Tag: choir

2018 Fall Choir Camp

This year’s camp was yet another success!

Choristers showed up at Camp Horizon buzzing about the weekend to come and were already looking forward to Skit Night, campfire songs and all the other activities camp has to offer.
After the first night of icebreaker games, the real “work” began.

The first full day at camp was a mix of choir rehearsal time and regular camp activities like capture the flag and practice time and arts and crafts. All this rehearsing and running around, however, did little to tire the campers out for skit night. Campers were sorted into teams and were tasked with creating a Bach themed skit. (We think the choir should look into musical theater based on what we saw.) Every group pulled off some very unique plays that thrilled chaperons and choir members alike.

After the skits were concluded, the group huddled around the campfire singing everything from old repertoire to call and repeat songs under the stars as dusk turned into night. Little ones were sent to bed group by group and soon everyone was back in their cabins dreaming of the popcorn fairy.
The next morning was a whirlwind of rehearsals in preparation for the day’s concert for the parents. After a successful concert, it was time to collect compliment envelops and head home!

We are certainly looking forward to winter camp this January and even more forward to our first concert of the year, our Christmas concert on December 8th.

See you there!

October 9, 2018
3 Reasons Why You Should Join A Choir Right Now

#1. Singing together:

Singing is a wonderful activity, as good for your physical health as it is for your mental well-being. While it’s wonderful, and very valuable to get one on one instruction in singing, learning how to sing with others is every bit as valuable! Choral singing has its own technical requirements and requires different skills than singing by yourself – such as harmonizing, blending, balance, and intonation.

#2. Meet new people:

Singing in a choir is a great way to meet new people from many different backgrounds, and life experiences. Bonding over music can lead to life-long friendships, as well as an appreciation for people who have different perspectives from your own. Choir attracts a wide variety of people, all with a shared interest and love of music, and is a great activity for people who are interested in getting to know others in a low-pressure setting.

#3. Learn something new!

Expanding your skill set is always valuable, and if you’ve always had an interest in music, but been a bit uncertain about taking lessons, or unsure about which instrument to try, a choir is a wonderful way to learn more about music without investing as much money or time, as other instruments. Because choir is a group activity, it has other wonderful benefits too, like shared community, built-in support system, and a sense of teamwork and working towards a common goal!

Why else should you join a choir? Tell us in the comments below!

April 30, 2018
3 Tips To Help You Get The Most Out of a Choir Workshop

Choir workshops only happen a few times a year, and at the CCC we like to schedule them a couple of weeks before a concert. They’re an excellent chance for us to really get into the feel of the overall concert, and to discover any areas of the music that aren’t quite working yet, or that need extra work. Here are three ways to help choristers get the most out of choir workshops:

#1. Be Prepared to Work:

Workshops can feel frustrating sometime because they are an opportunity to really get into the details of a piece of music, as well as to iron out any problem areas. This sometimes means that we don’t sing a piece through fully, or that we go over a particular passage a number of times. Workshops are exactly for this sort of targeted, specific practice, so lean into it, and appreciate that all this repetition, or focusing on just a few notes, is what will make the piece sound beautiful!

#2. Make it fun!

Workshops are often a chance for all of us to be together, all three of our performing choirs, all conductors and accompanists, and any of the musicians who will be joining us at our concert. It’s always so nice to see everyone, and catch up, so we try to have fun with our workshops and make sure there’s time to socialize.
We also sometimes like to make it themed – for examples, we’ll often invite choristers to wear their pajamas to workshops!

#3. Take responsibility:

A workshop is a great way for individual choristers to evaluate how their own progress is in relation to the group’s progress. If you notice that there’s a part that you need to practice, make a note of it, and take another look at the section at home. Doing the best job you can do is part of being a good team member!

How else can choristers make the most of choir workshops? Tell us in the comments below!

April 23, 2018
5 Misconceptions About Choir

#1. It’s too hard:

It’s true, singing can be hard work, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But this is why choir is great – you don’t have to go it alone. In choir there is always someone willing to help you, whether it’s staying in tune, reading your music, or keeping in time with the accompaniment. Choir is a great place to learn, and to be surrounded by others who are learning too!

#2. You have to already be good at singing to join:

While there are some groups that are auditioned, and some groups do require prior singing knowledge, that’s not true of every group. We are pleased to be a non-auditioned choir, because we believe that everyone can be taught to sing, and most of all that anyone who enjoys singing should be able to do it!
But don’t be scared off if you do find a choir that requires an audition – often the audition process is really just to find out more about your instrument – your range, and timbre, and what you know about music already. Many choirs are ‘teaching choirs’, so just because it says there’s an audition, it doesn’t mean you won’t get in, if you don’t know much about singing yet!

#3. You have to sing and dance and act:

While there are some groups who sing and dance (show choirs or glee clubs generally), most classical choirs do not sing and dance. While there are some pieces that have movement, or we may decide stylistically to add some movement, generally choir is about sound production above all else, so singing is the number one objective of a choir.

