Category: Music

Math and Science In Music – Sound Waves

$Math and Science in Music - Sound Waves$

Music is such a wonderful pursuit for mind and body because it is not just an art form, but combines a myriad of other disciplines, including mathematics, biology, and physics. This series, Math and Science in Music will explore the many ways in which music incorporates a variety of these disciplines.

Sound Waves

The way we understand sound, is a product of the scientific discipline of physics. From the study of physics, we understand that sound is a vibration; a mechanical wave of pressure through air (or sometimes water!)

In the diagram above you can see that the type of wave generated has a great effect on what kind of sound is eventually produced. Sound waves affect volume, pitch, timbre, and dynamic!

Check out this interesting video for a deeper understanding of the physics of sound:

How else is the discipline of physics used in music? Tell us in the comments below!

November 9, 2015
Math and Science in Music – Time Signatures

$Math and Science in Music - Time Signatures$

Music is such a wonderful pursuit for mind and body because it is not just an art form, but combines a myriad of other disciplines, including mathematics, biology, and physics. This series, Math and Science in Music will explore the many ways in which music incorporates a variety of these disciplines.

TIME SIGNATURES

Time signatures are used in Western musical notation to denote rhythm and metre in a piece. The time signature is found at the beginning of the piece and is usually comprised of two numbers:

Math is used in a myriad of different ways when looking at time, rhythm and metre in a piece. Music is mathematically divided into equal parts using measures, and those measures are divided up into equal parts using varied rhythms. Rhythmic values usually differ from measure to measure to make a piece more interesting.

Musicians must become adept not only at translating the rhythmic values they see into their mathematical counterparts, but they often need to subdivide those rhythms in their mind to ensure they’re keeping a steady tempo. This means that they are completing mathematical formulas in their mind, while keeping a steady tempo, and applying artistic expression to their performance! Pretty amazing!

How else might math be used in music? Tell us in the comments below!

November 2, 2015
3 Ways In Which Singing Makes You More Independent

Here are three ways in which singing can make you more independent:

#1. Uncertainty:
Because of the transitive nature of music, and performance, musicians must become comfortable with uncertainty. A performance will never be perfect; a piece never played the same way twice. In music, there are no absolutes, and musicians are experts at accepting that. Comfort with uncertainty is important in becoming more independent, because it allows you accept and adapt to whatever comes your way.

#2. Motivation:
Music can seem like an exceptionally overwhelming area of study to those who have never been trained. It requires a great deal of self-motivation to continue to study music, since there are no quick fixes in learning music. Time, patience, and perseverance are the hallmarks of musical education, and this can be intimidating to many, because it seems like there is always too much still to learn. Self-motivation is an important skill in gaining independence; it ensures that your drive to learn and succeed comes from yourself, instead of from external sources.

#3. Discipline:
Although music is an art form, it is also a discipline. The study of music, the act of performance, requires a self-discipline that few other areas do. Learning the music, practicing, and honing a piece for performance means an incredible amount of dedication and commitment. Discipline like this is so important in becoming independent because it ensure that you won’t give up, even when things become difficult or overwhelming.

How else might singing make you more independent? Tell us in the comments below!

October 26, 2015
Joy In Singing

Singing has been shown to be beneficial in various ways; it improves breathing, circulation, enhances cognitive abilities, and lowers stress levels. But one of the best outcomes of singing, and particularly singing in a group is the joy and happiness

#1. Good music:
Music has the ability to make us feel a myriad of different emotions, which is one of the reasons why it is such a powerful art form. When we listen to good music, we experience a biological response to the music. Our brains begin to release the chemical dopamine, which is responsible for positive emotions, such as joy.

#2. Singing with others:
We receive pleasure from singing, not just by ourselves, but by singing in community. Many voices together can create more nuanced and layered music than singing alone. The benefits of singing with others include, increased self-esteem and confidence, a larger sense of community, and even biological changes. A recent study has shown that choir singers sync their heartbeats when they sing in ensemble!

