Does anyone sing in a choir?

[spacemonkey]

I've always wanted to join a choir (not a church one, I'm a heathen), but am too much of a scaredy cat to go on my own. Any choir singing mumsnetters out there? If so, how did you get into it and can you recommend me a friendly choir in London?

ooh spacemonkey, how interesting. i don't sing but used to at school (not v well imo). someone in my office does sing in choirs, but i think they're a bit posh (Royal Albert Hall etc)..but will ponder. I think there's been research showing that there are tangible health benefits from taking part in group singing.

do you want to join a choir with me bundle?!

i love singing. Not sure if my voice would be good enough (have got a bit of a man's voice, definitely not a soprano). Can read music. Am definitely not posh and I suppose I'm afraid I won't be accepted if I join a choir full of blue rinse ladies

spacemonkey, I will have a think about this. There are some excellent entry-level choirs in central London, categorically not blue-rinsy, and if you are an alto who can read music and hold your line they will be tripping over themselves to get you!
If I was not out in the burbs (zone 4, other side of town from you), I'd be interested in coming along. I did used to sing in a church choir (classical repertoire and very enjoyable, most of us were not "good" Christians ) and miss it desperately.
Bundle is right - group singing is very, very satisfying and sociable. Especially the bit in the pub afterwards.

Can I come? Can I? Can I?

Morley College has three choirs of different standards. I used to sing in the chamber one, which was pretty demanding. I would really like to start again but am not sure I can face the demands again.

Check out Choral Singing for Pleasure and Chancery Singers , spacemonkey. I did some solo singing courses at the City Lit pre-kids and the support there, and the teaching, is really excellent.

Ooh, and Morley College, MI! "Right" side of the river for us but not for our Islingtonian primate pal...
Is there a mumsnet chamber choir emerging here (may be a shortage of basses unless spacemonkey really does sing like a man!!)

ooh thank you marina, I'd be really grateful for any recommendations

i don't mind travelling - I'm in Islington but would be quite happy to venture to the other side of town

ooh ooh ooh I'm getting very excited now! Will check out the link and would be overjoyed to have someone to go with!

I really like the look of those courses marina, thank you for that. Not sure if I can join at this time of year, but I'll try to pluck up the courage to call.

There are good singing for pleasure choirs in Blackheath at the Conservatoire that some of the mums from school do. Good for SE Londoners.

ooh spacemonkey, i'm tempted...i live on the hackney/islington border (bandit country). do you think there might be embarrassing audition type ordeals? or will they let the crap ones in, in case they cry? also can't read music (dh thinks I'm thick )

Bundle, I can't text

Blackheath distinct possibility for moi.

I could do Blackheath too...that's where I used to sing in church (and live ) in fact. Thanks Beachyhead.
spacemonkey, Blackheath is easily reachable via tube from Angel to London Bridge then overground to Blackheath BR (zone 3, station is generally busy and well-lit until late evening as is the village itself).
Will just fly the flag for City Lit too. As it is an adult ed institution, it has brilliant inclusion policies, childcare provision for daytime courses, and good learning support. Very worthy place, one of the things that makes being a Londoner that little bit extra special. As is Morley College also of course.

marina, where's city lit gone? the one near here (off kingsway) was recently knocked down & redeveloped, sob, I did my fabulous mosaic classes there, pre-kids.

motherinferior, I feel v proud, like a bundlesuperior knowing I can text...I even taught dh

The Camden Choir rehearses in Primrose Hill so would be handy for Islington. I sang in it for ten years and loved it.

Have you looked at
British Choirs on the Net ? It tells you enough about each choir to decide whether you want to go along and try it. Often there's a contact person you can ring for a chat first. Most choirs are very welcoming to prospective new members. Good luck

You need to offer lessons to confused Senior Mumsnetters then Bundle because I have been reduced to using "insert word" on my phone and taking 30 mins to compose and send a two sentence text, I kid you not.
Look here for what they are up to on the premises front btw. I will miss the skanky old former school premises too

Now that's what I call a properly useful and relevant link eemie , thanks!

thought of an audition scares the pants off me

i don't mind travelling to blackheath

bundle, you must live really near me, i'm in bandit country too!

I would love to sing in a choir too, but worried that my voice wouldn't be good enough. I'm in west London, though. Like the idea of singing lessons.

me too azure (singing lessons i mean)

also worry my voice isn't good enough, i can hold a note and sing in tune and can do harmonies but i can't do twiddly bits

If you can sing in tune and especially if you can harmonize, you ARE good enough spacemonkey, believe me. Many women sing soprano because all they are fit for is keeping to the melody (sez a prime suspect).
Azure, I found the courses at the City Lit wonderful. Carole Gibb, if she still teaches there, is excellent - but I think they were all pretty good. Feeling confident enough to stand up and sing a Gluck aria to a roomful of fellow novices, was one of the greatest and happiest personal achievements of my life (before I knew about persuading babies to sleep through of course).

n4 bandits.

harmonies!!!!??????

has anyone been watching Musicality btw? I've caught a bit of it and really like it, specially the lovely girl from Johnny Lou Lou's