#4. It costs a lot of money:

Choral programs can sometimes be expensive, because there are many elements that make up choral programs – conductors, accompanists, music fees, rehearsal space rental, and uniform costs are just a few. Still, the CCC is proud to offer a low cost program, for exceptional instruction, with no mandatory fundraising. We believe in accessibility, which means that we also offer scholarships, and options for choristers who need some extra help.

#5. Choirs only sing old, boring music:

There are many choirs who sing classical music, but that’s not the only repertoire that they sing. As well, just because a choir sings using ‘classical’ technique, that doesn’t mean that they only sing classical repertoire.
The CCC has sung many classical pieces, but we’re also big fans of folk music, pop music, jazz, and modern music. We also love supporting local musicians and composers, and we have even performed songs written and arranged by our own choristers! You can check out our YouTube Channel to hear examples of the many different kinds of music we sing!

What are some other misconceptions about choir? Tell us in the comments below!

April 16, 2018
The Importance of Presentation In Choir

Presentation in a choral concert is an essential aspect of every performance – and there are several different kinds of presentation that inform a performance:

#1. Visual presentation:

The goal of choir is to present a multitude of varied sounds as one voice. Our objective then, could be hampered by an incongruous visual presentation. This is why we wear uniforms at concerts – when we look uniform, our visual presentation becomes unified, and helps us to present a unified sound. We also strive to stand still, or if we are using movement, we seek to have unified movement as well, helping us to present the best choral sound possible!

#2. Auditory presentation:

Our presentation of sound is obviously one of the most important aspects of a choral concert. We spend a great deal of time working on creating blended sound; focusing on our vowels, listening, and our harmonizing skills. More than that though, we work on the dynamics, tempo, and word-painting to present our best sound during a concert. The mood that we can create with our sound helps us to convey the essential aspects of music that audiences love!

#3. Storytelling:

Another essential aspect to a choral performance is storytelling. Music is about communicating, and since singers have the added layer of text to inform our performance, how we present our pieces to the audience is essential. Our choristers spend time in rehearsal discussing the meaning of pieces, as well as the history of the music, and the composer who wrote the music. All of this information, as well as our own interpretations of the music help us to convey the meaning of our music to the audience!

How else is presentation important in choir? Tell us in the comments below!

March 30, 2018
5 Ways To Cultivate Community In Choir

We are so very fortunate in the CCC to have a thriving community of not just present choristers, but alumni as well. Creating a sense of community, and belonging, is very important to us, and we work hard to make sure that the only requirement for inclusion in the CCC is a love of music! Here are 5 ways to help you cultivate community in choir:

#1. Join!

The single best way to help you cultivate community in choir is to join! Choir is tailor-made for celebrating our community, and at the CCC we pride ourselves on being welcoming, inclusive, and open to everyone who loves music! If you want to sing for the joy of it – come join us!

#2. Attend camp:

We purposely open our year with a camp – away from the city, and out in beautiful Bragg Creek, so that we can really bond as a group before we get into the busy singing season. This is one of the best ways to really form relationships with other choristers, because we spend all day together, for a whole weekend! Our children’s choir and youth choir also go on a winter retreat in January!

#3. Buddy up!

At the CCC we are all about mentorship! We are proud to have a long legacy of choristers who take care of one another, and so we have a buddy system, where the older choristers mentor the younger ones, and in turn are mentored by our Youth choir members. Being a good buddy is an excellent way to foster a community feeling, so lean into it!

#4. Learn from your neighbours:

Although we seat our choristers by section, getting to know the people sitting next to you in choir is a great way to meet new people. Have a chat with the person next to you (before choir starts, or at break!), and you’ll learn so much about them. Choir is all about listening, and learning from those around you, so make sure to absorb everything you can from those around you – no doubt they’re doing the same!

#5. Stay awhile:

Many of our choristers stay for years (sometimes even decades!) in the choir. We have medals that we give to choristers who stay in the CCC for 5, 10 and recently 15 years! It can be difficult to stay in one activity for a long period of time, especially when there are so many interesting activities out there, but we promise if you stay with us for a while, you will make some life-long friends, gain a new appreciation of quality music, and some essential life skills!

What are some other ways to cultivate community in choir? Tell us in the comments below!

March 19, 2018
Imperfection In Singing

Singing is difficult for many reasons, but one of the hardest things to deal with is how personal our voices are to every individual singer. Each voice is unique to that person, and as such, singers have an extra level of difficulty to deal with when learning how to use their instruments. Here are three ways to deal with imperfection in singing.

#1. Mistakes are expected:

Making a mistake in singing, or having your voice not respond in the way you’d like shouldn’t be considered a source of embarrassment. Our voices don’t come out of a manufacturing plant, or a production line, as many other instruments do. Our instruments are also not only affected by weather, and temperature, but also by the food we consume, and even how we’re feeling each day. This means that from day to day our voices can sound different. ‘Mistakes’ or variations in our voices are not only expected, but natural, which is why we spend a lot of time discussing how to manage our voices, instead of trying to control them.

