Tag: music

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
Welcome to 2015!

Welcome back to 2015 everyone! We have a very exciting year ahead of us, and we’re thrilled for you to join us!

At the end of January, our Children’s Choir, and Youth Choir will be returning to Bragg Creek for a Winter Choir Camp retreat! This is the first time we’ve held a winter retreat, and we’re very excited! In March we will have our annual Folk Music concert at the Rozsa Centre, on March 22nd. On May 24th, we will have our annual spring concert, also at the Rozsa Centre.

The Calgary Children’s Choir will be touring to Ottawa this year at the beginning of July, to participate in the Unisong festival for our second time! We are very excited to be returning to the music festival and celebrating Canada Day with good friends and good music! We will be featuring a tour blog again right here on our website so you’ll be able to follow along with the tour, and hear what the choir is doing every day!

We are also very excited to announce that the Calgary Children’s Choir website will have online registration available for spring 2015. This will enable returning choristers to register efficiently, and new choristers to have a quick and easy way to register via the website!

What are you excited about for 2015? Tell us in the comments below!

January 5, 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
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
The Purpose Of Choir Workshops

For every major concert that we have, we also have a choir workshop. These choir workshops occur on the Saturday two weeks before the concert. They are an essential aspect of our choir year.

Here are several reasons why choir workshops are important:

#1. To work the music:
This is the number one reason why we have choir workshops. Our usual rehearsals only allow us a certain amount of time with our music, so a three hour workshop gives us a lot more time to get down to the detailed aspects of our music. It also allows us to rehearse with other musicians or musical guests we may be performing with at our concert.

#2. To learn new things:
Often times our workshops include guest conductors, clinicians, musicians or other choirs who will be joining us in our concert. Working with them gives our choristers a new perspective, or new information about music. As well, it gives us a chance to work with, and learn from professional musicians from the local Calgary music scene.

#3. To talk about the music:
A comprehensive understanding of each piece of music is essential to performance, and to a well-rounded musical education. It is never enough to just know the words, notes, and rhythms. We spend time during rehearsals, and at our workshops discussing how the text informs the music we’re singing. It gives us a larger sense of the choral music, and it makes us better musicians!

#4. To spend time with fellow choristers:
Part of being in a choir is the great pleasure of singing as part of a group. We are so lucky at the Calgary Children’s Choir to have very inclusive, and engaging choristers! The reason why our choristers enjoy spending time together, is because we encourage them to get to know one another at choir camp, rehearsals, and of course – at choir workshops. At workshops, choristers have time during sectionals, and at breaks to spend time with one another, and find out more about the people they’re singing with!

What is your favourite part of a choir workshop? Tell us in the comments below!

November 24, 2014
Organization In Choir – Perfecting the Music

Preparing music is not just about learning words, and notes, and rhythms, it is about how all of those elements come together to make a piece of music. Here are three things to think about when it is time to fine-tune our music:

#1. How the sound blends together:
Choral singing is not just about singing your part, and hoping it sounds good with the other voices around you. Choristers need to make a conscious effort to listen to the other voices around them, and ensure that their voice blends into the rest of the sound. This can be a difficult skill to learn, but it ensures that good choral sound is uniform. When there is one blended sound, the nuance of the musical piece can be communicated more effectively.

#2. How the accompaniment adds to the piece:
Often, choral music is accompanied; by piano, or other instruments. This additional instrumentation is another important element of the music, and choristers need to be sure that they are considering what the accompanying instrumentation adds to the piece. There are many functions that accompaniment performs; setting the mood of the piece, adding layers to the meaning of the piece, and assisting with intonation, to name just a few.

#3. How the text informs the music:
Vocal music is unique, in that it has an added layer of texture in the music – text. Choristers should be thinking about the text, and how it contributes to the piece. This is especially important if the piece is in another language. Here is a post with some additional information on the importance of analysing text.

What is your favourite part of fine-tuning music? Tell us in the comments below!