#3. A job well done:
Singers often feel a sense of exaltation when they’re performing; a feeling which often extends even after the performance. The exhilaration of performing, is heightened by knowing that you did a great job. Satisfaction, pride and joy, all contribute to the euphoria of singing!

How else might singing be joyful? Tell us in the comments below!

October 19, 2015
3 Ways In Which Singing Improves Communication Skills

#1. Listening:
Listening is an essential aspect of singing, and of music in general, but it is also an important aspect of communicating with others. By listening to others around us, we gain a better understanding of the complete picture, and the diverse perspectives of others.

#2. Understanding Text:
The ability to analyze text in a piece is an important part of singing. The words add an important layer to the music, as discussed in greater detail here. Singers become very adept at understanding exactly what they are singing, and in communicating that effectively with their audience.
Often, the text of music is set to poetry, which can not always be taken in a literal sense. Poetry uses literary devices to beautifully convey sentiment, and it requires singers to not only understand the literal sense of the words, but to deduce the metaphorical meaning as well. This subtext is essential to communicating the true spirit of a piece, and interpreting the meaning musically.

#3. Clarity:
Singers always seek clarity in their performances. Because of the nuance involved in vocal pieces, singers are conscious of always trying to communicate the piece clearly. Enunciation, breath management, and careful consideration of which words to highlight, are all ways in which singers can clarify the meaning of a piece. These are essential communication skills; allowing singers to effectively evoke the character and meaning of whatever they are singing!

How else does singing improve communication skills? Tell us in the comments below!

September 21, 2015
Welcome to our 2015-2016 Singing Season!

Welcome to another wonderful, musical year with the CCC!

We have an exciting year lined up, with some new changes in place as our program grows and changes:

– The Music Makers program has expanded to include two levels:
Music Makers Level 1 is for ages 3 & 4 and is offered on Thursday from 4:45 – 5:30.
Music Makers Level 2 is for 5 year olds and is offered on Thursday from 5:30 – 6:16.

– The Calgary Youth Choir now rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 5:30pm – 8:00pm.

We have three major concerts lined up for this year:

– Christmas concert on Saturday December 12th, 2015 at 7:00pm at the Rozsa Theatre
-Folk concert on Saturday February 27th, 2016 at 7:00pm at the Rozsa Theatre
-Spring concert on Saturday May 14th, 2016 at 7:00pm at the Rozsa Theatre

Our fall choir camp will be from Friday September 25th, 2015 – Sunday September 27th, 2016.

What aspect of choir are you most excited about this year? Tell us in the comments below!

September 14, 2015
Spring Concert 2015 Roundup!

On Sunday, May 24th, in the afternoon, we had our final concert of the year; Madrigals and More, featuring the HeeBee-jeebees, and the Edmonton Young Voices choir.

The Rozsa Centre was decorated with a spring theme, featuring lovely maypoles designed by our Creative Consultant, Kat Long. We were thrilled to end our 2014-2015 singing on such a high note (pun intended), singing such pieces as Adiamus, Frobisher Bay, Sing We and Chant It and more!

What was your favourite part of the concert? Tell us in the comments below!

Thank-you to our wonderful CCC community for a fantastic 2014-2015 singing season! Please check back at the end of June for our Tour Blog, as we travel to Ottawa to participate in the Unisong Choral Festival!

May 25, 2015
Introduction To Madrigals

Our upcoming Spring Concert on May 24th, 2015 is called Madrigals and More, and unsurprisingly, will feature a type of music known as madrigals!

Madrigals are a type of music that became popular during the Renaissance period. A madrigal is usually a secular vocal piece of music, often unaccompanied by instruments. These types of songs originated in Italy in the early 1500’s, and were the most important secular music of the period.
Madrigals are most notable for their expressive text. Composers were fastidious in ensuring that the vocal lines they wrote highlighted and enhanced the text of the madrigals, creating another layer of expression and communication. Madrigals combined the most beautiful and descriptive poetry of the time, with lively, vivid vocal lines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w38kHRd0vE

We would love for you to join us at our concert on May 24th, 2015!