#2. Something new:

Sometimes, what seems like an imperfection actually becomes a part of something new. Take pitch bending for example. In Classical music, singing in tune, with a high degree of accuracy is essential. ‘Scooping’ (dragging sound from one note to another) is not regarded as good technique. However, in pop music, and much of jazz, scooping, or pitch bending is considered essential, and is a skill to be developed in its own right! What is regarded as imperfection in one style, can be essential in another style!

#3. Individuality:

The individuality, and unique quality of our voices, which can sometimes feel imperfect, because they do not conform to any one sound, actually contribute to making our music feel more human. There is plenty of research to show how positively humans are conditioned to react to the sound of human voices, even from the womb.
This means that the very imperfections, which we sometimes criticize ourselves for, are the very things that set our instruments apart from others, as well as what makes people so intrigued by, and musically responsive to, the human voice.

What are some other tips to helps us with imperfection in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

March 5, 2018
The Importance of Music Theory In Singing

Music theory is often a chorister’s least favourite part of choir. But learning to read and understand the technical aspects of music, though difficult, is ultimately extremely rewarding.

#1. Musicianship:

Singing requires an excellent understanding of the relationship between notes, because unlike other instruments, singers do not have keys, or strings, to manipulate to elicit the appropriate pitch. Instead, singers must have a clear understanding of pitch in their brain, and then employ a wide variety of other techniques in order to produce the correct pitch. Understanding the fundamental aspects of music theory is essential in developing good musicianship skills, and will enable singers to excel.

#2. Mimicry:

Unfortunately mimicry is often what happens when singers don’t learn music theory fundamentals. ‘Learning to sing’ via mimicry (which is enabled by the ubiquitous nature of YouTube and similar platforms) is incredibly limiting, and does not allow singers to learn anything about music outside the context of the song they’re mimicking. Without the crutch of the piece they’ve learned to mimic, singers who learn in this way, flounder, and have difficulty succeeding.

#3. Improvisation:

Improvisation is the ability to take a musical idea, and make it your own. It is a feature common in jazz music, and more popular music, although there are aspects of it in classical music – particularly in the Baroque style. Although improvisation is technically ‘making something up’, those musicians who truly excel at improvisation and composition, are ones who have an incredibly detailed knowledge of music theory. They excel at ‘making things up’ because they know how the rules of music work, and thus know which rules can be ‘broken’ in a way that sounds interesting and creative. Singers interested in improv or composition must have a solid knowledge of music theory!

What are some other reasons music theory is important in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

February 26, 2018
3 Tips To Protect Your Singing Voice

The human voice, though one of the most powerful instruments, is also an extremely delicate instrument, and can be adversely affected by any number of seemingly innocuous forces. Here are three tips to help you protect your singing voice:

#1. No screaming:

This is, hopefully obvious, but people frequently misuse their voices; by raising their voice, by not supporting their sound, or even by talking too much. There are a number of ways to misuse the voice, but in general people know when they’re doing it. So if you know you’re going to be talking a lot, make sure to hydrate really well the day before. And if you must scream, make sure you support that scream with excellent breath management techniques.

#2. Coughing:

Although coughing can sometimes feel helpful, and can sometimes feel involuntary, excessive coughing, or even clearing your throat can be wearing on your voice. As much as possible, try to swallow if your throat feels irritated, instead of coughing. You can also try a throat lozenge, or some tea with honey!

#3. Sing!

Using our voice regularly, and with good technique is one of the best ways to protect our instruments! By making use of your voice habitually, you will condition it, as well as the important muscles used in good breath management, to work well for you. Singers who frequently sing have improved breath flow, posture, and even improved circulation. Protect your singing voice by using it!

How else can you protect your singing voice? Tell us in the comments below!

February 12, 2018
3 Unusual Reasons We Love Singing

Singing is wonderful for a number of reasons, but here are three slightly unusual reasons why we love to sing!

#1. It’s hard!

This may seem like an odd reason to love something, but the truth is that singing is difficult. It’s difficult physically; from breath management, to core support, and projection. Singing is difficult mentally – from learning songs in different languages, to text analysis and memorization, and it’s also difficult psychologically, in how we think about our unique voice and sound.

But engaging in difficult activities is wonderful for us, and gives us something to strive for. The feeling of accomplishment, and confidence that comes from tackling a difficult subject and succeeding cannot be overstated! So even though singing is hard – we love it!

#2. It teaches us to think about our body differently:

Because we cannot see the parts of our body that allow us to sing, the way other instrumentalists can look at and manipulate their instruments, singer have to think about their body in a very different way. We teach singers to cast their ‘mind’s eye’ inwards, and to create pictures in their head of what their diaphragm, esophagus, and larynx look like. We also focus on teaching choristers how to make minute adjustments to their mouths, tongue, and lips to create the sound we want.

