems mean. The only audience is reluctant family and these shit choirs do seems to want to perform. Attend and tell the truth? - it would be like shooting Bambi. So I attend and lie - what else can I do?

In truth, if amateur choirs were happy just to sing for their own enjoyment, it would be a lovely harmless hobby. But they do insist on inflicting it on their poor relatives, who love them and don't want to hurth their feelings.

So my advice to the singers is, enjoy the singing but please don't expect anyone else to. I have wasted too many evening in drafty church halls appeasing the vanity of middle aged men and women.

absolutelynotfabulous · 22/01/2017 11:43

OP you are very naughty but glee on hrt made my dayGrin.

I'm one of those middle-aged women you allude to....but Rock Choirs? No thanks.

Yes, they're ok for a bit of fun, and yes, singing is very therapeutic and all that but they're cringe worthy to watch and even more cringe worthy to listen to.

Yanbu.

MNHQ
FlissMumsnet · 22/01/2017 11:49

We'd like to confirm that Rooiboscz has indeed been around since 2010 but we have given them a wee nudge about their tone.
Who'd have thought choirs would be such a divisive topic... Smile

ShelaghTurner · 22/01/2017 11:52

Has anyone got any other suggestions? I just want to sing for a bit of feelgood-ness and I'm shy so auditioning etc is out.

EvilTwins · 22/01/2017 11:54

Go back it Shelagh - it doesn't have to be Rock Choir - most places have a no-auditions choir or two.

EvilTwins · 22/01/2017 11:55

Go for it. Oops!

Rooiboscz · 22/01/2017 11:56

ithaka - yes! It's the sense of obligation to humour people's vanity.

FurryLittleTwerp · 22/01/2017 11:57

ghosty we wear black with a splash of, er black Hmm The men get to wear red bowties at Christmas.

I've suggested jazzing it up with bright turquoise* scarves / cravats for the summer concert, red &/or green for Christmas & a lot of people are keen, but the stalwart old worthies soon stamp out any radical ideas they'll probably die soon Grin Black is okay for the miserable Easter concert.

  • everyone suits turquoise & we could get a job lot
MrsHathaway · 22/01/2017 11:57

My local college has a choir as an evening class IYSWIM - being led by a music teacher in a purpose-built venue. About £3 a session but paid termly. Worth looking if yours does similar?

Shockers · 22/01/2017 12:00

Don't listen then.

What a mean spirited post.

Sallystyle · 22/01/2017 12:05

So what do the pro-choir posters suggest the reluctant audience do? Refuse to attend? - that seems mean.

They either go and smile or don't go.

I do things for other people when I would rather not because it is important to them. It isn't a hardship is it?

Like I said. I don't expect anyone to enjoy it, yet people do. When we play in the city centre people will always stop shopping and sit on the benches to listen. The ones who don't want to listen carry on with their day. It's simple.

And if they can't get away from the sound of us I'm sure they will cope.

Sallystyle · 22/01/2017 12:06

yes! It's the sense of obligation to humour people's vanity.

You really are spiteful aren't you?

ivykaty44 · 22/01/2017 12:11

Singing is good for COPD, possibly some doctors have told patients to take up singing and they have joined choirs...?

ithakabythesea · 22/01/2017 12:17

I do things for other people when I would rather not because it is important to them. It isn't a hardship is it?

Well, it is a bit of a hardship., because I don't really want to go. But the worst bit is having to lie, it makes me feel squirmy inside when I have to plaster on a fake grin and say it was great when it really, really wasn't.

I don't understand why these choirs feel they have to perform to other people. Can you not just sing in a choir for your own enjoyment without dragging family and friends into it? I have a hobby I love but I don't make people watch me doing it!

Sallystyle · 22/01/2017 12:30

Then just say no. Tell them you can't make it.

We perform for other people because hundreds of people love hearing us and joining in on the fun, and we are asked to perform by many different charities and events.

I don't drag my family and friends to watch me. My best friend watched me once because she asked to. My husband came once because he wanted to see me. No dragging people along. I don't ask anyone to come and if your family is asking you all the time then like someone else said, that's a problem with those people. Not with Rock Choir.

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