May 18, 2015
Ottawa 2015 Tour Shirts!

The Calgary Children’s Choir is very lucky to have a wonderful artist as part of our staff. Our Creative Consultant, Kat Long-Jones, recently created three new t-shirt designs for the choir to wear on our upcoming tour to the Unisong Choral Festival this summer!

Kat designed these three t-shirts to be something the choristers would want to wear after tour was over, and to serve as a reminder of the fantastic time had on tour!

Kat chose the national animal of Canada, the beaver, for the first design. Since beaver tails have such an interesting texture, Kat elected to modify the tail to include the Calgary Children’s Choir kilt pattern! The beaver is depicted holding a flag heralding the choir, and our upcoming tour destination!

In this design, Kat was inspired by the popular collegiate-style t-shirts. She created a replica of the Canadian flag, using black and red text. The writing on the shirt contains the lyrics from the songs the Calgary Children’s Choir will be singing on tour. This shirt is meant to convey that the Unisong Choral Festival, and our wonderful Canadian nation is made up of music, and communities coming together.

The third design features an Inukshuk, a symbol from our northern First Nations people, and a symbol which is recognized around the world as Canadian. The Inukshuk is built as a physical marker for travellers, but also a spiritual reminder of safe journeys, and the way home. Kat designed this shirt with our choristers in mind, as they travel away from their families to represent our choir on the national stage. The Calgary Children’s Choir logo is seen as a sihouette in the moon – Singing For The Joy Of It!

Our choristers got to see their new tour shirts at our recent choir workshop!

Many thanks to Kat Long-Jones for these beautiful designs!

Which t-shirt design is your favourite? Tell us in the comments below!

May 11, 2015
Singing and Sports

As our Calgary Flames play in the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, it seemed like a great time to write a post about two distinct aspects of our popular culture that may seem incongruous, but are in fact closely aligned – sports and singing!

Anthems:
Anthems are extremely prevalent at sporting events. Almost always, national anthems are performed before the game starts. With the advent of user-generated media content platforms, like YouTube and Vimeo, different kinds of anthems have become popular. Using their creativity, and the technology now readily at hand, anybody can create and share an anthem.

A great example of this is the ‘Never Quit’ anthem written and performed by our friends at Cowtown Opera Company!

Athletic Performance:
There are number of recent studies that demonstrate the many ways in which music can enhance athletic performance! Upbeat music with a strong, steady beat can increase an athlete’s performance by up to 20%! Slower, more lyrical music has been shown to calm and focus an athlete’s mind. As well, in sports that combine art and athleticism, such as figure skating and gymnastics, music can significantly enhance the artistry of the performance!

Atmosphere:
Sporting events always have an electric energy about them – it comes from the excitement of the fans, and the passion of the players and the crowd for the game! Using music featuring strong bass elements, and singable lyrics, sporting events can capture the excitement and energy of the crowd! And it’s not just popular music that can encapsulate that excitement. As demonstrated by the wonderful Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, classical music like O Fortuna from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, can be used to great effect with some newly tweaked lyrics!

What do you think about the relationship between music and sports? Tell us in the comments below!

May 4, 2015
Vulnerability In Singing

Music strikes an interesting balance between being an art form and a discipline. It is a difficult process to learn the intricacies of music; understanding the mathematical principles behind music concepts such as time signatures, intervals, and chord progressions. But it is equally difficult to learn how to approach music as an art form; learning to communicate subtle and nuanced emotions, understanding how the music informs text and vice versa, and personally opening up to the music.

Approaching music from an artistic perspective, requires a great deal of vulnerability on the part of the singer, and this can be difficult to manage. Here are three thoughts on understanding the power of vulnerability in music.

