Year: 2015

  • Multiple Parts VS Unison

    There are many different ways to sing as part of an ensemble, as we discussed in our blog post A Brief History of Choral Music. When people sing the same part at the same time, it is called Unison singing. When people sing in multiple parts it can be homophonic music – when the voices move…

  • A Brief History Of Choral Music

    People have been singing together for as long as we have kept recorded history. The history of Western choral music as we know it today had its origins in sacred music. Gregorian chant was commonly used in churches as a form of worship. Monks would sing the passages in unison, blending their voices to create…

  • 4 Ways In Which Singing In A Choir Increases Your Confidence

    Musicians often have a healthy dose of confidence. It comes from the self-discipline, self-awareness, and sheer amount of practice that is a part of the process of learning music. Here are four ways in which singing in a choir can increase your confidence: #1. Conductor: Despite the myriad of jokes about what exactly a conductor’s…

  • The Value Of Not Performing

    The Calgary Children’s Choir has three major performances a year; our Christmas concert, our Folk Concert, and our Spring concert. Sometimes we’ll have other singing engagements sprinkled in as well. Much of the music that we learn throughout the year is chosen for one of those concerts, but sometimes we learn music without having a…

  • Three Reasons Why You Should Sing Every Day

    For many of us, singing is already a big part of our lives; we have choir rehearsals, workshops and concerts. But singing on a daily basis, even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time has several impressive benefits: #1. Stamina: As with any muscle, the more you work out your voice, the…

  • Folk Concert 2015 – ‘Home’ Roundup!

    On Sunday afternoon, March 1st 2015, the Calgary Children’s Choir performed at our annual Folk Music concert at the Rozsa Centre. The theme of this year’s Folk Concert, was ‘Home’, and our concert was emceed by our talented Creative Consultant, Kat Long-Jones. Our concert featured artwork made by the choristers at our recent Winter Retreat,…

  • 5 Ways In Which Singing Makes You More Creative

    #1. Awareness: A singer’s instrument is different from other instruments, because it is contained within a singer’s body. This means that singers have to have an excellent awareness of their own body, and they need to visualize their voice in a way that other musicians don’t have to. The inability to see one’s instrument allows…

  • Winter Retreat 2015 Roundup!

    On the weekend of January 30th, to February 1st, the Calgary Children’s Choir went up to Camp Horizon in Bragg Creek for our first ever Winter Retreat! The weekend was absolutely magnificent! Friday January 30th – We  arrived at camp in the evening and where excited to begin! We played a really fun-and competitive game…

  • Singing Spaces

      The best kind of music is influenced by small, seemingly insignificant elements. Where the musicians stand or sit, how well they watch their conductor, the way in which they listen to the other performers. One of these subtle elements, is the space in which a musician performs. A ‘live’ space, is one in which…

  • The 5 Best Music Apps For Singers

    Apps have become prevalent with our use of technology, and they can be highly beneficial for singers on the go. There are a myriad of excellent resources available for musicians at the touch of a finger, but here are 5 apps that we think are some of the best for singers. YouTube: (available for iOS and…

  • 3 Ways Singers Can Manage Illness

    Getting sick at some point during the singing season is inevitable, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that a singer is completely out of commission. Here are three ways that singers can manage illness: #1. Be proactive: The best thing a singer can do is to prevent themselves from getting sick by being proactive. This can…

  • The Benefits of Singing With An Orchestra

      The Calgary Children’s Choir has been very fortunate over the years to have performed with a variety of musicians both locally and internationally. It is of the utmost benefit to young minds to be as exposed to as many kinds of performances as possible. From our concerts with local musicians, to our yearly participation…

  • Welcome to 2015!

    Welcome back to 2015 everyone! We have a very exciting year ahead of us, and we’re thrilled for you to join us! At the end of January, our Children’s Choir, and Youth Choir will be returning to Bragg Creek for a Winter Choir Camp retreat! This is the first time we’ve held a winter retreat, and…