This incredible focus inwards on our bodies, changes our relationship with our bodies – making us more attuned to slight misalignment, and to the subtle nuanced messages our bodies relay to us.

#3. Singing gives us other life skills:

When we learn how to sing, and to sing well, we aren’t just learning about music and vocalizing. We are learning a variety of other skills that can have a host of benefits in areas other than music.

From presenting information, to meeting deadlines, learning to project our voices, organize our time, and to discipline ourselves towards a goal, singing gives us many skills which will be essential in other areas of our lives.

What are some other unusual reasons you love singing? Tell us in the comments!

January 29, 2018
Constructive Criticism In Choir

Getting feedback on your performance is a common aspect of almost every endeavour. While it can be a bit uncomfortable to receive feedback about something as personal as your voice, and your singing, constructive criticism is an essential aspect of singing, and particularly singing in a choir. Here are three things to remember about constructive criticism in choir:

#1. Singing is not about perfection:

Singing, and music in general, is a very subjective experience. Like many art forms, there is no simple formula for getting it ‘right’, because ‘right’ is different from performance to performance. There will never be a perfect performance, because perfection is an impossibility. There will always be something to be improved.

Instead of viewing this as negative, re-frame this idea as positive. There will always be something to work on, some aspect of the performance to improve. The beauty of this is that there is no ‘finish line’, the work is never done. It also means that each performance can have a different quality, making each experience individual and unique.

#2. Choirs receive feedback as a group:

Because choirs are, by their very nature a group endeavour, constructive criticism is almost always delivered to the group at large, or by section. It is very rare, and frankly not entirely helpful for an individual to be singled out and criticized. After all, when the choir is successful we don’t praise individuals, we praise the group. The same is true for feedback.
It can feel very true that there is safety in numbers, but there is something solidifying and unifying about receiving constructive criticism as a group – it reinforces the sense of team, and community, and also makes any criticism feel less personal, and more constructive.

#3. Feedback can come from your peers:

One of the best ways we have of learning is from our peers. When we sing in a choir we have the voices of many people around us to instruct us. Their feedback doesn’t even need to be conscious or spoken. If you can tell that your sound isn’t quite matching that of your peers, listen and adapt your sound to try and match.

In the CCC we also teach theory, and use solfege to help our singers learn to sight read. All of our choristers are more than happy to help those around them, who may not have as good a grasp on music theory or solfege as they do. This sort of peer feedback is essential in making sure that we help one another to grow as a group!

How else is constructive criticism delivered in a choral setting? Tell us in the comments below!

January 22, 2018
Welcome to 2018!

Happy New Year! We are excited to return for another wonderful singing season in 2018. We have many exciting events upcoming, and we hope you’ll join us for many of them!

Winter Camp:

We have an upcoming winter retreat to Camp Horizon for our Calgary Children’s Choir and Calgary Youth Choir! This is a great time for the choristers to bond, and for us to do some good hard work on our music together! We love camp!

Annual Concert:

Our annual concert will be held on Saturday, March 10th, 2018 at the Rozsa Centre! More details about the concert coming soon!

Annual Spring Concert:

Our annual spring concert will be held on Saturday May 12th, 2018 at the Rozsa Centre! More details about the concert coming soon!

*We will also have a few other events upcoming – look for more information in our emails, and on our social accounts!

January 8, 2018
3 Myths About Singing

There are many misconceptions floating around about singing, which is unfortunate because it makes many people unwilling to partake in all that singing has to offer. Here are three common myths about singing:

#1. Tone deafness:
People often claim to be ‘tone deaf’ when what they really mean is that they have problems with pitch perception. True tone deafness is referred to as ‘Congenital Amusia‘ and is classified as a learning disability affecting ~ 4% of the population. Those who are truly tone deaf cannot enjoy music in the same way most people can, because their inability to differentiate between pitches, means that music sounds quite tedious to them.
For the rest of the population who feels they don’t have good pitch perception, these problems can often be corrected with time, patience, and lessons in musicianship. Don’t allow problems with pitch to deter you from singing!

#2. Singing as a ‘gift’:
Equally as common as the myth surrounding ‘tone deafness’ is the idea that you either are a good singer, or you aren’t. While there are certainly some people who seem to have an innately beautiful sound with very little effort, there are just as many wonderful singers today who worked hard for the beautiful sound they produce. This idea that someone is either good, or not good, is particularly harmful because it doesn’t give people a chance to learn. Singing is an innately personal instrument to learn, because our bodies are our instruments, we even change our language to reflect this. We often say ‘you are a good singer’, but we tell other instrumentalists, ‘you play the piano well.’ Singing, as with every other instrument, is something to be learned, and learning is a process that involves time, passion, and commitment.