#1. Understand the music:
This goes beyond just understanding the structure of the music; learning the rhythm and melody of a piece. A singer needs to also understand the text they’re singing, which we discussed in greater detail here. But even more than that, a singer needs to understand how the music and the text work together; how one informs the other, and how subtleties in both music and text can convey the true nuances of the human experience. Truly understanding the many complicated layers of music is essential for a singer to communicate and connect with the audience.

#2. Connect with the music:
Making a personal connection with the music we are learning is not always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes we have not experienced the event, thoughts or emotions communicated in the music. Thankfully, we do not need to have personally experienced every event and emotion, for us to be able to connect to the music. This is why empathy, the emotion that allows us to see things from another’s perspective, is an important aspect of every artist. Through empathy we can imagine the event or emotion the piece is discussing, even if we do not have these experiences ourselves. Emulating the thoughts and emotions of others, and then communicating those emotions effectively is the hallmark of talented singers, actors, and artists. This connection is what allows us to express the human condition, and it is why art, music, dance and drama, are considered the emblem of civilized society.

#3. Connect with the audience:
One of the most important aspects of performing is connecting with the audience. Music is a wonderful, and powerful way to communicate, and in order to effectively communicate, we must forge a connection with the audience. The most effective way to do this is to allow the audience to see our own understanding, and interpretation of the music, and this comes from our own understanding, and connection with the music. The most difficult aspect of performance is allowing the audience to see that understanding; through our facial expressions, the tone of our voice, our delivery of the music, and in the emotional energy we share with our audience. This is true vulnerability in singing, and it is what allows us to truly create magical, musical moments.

Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you yourself must believe. – Winston Churchill

What are other aspects of vulnerability in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

April 20, 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 at the same time on different pitches, or polyphonic music, when voices move at different times on the same pitches. Canons, or rounds (ex: Row, Row, Row Your Boat) are forms of polyphonic music.

There are several benefits to both types of vocal music:

Unison:

Unison singing really allows singers to focus on how their voices blend together. Often, people think of unison singing as easier than singing in multiple parts, but it can be quite difficult. Since singing in perfect unison demands that all voices blend seamlessly, it can be difficult to remove ego from the process. It involves refinement, subtlety, delicacy, and a light touch.

Multiple Parts:

Singing in multiple parts demands that singers focus on intonation. Singers need to be in tune not only with the instruments, but with the other singers around them; listening carefully for changes in tonality, as the chords made from multiple parts change. Singing in multiple parts also provides a breadth and depth to the vocal sound, by layering the different voices and pitches.

What do you think are the benefits of singing in multiple parts or in unison? Tell us in the comments below!

April 13, 2015
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 the sound that we strive to achieve in modern choir; many voices sounding as one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC6OKIYXBxQ

As music composition matured, the use of several different tones began to be common. Polyphony, or as we began to be used in increasingly complicated iterations. As polyphonic sound increased the breadth and depth of music heard in church, composers began to seek a greater range of sound. Since women were not allowed to sing in church, composers turned to the high soprano sounds of young boys, who were able to sing the treble lines.

Church music reflected the changes of society and with the Reformation of the 16th century, sacred music was forced to adapt. In order to clarify the words sung in sacred music, reformists insisted that there by one syllable per note, thus signaling an end to the prevalence of polyphonic music, and giving rise to homophonic music. Instead of the vertical lines of melody overlapping, there melodies would move at one, on different pitches. Focus on text had another effect on music – it resulted in a greater focus on the marriage between text and melody. This is best reflected in madrigals (which we will feature in our spring concert!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w38kHRd0vE

Choral music began to leak outside of the church, and into more secular performances. Though still used in church, choral music in the secular arena had greater license to experiment away from the rigid strictures of the church. Often instruments would double the voices of the choir, but increasingly, choirs were used to enhance instrumentation, and to add another important layer to music. The use of text allowed another layer of communication, and the audience responded appropriately. Several of the most famous choral moments in history involved the use of large choirs singing with large symphonies, as seen in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony – Ode To Joy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBlQZyTF_LY

With the advent of modern music, many people think that choral music has fallen by the wayside. But this is categorically untrue. More than ever, people seek the togetherness and intimacy that singing with others affords. This is seen with the myriad of choral groups available in every major city in the world. The advent of technology also introduces a new kind of creativity in choral music, best illustrated with events like Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir. (Check out his great Ted Talk about the process!)

