Webchat with The Choir's Gareth Malone on Wednesday 5 February from 1-2pm

[RachelCMumsnet]

We're very pleased to announce that choirmaster Gareth Malone will be coming into MNHQ for a webchat on Wednesday 5 February. Gareth is best known for BAFTA-winning BBC2 show The Choir, the most recent series of which finished just before Christmas. He also made a programme for BBC4 called Why do we Sing?, has written two books, and is preparing to embark on a live tour of the UK in May and June with his new choir, Gareth Malone's Voices.

You can post a question to Gareth in advance below, or join us on Wednesday between 1pm and 2pm.

Gareth you are amazing.

Can you recommend any "Teach yourself to sing" tools? I have about a five note range and the only person who enjoys tolerates if I'm honest my singing is my 21 month old. The four month old isn't so keen. How can I improve so that I'm not bothering her!!

You can have my very last birthday choc if you'd like Gareth ?
if MNHQ have been re-miss with the bickies

Hi Gareth - love what you do. I sing in a church choir, and the fact the I believe what I am singing adds an extra dimension to the music for me. Do you have a faith, and if not do you see a difference between secular and sacred choral music?

Hi Gareth, how are you?

Firstly, just to echo what many have said, I think you're fab.

Can I ask, my 7 year old daughter has just told me that her head teacher said the other day in assembly, that you're coming to her school soon. I won't name the school, but we live in Nottinghamshire. Was wondering if this was true. She would be incredibly excited if this was the case, as would her friends.

Thanks

@SanityClause

Good question SDTG. I would be really interested to hear that, too.

I would also like to ask Gareth how to work on sight singing. I can read music fairly well, and if you asked me to sing a minor third, or whatever, I could do it, but how do you get from that to being able to do it "on the hoof"?

Years of effort. Reading music is like reading letters - you have to get a lot under your belt. The more you do the better you get. I found that putting myself on the spot and having to sightread in tricky situations was a great way to improve confidence although it makes you feel pretty nervous!

Hi Gareth,

I really enjoyed your programme about sea shanties. I am a shape note/ sacred harp singer (traditional sacred music from the united states) - it's becoming more popular in the UL & across Europe with regular singings in Ireland and Poland too. Have you ever sung Scared Harp music? If not, you should!

@gleegeek

Hi Gareth. Thanks for coming on Mumsnet I have watched all of your TV series and think you're doing an amazing job getting the country singing.

My daughter is competing at a music festival soon, singing a duet with a friend. Both girls have sweet voices but lack confidence. Is there anything I can do to help support them while they're practising? I don't want to put pressure on BTW, just hope to build their confidence so the judges can actually hear them!

Thank you! When is the MN choir starting then????

I'd mock up the situation in advance: get the grandparents, neighbours, milkman in to watch and talk about how to engage with an audience. Heads up, learn your words, use your face, breathe well in advance of singing, concentrate etc. Hope that helps! Good luck.

@ scared harp, NowRising.

Gareth, I am a big fan and have tickets for your live tour in the summer Could you tell me a little more about what you will be doing on the tour.
Thanks

@consumersucker

Hi Gareth, how are you?

Firstly, just to echo what many have said, I think you're fab.

Can I ask, my 7 year old daughter has just told me that her head teacher said the other day in assembly, that you're coming to her school soon. I won't name the school, but we live in Nottinghamshire. Was wondering if this was true. She would be incredibly excited if this was the case, as would her friends.

Thanks

Not that I know of.... But I'm visiting Nottingham on the tour?! perhaps that's what she meant? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Whoops. Must read posts before clicking!

In my defence, I'm ill & cxa't type very well!

Hi Gareth. I really enjoyed your series Gareth Malone Goes to Glyndebourne. Are you still in touch with any of the youngsters you trained for the Knight Crew and have they gone on to be involved in any other professional productions?

Hello Gareth

The MN choir is assembled and ready to go gleegeek, ^ up there. We just need Gareth to tell us what to sing.

Welcome to MN, Gareth.

Just wondering what you consider keeps you grounded, since the advent of fame and media attention?

@morethanpotatoprints

Hello Gareth.

I just wanted to thank you for inspiring my daughter.
She saw the programme you did with the children at the school, can't remember what it was called now.
She is very gifted musically and sings like an angel.
Last year she auditioned for a famous children's choir where she has gone from strength to strength. Thank you.

Question: We are typically working class, but can just afford lessons, how do you think talented children can be encouraged to join choirs, and why do you think that mostly mc children are the one's who apply to the better choirs, even though funding is available to the less well off?

Thank you x.

I think you are amazing, can we see you working more with children, rather than the adult choirs.

The perception that singing is for MC kids is something that I have tried to fight against all my career. Singing is for everyone! It's all about finding the right choir leader who is doing the right songs for your child. Shop around and look for opportunities. Most successful choirs will have a list of their concert and alumni on their website so you can see what they are up to and who they are singing with.

@yellowflowers

My friend said she went to a local toddler group and you were there with your daughter. Do you judge the other parents for their singing? (I will never ever sing in public again if you say yes!)

YES. I AM JUDGING YOU FOR HOW YOU SING WHEELS ON THE BUS! Not really. :0)

@JugglingFromHereToThere

Oh, I've thought of another slightly more exciting question (I never seem to be able to stick to one on these web-chats, sorry MNHQ But you can choose which one to answer Gareth (if any)) ....

Anyway, my DH got a ukulele for Christmas, and I'm thinking of taking it up too, especially to support by very un-reliable voice when singing with groups of young children. Do you think this would be a good idea and help with singing vaguely in tune ?

Yes. IF your uke is in tune!

WAVES TO GARETH

@Sparklingbrook

Oh yes. Dear. Auditions.

Don't be afraid of auditions. They always want you to do well.

Well, I'm judging you Gareth for using the word "alumni" in an answer about encouraging more working class kids to get into singing !!

@WhatAFeline

WAVES TO GARETH

WAVES BACK

But at auditions people will look/listen/judge.

@nobutreally

Hello Gareth - another big fan here.

My son (who is 10 next week) sings in a 'boys only' choir at school - along with a fantastic, dedicated music teacher, it has revolutionized his attitude to music - and he is enthusiastically (& to my shock, successfully!) auditioning for every school solo/opportunity to sing he can lay his hands on.

So, my question is - how do we keep that enthusiasm up when he hits secondary school? I've seen his passion for dance wane as he realized it's 'not cool' and would love for the singing not to go the same way.

(And sneaky second qu: if we want to start taking him & his little sister to more classical/choral performances, where do we start looking - we are Surrey/London borders if that helps)

Thank you for hours of great, inspiring & uplifting TV

If music really IS for him then he will stick to it I'm sure. Lots of other musical opportunities will help (taking up insturments, other local music groups, joining local youth choirs) Do these before he goes to secondary school - I almost gave up singing in my first term there!

Oh thanks for answering my uke question - Now I can tell everyone that you advised me to take it up to help with singing in tune