#3. Singers are divas:
*sigh*
While there are certainly some difficult personalities in the world of popular music, the myth that all singers are divas is nonsense.
This myth has several reasons for being so persistent. First, because a singer’s instrument is their body, they spend an inordinate amount of time thinking, and caring for their body. This can involve sleeping more than average, drinking and eating (or not drinking and eating) specific food and beverages, etc… Singers are also usually unable to weather sickness in the way that other instrumentalists are, since illness directly affects our instrument.
Another reasons singers may be unfairly considered divas is because our instrument involves a great deal of positive psychology to function at its best. Singers need to think about their instrument differently than other musicians, and this can be interpreted as ‘diva’ behaviour because it is different.

What are some other common myths about singing? Tell us in the comments below!

November 27, 2017
The Benefits of Singing in the Community

The Calgary Children’s Choir performs three major concerts a year, including our upcoming Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 9th. Interspersed with these concerts are a variety of events out and about in the community, and it’s always such an exciting opportunity for our choir to experience these performances:

#1. Fresh Perspective:
New performance opportunities are always beneficial to the choristers, because it adds variety to their concert series, and allows them to understand performance in a variety of settings. Musical aspects such as acoustics, choir placement, and differences in audiences are all important factors for choristers to learn to adapt to. Having different performance opportunities are always a great learning experience!

#2. Community Service:
One of the best parts of singing out and about in the community is the sense of service this develops in our choristers. When we sing at a Senior’s Home, or a Christmas market, we are contributing to people’s sense of well-being and belonging. This is doubly beneficial for our choristers, because it increases our own sense of what it means to be part of a larger community!

#3. Meeting New People:
Music is all about communication and connection, and the more varied concert opportunities we have, the more we get to meet new people, and connect with all kinds of different audiences. Encountering as many different people, from all walks of life demonstrates how much we all have in common, and the ability to share our musical gift with the community, brings us all a little bit closer together!

What is another benefit from singing in the community? Tell us in the comments below!

We are thrilled to be performing at The Calgary Winter Club’s Christmas Market on Wednesday November 22nd at 6:00 pm!

*Tickets are now available for our Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 9th, 2017!

November 20, 2017
How To Practice Choral Music By Yourself

Practicing your choir music at home by yourself can feel counterproductive, especially since choir is inherently a group activity. Still, practicing at home will help you to learn your music faster, feel more confident in your line, and let you enjoy your choir rehearsals even more! Here are 3 tips to help you practice your choral music by yourself:

#1. Acapella:

For those choristers who don’t feel fully confident reading music yet, practicing by yourself at home can feel much more difficult. If you don’t have a piano, it can be hard to pick the notes out on another instrument as well. This is why acapella practice can be so helpful, and it’s why learning solfege is so helpful. By singing your line by yourself without the aid of another instrument, you can begin to feel more confident about the way the note relate to one another, instead of trying to pick them out from the accompaniment.

#2. Singing with a recording:

There are so many apps and websites now that feature recordings that it can quite easy to find a version of the piece you’re trying to practice. Singing your line against a full choir recording can be an excellent way to improve your musicianship as well! Here’s a tip – if you lose your line, don’t stop the recording and start again. Instead, try and follow along in the music, until you can pick out your line again – this way you’ll get in some ear training too!

If you can’t find a recording online, you can always ask your choir conductor if you could record at rehearsal so that you can take it home for practice. Many choirs create such recordings to aid in at-home practice as well!

#3. Memorization:

This is one of the easier aspects of practicing by yourself at home, since it can be completely silent. Many choirs want choristers to memorize their music, so that the performers can be more responsive, and musical at a concert. There are many different techniques to help you memorize your music more effectively. You can read more here.

What are some other tips for practicing choral music by yourself? Tell us in the comments below!

November 6, 2017
4 Conductor Secrets

#1. We can see EVERYTHING:

For real.

It’s a prerequisite for conductors to have extra ‘nonsense’ senses, but we’re at the front of the room, and often we’re standing while choristers are sitting. We can see you, choristers. Even when you think you’re being sneaky and hiding your phone, or a snack, or a gerbil, behind your music. We can see you.

#2. Mistakes are not a problem:

Many choristers feel immediate embarrassment when/if they make a mistake, especially if their fellow choristers react, or give them some side-eye. Conductors can almost always catch these mistakes too, but our reaction is different. For us, mistakes are par for the course, especially if we’re all still learning a piece. When we hear a mistake, we don’t think ‘uh oh, that’s not right,’, we think ‘I know how to fix that,’. Mistakes are not a problem, and should not be a source of embarrassment.

#3. We think about the beat A LOT:

For the most part, choristers are thinking largely about breathing and tone. And while conductors are thinking about those things as well, we spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the beat. Because we have to set it, and set it well, not just for the choristers, but for the accompanist, and for any other musicians playing along. We also have to think about maintaining a steady beat, while thirty other voices try to push and pull at the rhythm.

#4. We know how you feel:

We won’t make absolutist statements, but there are exceptionally few people who are conductors, who have not also been on the other side of the stand. Which means, that we know exactly how it feels to be conducted. We know which hand movements we prefer, which cues we need, and what kind of energy we want to feel from the conductor. Which is why we as conductors try to send that back out to our choristers.