Though choral music has a long and illustrious history, it is far from over! If anything choral music is just getting started. After all, the joy and wonder of singing with others is something that will never go out of style!

What is your favourite kind of choral music? Let us know in the comments below!

March 30, 2015
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 purpose is on stage, they are actually a very important aspect of the musical process. Our director is a guide, not only through the process of learning the music; pointing out important technical aspects, and instructing us in the interpretation of the music. There is an implicit trust that develops between conductors and choristers, and that trust can be seen on stage, when a conductor has to manage the many moving parts of a performance. Unconditional trust is an inherent aspect of confidence – it allows singers to get up in front of people, and put their full heart into the performance.

#2. Peer to peer learning:
Confidence comes from knowing those around you support you. And what better way to support someone, than by teaching them? In a choir setting, choristers are not just learning about music from the conductor, but from those sitting around them as well. In the Calgary Children’s Choir we actively encourage peer mentorship, from implementing a buddy system between our youngest singers, and the oldest, and creating collaborative concert settings.

#3. Opportunity to perform:
As a choral group we have at least three large concerts that are part of our singing season. We also have several other singing engagements throughout the year. Because of this, our choristers have many opportunities to practice performing. With every concert, or performance, our choristers become more self-assured, more confident in their ability to stand up in front of an audience and sing!

#4. Part of a team:

When our choristers get up on stage to perform, they know that they won’t be up there by themselves; they will have the rest of the choir up there with them. That is the beauty of choral singing; many voices as one. Knowing that you have others with you, enhancing your own sound, supporting you, and together, creating something beautiful greatly increases confidence. Singing is terrific, but singing with others, is truly something special!

Do you think singing in a choir increases confidence? Tell us in the comments below!

March 23, 2015
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 better you will sound. The voice needs constant practice to gain better breath support, vocal range, and agility. The more you practice, the longer you can sing, the better your ear will pick up the nuances of difficult repertoire, and the more comfortable you’ll be with your instrument!

#2. Break Time:
Singing can be a great way to change up your day, particularly if it has been a long, stressful one! Singing requires a very intense focus, and is a particularly immersive endeavour, so it can be an excellent way to clear your mind, and to relieve any stress you may be experiencing. As well, using singing as a break from the stresses of your life, can ensure better focus when you do need to return to work.

#3. It’s so good for you:
There are so many emotional, psychological, and physiological benefits to singing. And the more you sing, the more you can reap the benefits! From increased lung capacity, to lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), a recent study has even shown that singing can assist in regulating blood pressure! Singing also released endorphins in your brain, which are the ‘feel good’ hormones!

Do you sing every day? What do you like most about singing? Tell us in the comments below!

March 9, 2015
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, and embody the choristers’ vision of ‘Home’. A big thanks to our Artist in Residence during our Winter Retreat, Lisa Hodgkinson who helped us with this beautiful project.

We sang a variety of different pieces that encapsulated our ideas of ‘Home’, and different perspective on that theme, including: Hey Ho, Nobody’s Home, Almost Home, 900 Miles, and Woodsmoke and Oranges.

It was a wonderful concert, and a great way to celebrate all the different perspectives on ‘Home’! Thank-you to everyone who came out to see our concert!

What was your favourite part of the concert? Tell us in the comments below!

March 2, 2015
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 singers to think uniquely, and create their own picture of their voice, and the singing process in their mind’s eye.

#2. Characterization:
When singers perform a piece, they think about the meaning of the piece, and often the character embodied within that piece. Performing requires singers to adopt the persona of the music itself, and to think about the emotions, and events described by the piece. This ability gives singers a unique perspective, and insights into how others view the world; a valuable aspect of creativity.

#3. Teamwork:
Singers rarely sing alone. Whether they’re singing with others, or accompanied by other musicians, they need to be taking the other musicians into consideration. Performing live with other musicians requires incredible communication, usually through nuanced body language and cues, subtleties of performance, and consideration for the musical elements the other musicians bring to the performance.

#4. Expression:
All musicians express emotion through their music; it is part of what makes music so compelling to listen to. But singers have an added layer of emotive power because we sing text as well. This allows singers to make connections between the music itself and the text. Often, composers have written music to reflect the words in the text, and singers need to identify those moments, and respond to them musically, to best communicate the message of the music to the audience.

#5. Vulnerability:
To get up on a stage in front of other people and perform, requires an immense amount of courage. Any performer understands that every time they get up on that stage, they might fail, and fail in front of other people. This kind of courage comes from the ability to express your vulnerability, to expose your innermost thoughts and emotions, and then communicate them to an audience. and it is a powerful tool for any singer.

“Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself, believe.” – Winston Churchill

Do you think singing can contribute to creativity? Tell us how in the comments!

February 23, 2015
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 where the groups had to out-sing each other based on different categories. Our awesome camp leader, Andrew, set up a roaring fire for us outside, and even though it was snowing it wasn’t too cold and we all bundled up to sing camp songs and tell jokes into the night. We all agreed singing in the snow was a unique experience!

Saturday January 31st – We awoke to a perfect fresh layer of snow, ideal for the activities ahead. After an amazing breakfast of chocolate pancakes, and a morning rehearsal, the choristers split into three groups. Each group took a turn doing music theory with Ms.Strome, an art project with our visiting artist, Lisa, and snow shoeing with Andrew.

With Lisa, the choristers turned their portraits into a unique embodiment of their visions of home. This art project will be displayed at the ‘Home’ concert coming up this March, and it was wonderful to make something so meaningful to go along with our concert.

The snow shoeing expeditions were amazing. The weather was perfect and the campers got to follow animal tracks through the woods, slide down hills, and laugh in the snow whilst wearing old fashioned “beaver tail” or modern “bear claw” snow shoes. We even had races!

Throughout the weekend, the choristers had cards read to them with secret facts about all the choristers, and based on the facts they had to guess who the card was about. It was great to see how well we all know each other. A real turkey dinner was followed by skit night, and the choristers were true to form with funny skits, amazing singing, and poetry. As a special treat, whipped cream was provided so the choristers could have fancy hot chocolate while we played board games by the fireplace. There was Twister, Disney Charades, and more!

Sunday February 1st – On Sunday we ate a breakfast of cinnamon buns, and had another rehearsal. The choristers really delved deep into the music, learning new pieces quickly and really fleshing out the meaning of each work. We thanked Andrew for all of his help and leadership, and Lisa for lending her amazing skills to us over the weekend. We thanked the kitchen staff with rousing applause, as we all agreed it had been the BEST camp food we’d ever had!

Winter Retreat was a huge success and hopefully it will become an annual event!

* Blog post and all photos by Kat Long

What was your favourite part of camp? Tell us in the comments below!

February 9, 2015
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 there are many hard surfaces. This allows the sound to bounce off of those hard surface. In live spaces it takes the reverberation from your sound longer to decay. It makes your sound linger, and it sounds very pleasant to the ear. This is why everyone sounds great singing in the shower!
Still, there are occasions when a space is too ‘live’, and the reverberation of sound can be disorienting.

Ex: When the choir toured to New York in 1999, we performed in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a beautiful venue that has exceptionally live acoustics.

Unfortunately, the organ, which we were using for our performance, was located at the opposite end of the cathedral to where we were performing. The cathedral was so massive, that the reverberations from the organ took a few beats to reach the choir, and the reverberating sound from the choir took a few beats to reach the organ. In that case it was very difficult to rely on the sound we were hearing as feedback, because the reverb of our singing in such a live space, was interfering with the reverb from the organ.