What other secrets do you think conductors might have? Tell us in the comments below!

October 23, 2017
The ‘Ins and Outs’ of Repertoire Selection

Repertoire is an important aspect of the choral experience, and it’s a topic on which everyone has an opinion – we all have our favourites, of course, but there’s much more that goes into choosing the repertoire for the year than many people think. Here are three things that are taken into consideration when the conductor chooses repertoire:

#1. Choral assessment:

One of the most ephemeral aspects of a choral group is its membership; and after all, a choir is just the sum of its parts. Each year the conductor must assess the choir they will have, and determine what the groups’ strengths are, and what areas need improvement. Assessing the group as a whole means the conductor must select repertoire that will challenge the choristers without overwhelming them.

#2. Learning objectives:

Each conductor has specific learning objectives and outcomes in their mind, and these can be different from semester to semester as the choir grows and learns together. We are fortunate to have such a large body of choral repertoire, so that pieces can be selected to enhance these learning objectives, and the choir can take on new challenges, and prepare to meet them in a fun and engaging manner!

#3. Concert series:

Concerts are a difficult aspect of the musical experience to organize. Halls must be booked, tickets must be created and sold, programs printed, and the concert itself marketed. Thus planning a series of concerts for the year begins long before the first rehearsal.
Repertoire is often chosen to fit a concert theme, or a concert learning objective – particularly if that concert is being shared with other musicians, or performers.

Learn more about our upcoming concert series by viewing our 2017-2018 Concerts section, or accessing the calendar for the year!

October 16, 2017
The Benefits of Solfege in Singing

Solfege is sometimes considered a drag in choir, since some choristers can find it frustrating, or boring, and fail to see the use of the method.

Still, solfege, part of the Kodaly method, is actually an incredibly useful tool, particularly in singing. At the CCC we are most fortunate to have teachers who are well-versed in the Kodaly method, and implementing solfege into rehearsals. Here are three benefits to using solfege in singing:

#1. Movable ‘do’:
Instead of assigning note names to pitches, the notational centre of a scale or piece becomes ‘do’ in major keys, and ‘la’ in minor keys. This has two benefits. First, it allows those who don’t yet have a firm grasp on traditional musical notation to still make sense of the music, and it reinforces the relationship between notes, regardless of key.

#2. Accelerated sight singing:
Once a singer understand the relationship between pitches, and most importantly their relationship to one another, sight singing becomes much easier. Fourths and fifths no longer look like gargantuan leaps of faith, and instead become carefully calculated and precise movements between notes. The nuances of singing semitones, or the subtleties of shifting between major and minor becomes much clearer.

#3. Intonation:
One of the greatest benefits of learning solfege is intonation and tuning. The Kodaly method really allows singers to hone in on the centre of the pitch, and to observe how inconsistencies in tuning can sabotage attempts to sing intervals. The open vowel sounds in solfege also allow singers to observe how changing vowel sounds requires additional modification to their tuning. Since intonation is an essential aspect of singing, and particularly choral music, solfege can have a huge impact on a choir!

What other benefits are there for using solfege in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

October 2, 2017
The Importance of Musicianship in Singing

Musicianship is a musical term used to describe the skills a musician possesses related to their aural skills; intonation, ear training. Musicianship is absolutely a skill as well that can be learned, and should be carefully honed. Here are three reasons why musicianship is an essential skill in singing:

#1. Sight singing:

There are few instruments that require a finely honed ear in the way that voice does. Sight singing is a bit of a misnomer, because it really is about hearing, and how a singer’s brain perceives what they are hearing. Understanding the nuances between pitches, and how to ‘translate’ what’s in the sheet music to the voice, is essential to learning how to sight sing well!

#2. Blended sound:

Because of the unique timbre of each individual singer’s voice, blending is an essential aspect of the singing experience. This is compounded when singers come together to create blended choral sound. The objective of choral sound is to make many voices sound as one. This can be achieved when singers make a concerted effort to listen to the voices of others and modify their own sound. Musicianship skills allow singers to not only hear the differences between voices, but to analyze what specifically they must change to accommodate blend.

#3. Versatility:

Musicianship skills allow singers to be incredibly versatile in both the genres they sing, as well as in their own vocal technique. Musicianship is what allows the fantastic pitch bending often found in jazz music, and it is a huge contributor to success in such interesting techniques as two-toned singing.

Why else might musicianship be important in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

September 25, 2017
5 Tips To Help You Get The Most Out of Choir

Starting in choir can be a bit intimidating, particularly if you’re new to music, or to singing. Here are 5 tips to help you get the most out of your choir experience!

#1. Listen:
Choir is different from singing solos, for several important reasons (read more about that here.) But listening is an incredibly important aspect of the choral experience. A chorister needs to listen to the other voices in their section, they need to listen to the accompanying piano, or other instruments, and they need to listen for the voices singing other parts, so that everyone can create a blended sound.