A ‘dead’ space, is one in which there are sound absorbing materials present in the room. These can include carpets, wall hangings, and certain materials that are specifically designed to absorb sound. Another example of a ‘dead’ space is the outdoors. There is simply too much space for the sound waves to escape, and so the reverb from singing decays almost instantaneously. A ‘dead’ space can be very difficult space in which to perform, or even in which to practice.

In which spaces do you prefer singing? Tell us in the comments below!

February 2, 2015
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 android)

YouTube is a platform that allows users to post, share, and view video. It is incredibly useful for singers because it allows them to view as well as hear performances by other musicians. There are millions of hours of video to choose from, and YouTube has a very powerful search algorithm to allow users to find what they’re looking for.
Cost:FREE!

Virtuoso: (available for iOS)

This is a great free piano app, designed to look and sound like a real piano. Virtuoso is particularly valuable because it names the true note names on the keyboard, and users can play multiple notes (like a chord) at the same time. In the app’s latest update, they’ve included new sounds; guitar, clarinet, as well as dual keyboard function.
Cost: FREE!
Android alternative – Real Piano

Shazam: (available for iOS and android)

Shazam is a music identification app. It allows users to press a button when they hear a song they like. Shazam then listens to the song, identifies it, and provides links to where the song can be found online. It’s a great app for anybody who loves music, because it allows you to discover new music you like, simply by pressing a button.
Cost: FREE!

GarageBand: (available for iOS)

This is a very powerful tool that can be used on Apple products. GarageBand allows users to create multi-layered music, as well as podcasts. It includes several powerful editing features, as well as multiple instruments, and its latest update allows users to access music lessons.
Cost: FREE!

EarBeater: (available for iOS)

Despite the cost, EarBeater is the best ear training app available. It includes over 200 exercises in each section, and contains lessons about intervals, chords, and scales in an extremely user-friendly design. Its latest update allows users to create their own ear-training exercises.
Cost: $7.99
Android alternative – Perfect Ear

What is your favourite music app? Tell us in the comments below!

January 26, 2015
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 be done in a variety of ways, but the first step is to make sure you’re washing your hands on a regular basis. Every surface we touch is coated in germs and viruses just waiting to take us down. Ensure that you’re getting enough sleep, and that you’re well rested. Eat food that is nutritious and healthy, and be sure that you’re using your voice in a healthy way – no shouting, please!

#2. Assess your illness:
Do you have a sore throat? Are you stuffed up? These symptoms don’t necessarily mean that you can’t participate in a choir rehearsal. Just because you can’t sing, doesn’t mean you still can’t learn something at a choir rehearsal. Unless you are bed-ridden, you can still come to choir practice, and follow along with your music. This will ensure that you don’t fall behind, even if you’re unable to sing.

This can go the other way, as well. If you are very sick, and bedridden, then you should definitely not attend choir rehearsal, to prevent the illness from spreading, and making other choristers sick.

#3. Get Better Soon!
Make sure you’re doing what you can to get over you illness as quickly as possible. This usually involves getting as much sleep as possible, and eating well. By taking good care of yourself, you can be back to your regular singing self in no time!

How do you manage illness as a singer? Tell us in the comments below!

January 19, 2015
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 in Alberta Ballet’s Nutcracker, we have had several wonderful opportunities to perform with orchestras. Here are three benefits of singing with an orchestra:

#1. Everybody is necessary:
Although there can be many different people involved in a concert, every single member of an orchestra, or a choir, is essential to that performance. Understanding this kind of teamwork is important to one’s growth as a musician. Even if you are only one part of the entire performance, you are still an essential aspect. Performing with other musicians is a great joy, and it can be highly beneficial, both physically and mentally.