Listening to the conductor as well is essential, since they are the person with the best idea of the big picture, and the musical knowledge to bring all of the disparate aspects of choral music together.

#2. Talk to your neighbours:
It may be obvious, but don’t do this while a rehearsal is ongoing. Still, there are breaks, and before and after rehearsal to get to know the people sitting around you! You should absolutely get to know these people, since you’ll be spending quite a bit of time with them!

Choir can be a wonderful experience because of the people, and here at the CCC we feel like family, so get to know your fellow choristers, and those friendships will greatly enhance your musical experience as well!

#3. Bring your music:
You will receive music during the first few rehearsals, and it will be your responsibility to care for your music throughout the year. By all means, make markings with pencil throughout rehearsal to note entrances, or dynamic markings, or anything else the conductor might suggest. While your neighbours will likely be more than happy to share your music on the (hopefully!) rare occasion that your forget it, remembering to bring your own music, with your individual notes on it, will greatly enhance your choral experience!

#4. Personal research:
There is so much that goes into music, and vocal music in particular. While we spend a great deal of time teaching our choristers sight reading skills, some basic theory, and of course good vocal production, there is still so much to learn. If you find an interesting aspect of the piece, by all means – do your own personal research! Forging a personal connection with the music will make your interpretation well informed, and your research can help other choristers learn as well!

#5. Have fun!
We assume you’ve joined choir because you love music, and singing, and because you want to share that with other people, and we assure you that everyone sitting in the rehearsal hall with you feels exactly the same way. So relax, enjoy the music, get to know your fellow choristers, and have fun!

How else can you get the most out of choir? Tell us in the comments below!

September 18, 2017
Welcome to our 2017-2018 Singing Season!

Welcome to the Calgary Children’s Choir’s 31st Singing Season!

Our Calgary Children’s Choir and Calgary Youth Choir start rehearsals tomorrow (Tuesday, September 12th, 2017)
Our Music Makers and Calgary Junior Choir start rehearsals on Thursday (Thursday September 14th, 2017)

We are delighted to be back after our wonderful 30th Anniversary Celebrations in May, and an amazing tour to Italy over the summer!

There are some important changes to the choir this year! Our wonderful Artistic Director, Marni Strome, is taking a sabbatical to finish her Master’s Degree in the United States. We are thrilled that she is continuing to oversee her artistic vision for the choir while she is away, and are very excited for her to bring all of her knowledge and experience back to us next year! Best of luck with your program Ms. Strome!

For the upcoming season, we have some important staff changes:

*Music Makers will be taught by Shinia Van
*The Calgary Junior Children’s Choir will be conducted by Lindsay Phillips
*The Calgary Children’s Choir will be conducted by Kathryn Berko
*The Calgary Youth Choir will be conducted by Andreas Berko

We look forward to new perspectives, and interesting information from our wonderful CCC team! Please give our new staff members a very warm CCC welcome!

We are off to choir camp in just a few weeks! This is one of our favourites events of the year! Please speak to our business manager Linda White if you haven’t signed up for camp yet!

The CCC will be presenting three concerts this year:

Christmas Concert: Saturday, December 9th, 2017 – Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary – 7:00pm

Annual Concert: Saturday, March 10th, 2018 – Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary 7:00pm

Spring Concert: Saturday, May 12th, 2018- Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary 7:00pm

And all of the events for the year can be found on our Event calendar here.

What are you most looking forward to in our 2017-2018 singing season? Tell us in the comments below!

September 11, 2017
Italy Tour – Pisa and Lucca

After our relaxing and radiant day yesterday, the choir was in good spirits and ready for more walking! We kicked off the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel, and made our way onto the tour bus. We arrived at Pisa, at the site of the famous leaning tower, and we were set free in our chaperone groups to roam the street market areas and the main area where the tower, cathedral, and baptism domes are located. We can assure you that many cheesy pictures with the tower were taken!

The next stop for the day was Lucca! We explored the town for an hour or so in areas including cathedral square and amphitheater square.

Then we made our way to the church to prepare for our concert with the local Italian choir, Arco Baleno. The church had very good acoustics but it was very humid and hot, sono calda!!! The concert was an experience none of us will forget. The Italian choir had a very powerful, strong, forward sound. Their repertoire was based off of humanitarian, and social topics such as friendship and love and inclusion. Most of their songs were accompanied by a recorded track of music. This style was quite different from our very pure choral sound with piano accompaniment. We were nervous at first, since our sound was so different, but after finishing our pieces, we received many smiles and loud clapping and our final piece, an Italian piece, was a total hit! The whole church was on their feet! The concert ended with a song both the choirs could sing together. It was an absolutely incredible experience!

The families of the choristers from Lucca cooked us all a huge amount of food set up in a hall in buffet form. Intriguing and slightly “lost-in-translation” conversation with the other choristers during our meal quickly turned into dancing. We taught them “Cadillac Ranch”, and they taught us dance after dance after dance. Most of them were in a sort of learn-as-you-go style, with leaders at the front and everyone else mirroring their movements as best we could! Everyone was hot and glowing, and had very dirty feet due to our dancing location; the dry dirt and grass field in the back of the dining hall. We danced for hours and hours having the time of our lives. We took turns sharing music with each other and dancing with each other. It was great to see the kind of parties the local youth have here. Italians reeeally know how to party!!

After many hugs and cheek-kisses and goodbyes, we made our way onto the bus again, everyone still buzzing with excitement but ready for bed! Until tomorrow, Ciao!

-Emilia and Elena

July 10, 2017
Italy – Rome Day 3!

We had another amazing (albeit very warm) day. The choir started the day off singing a concert at St. Agnes’s church, a beautiful space. Around the age of 12-13, St. Agnes became a martyr. She had made a vow of chastity, and when a prince of Rome tried to break that vow, he was smited by an angel. When she was accused of witchcraft, she prayed and brought the prince back to life. It is said that her skull is preserved in the chapel of heads.

After our concert we had two hours of free time and a delicious lunch in the Piazza Navona.

After lunch we had even more free time! We took a short walk to the Trevi fountain, which we had seen on day one (but trust us, it is worth seeing twice). We went on a little walking trip to Compo Dei Fiori, a little square near our restaurant. On our walk we visited a wonderful church. Look at the ceiling, do you think that’s real or painted?

After all that walking we were tired so we decided to do…… some more walking! We took a little trip to a famous neighbourhood called Travestere. The group saw some amazing things, including this amazing Middle Ages church!

After our delicious dinner, we headed back to the bus, where we had to bid farewell to our lovely driver, Federico. As we leave Rome, we will leave you with the best view Rome has to offer.

Farewell & goodnight, Grace and Adriana.

July 6, 2017
Italy Tour – Rome!

This morning was our first rehearsal of the tour! We found a cute little conference room on the upper level of the hotel, and practiced for about two hours. Following the rehearsal, the choir went to the small bars (little restaurants) just outside of the hotel for lunch.

The remainder of the afternoon consisted of a TON of walking and sight-seeing. On the way to the Colosseum, the choir stopped at the Altare della Patria, which turned out to be the very first place we were told to NOT sing! We thought the security guard assumed we were busking and stopped us mid-song. Despite the disappointment, the building was stunning nonetheless.

Next on the tour, the choir was able to go into the Colosseum! Luckily we didn’t have to wait in the long lines for the public, as Adriana (our magnificent tour guide) used her connections to get us in quickly. The views were breathtaking, and the architecture even more unbelievable. It’s astonishing that such a structure could still be (partially) standing 2000 years later. Our Colosseum tour guide was fantastic, too!

In our chaperone groups, the choir was let free to explore a few streets within the city centre. Within the two hours that we had, groups had the opportunity to buy souvenirs, enjoy gelato, and familiarize with the area. The streets were so charming, and the shop owners were lovely as well.

Following our excursions, the choir met up at a local restaurant for another fantastic three-course meal. We sang a thanks to the staff and owner and headed back to the hotel. Today has been very eventful, and I’m sure our sore feet will enjoy a rest before the even more eventful day tomorrow!

Goodnight from Roma

-Kyla and Hannah

July 4, 2017
Italy Tour – Travel and Rome!

Hello, it has been a very long day for all of us here in Italy!

First things first, at 9 AM on the 2^nd of July we met at the Calgary International Airport, bright eyed and exited to fly to Italy!
Except first we had to fly to Toronto and wait a bit, having some dinner while we did so. Then, at 8:00(ish) their time, we hopped on another flight! This one going direct to Rome!
Don’t we look awake!

Eight hours later we arrived, collected our things, and set out with Adrianna, our lovely guide. Please bear in mind, we had now been travelling, more or less constantly awake, for at least 15 hours. But it was only noon in Italy! So we headed to our lovely hotel, found some delicious lunch from local places, and settled in for an hour or so. I am told there are some who did not sleep during this time. I was not one of them.

At 3:30, 21 hours into our day, we met back in the lobby to go into central Rome and have a walking tour. It was nominally supposed to take us to a number of different fountains, including the famous Trevi fountain. I would give you play-by-play details, but it was just so phenomenal. Every corner you turned, every side street you took, led you to another breathtaking piece of artistry. We learned to drink from ancient roman fountains, and even managed to sneak quickly into the Pantheon since there were no lines! We even sang a little, just to enjoy the sound of our voices in the ancientness streets.

By about the time we were ready to drop, we arrived at a perfect place to! Dinner was lovely, even if most of us were too tired to properly enjoy it, and the gelato for dessert was phenomenal.

At long last, around 26 hours from when we first collected together, we made our way back to the coach to take us home to sleep for the night. And sleep we shall.

In fact, I’m off to do that right now.

Sweet dreams, and ci vediamo domani (see you tomorrow)!

Victoria GM

July 2, 2017