#2. Seemingly disparate parts make up a whole:
It is always amazing to hear how the radically different sounds of a trombone, and a violin can sound so wonderful together. Orchestras are composed of a myriad of different sounds, and it is an excellent skill to be able to determine by ear which instrument makes which sound. Performing with an orchestra enables singers to become adept at picking out different sounds, and focusing on them, at hearing subtle differences, and understanding how the disparate sounds work together. These abilities have numerous non-musical applications, like memory retention, problem-solving skills, and the ability to focus intently.

#3. Focus is key :
With so many elements involved in a performance, it can be easy to become distracted. This is why focus is an essential skill a singer must develop. By learning to focus on the subtle instructions a conductor gives, or the variations in sound being produced by all of the different musicians in an orchestra as well as the singers around you, a singer can truly hone this important skill. Focus is an incredibly valuable skill outside of performance, as our world becomes increasingly filled with distractions.

What are some other benefits of singing with an orchestra? Tell us in the comments below!

January 12, 2015
A Child’s Carol 2014 – Christmas Concert Roundup!

On Saturday December 13th, we were thrilled to present The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey in concert with VoiceScapes! The evening was a wonderful combination of storytelling and holiday music. The beautiful Rozsa Centre was decorated by our amazing Creative Consultant, Kat Long, who crocheted 385 stars for us by hand! We were also very excited to present the Chandler Zawalykut scholarship to longtime member, Chantel Witherly!
Check out these photos from the concert!

What was your favourite part of the Christmas concert? Tell us in the comments below!

The Calgary Children’s Choir wishes you all a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holiday! We’ll see you all in the New Year!

December 15, 2014
VoiceScapes!

We are very excited this year to be sharing our annual Christmas concert, A Child’s Carol, with the professional vocal group; VoiceScapes!

VoiceScapes is a four member vocal group that was formed in 2000. Their members have extensive experience in vocal music, and we have been very fortunate to feature two of its members, Christina Jahn and Paul Grindlay in concert with us before! Throughout their 15 year history, Voicescapes has performed across Alberta, collaborating with a variety of Canadian musicians, in diverse vocal performances, including: the Early Music Voices Concert series, and performance with the Alberta Baroque Ensemble, the Red Deer Symphony, and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

You can check out recordings by Voicescapes here!

We are thrilled to be presenting The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey with Voicescapes, on Saturday December 13th, 2014, and we hope you’ll be able to join us!

For ticket information regarding our Christmas concert, contact our business manager, Linda White.

The Calgary Children’s Choir will also be joining VoiceScapes on Sunday, December 21st, for their 13th annual Sing Along Messiah! We would love to see you there! Ticket information is available here.

Are you looking forward to this year’s Christmas musical celebrations? Tell us in the comments below!

December 8, 2014
The Value Of Singing In Different Languages

Since the Calgary Children’s Choir is a Canadian choir, a large portion of the music we sing is in English. We have also sung in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Finnish, Japanese and several other languages! Singing in your native language is great, because you already understand the text. But there is a great deal of value in learning to sing in other languages:

#1. The Challenge
Singing music in another language provides another layer of difficulty to the learning process. There are so many aspects of language acquisition to consider, including cadence, pronunciation, and the many nuances of the language. As well, the text must be analyzed to ensure that choristers know what they’re singing about, and to communicate that effectively to the audience.

#2. Perspective
Singing in a language other than your native tongue, forces choristers to look at the piece from a new perspective. Context is essential when you don’t inherently understand the words you’re singing. Different languages have different ways of describing details, they come with historical nuances, and correct pronunciation is crucial to ensure that the words are communicated effectively. Learning music in another language demands that singers focus on new and challenging aspects of the piece, that they may not usually consider.

#3. New Learning Opportunities
Singing in other languages does not just provide learning opportunities in language. When we learn music in a different language, we encourage our choristers to explore a variety of aspects of the culture from which the language originate, including food, dance, religion, geography and other customs. This context is crucial in understanding the language in which we’re singing, but also understanding the historical significance of the music itself!

What do you love about learning to sing in other languages? Tell us in the comments below!

December 1, 2014