November 10, 2014
Organization In Choir – Learning Music

Sometimes learning all that music can feel overwhelming! Here are several tips to help organize learning your music:

#1. Attend rehearsals:
This is the single best thing a chorister can do to learn their music. Attending rehearsals reinforces the music regularly, and ensures that choristers can learn their music, and feel successful performing. Paying attention during rehearsals, and listening to other choristers is another effective way to learn music quickly.

#2. Listen to recordings:
This has become a very viable option for singers with the advent of technology. There are many recordings available on itunes, or through Youtube, which allow us to listen to other choirs interpretations’ of the music we’re learning. These recordings can be valuable because the give you another example of how to perform a piece. It’s a great way to get inspiration and to learn how other choirs are interpreting the music!

#3. Take time with your music:
Ensure that you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed with any of your music. For the most part, we can learn our music in rehearsals, but if you’re feeling like you don’t know all the words, or are finding a passage, particularly tricky, make sure you take the time to go over it by yourself. Here are several helpful resources for choristers.

What organizational techniques do you use to learn your music? Tell us in the comments below!

November 3, 2014
Organization In Choir: The Music Binder

Our music binders are one of the most important aspects of our choral lives that we need to keep organized. Because of the high volume of music that we learn, especially music that we work on throughout the year, there are several steps we take to ensure our binders stay organized.

The first step is that we give each chorister an assigned binder. The number of the binder is recorded each year, and returning choristers are given the same binder number. We also give out choir bags in which to keep the choir binder, as well as a pencil and a waterbottle. This is to ensure that choristers have one place in which to keep their music.

The second step is our use of sheet protectors. These are plastic inserts that sit in the choir binder. Our music goes inside the sheet protectors, ensuring that the music isn’t ripped or bent, or spilled on!

The third step is organizing the music within the binders. This is left up to the discretion of each individual chorister, but most choristers organize their music alphabetically. When we get closer to a concert, many choristers switch their organization system to reflect the concert order.

How do you keep your music organized? Tell us in the comments below!

How do you organize your choir binder? Tell us in the comments below!

October 20, 2014
Spring Concert Roundup! Songs of the Cinema

On Saturday May 10th, 2014 we had our final concert of the year – our annual spring concert at the Rozsa Centre. This year, our theme was Songs of the Cinema, and we paid musical tribute to all of our favourite music from movies! Featuring music from The Lord Of The Rings, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Les Miserables, and Frozen, we had so much fun singing music from our favourite films!

We were very fortunate to have Jonathan Love as the Master of Ceremonies for our concert, as well as a myriad of amazing musicians, including David Thaiw as our fantastic drummer! Our voices were joined by those of the St. Giles choir, and the Crescent Heights High School choir. We hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did!

Photography by Brieannah Mollison-Read

Thank-you to everyone for a wonderful year of music and fun! Hope to see you at our end of year banquet on May 25th!

May 12, 2014
Songs Of The Cinema: How Film Orchestras Work

In preparation for our upcoming concert, Songs of the Cinema on May 10th 2014, we are starting a blog series of the same name, which will focus on a different aspect of ‘movie music’ each week!

A film orchestra is a very specialized type of ensemble musical group. For the most part, orchestras that have been assembled to record the score for a film do not perform in public. For the most part, the specialty of a film orchestra is to record in studio the music that has been composed for a film.

During these recording sessions, the studio is filled with sound recording equipment, in order to capture the best sound, and minute details. In most cases, the film is projected onto a large screen in the recording studio. This adds greatly to the performance from the musicians. Film orchestras require a level of precision and technicality that greatly enhances the performances from the actors on the screen.

Here is a great video demonstrating the scoring, and recording of the music from Canadian composer Howard Shore for the movie The Hobbit:

Here is a similar video from Star Wars composer, John Williams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ezvZo2AWc

An interesting area in which orchestral recordings is developing is in the music for video games. Here is a video looking at the music, and orchestral recording for the Harry Potter video game:

For those interested, this is a very informative blog that takes a look at scoring for film. It has some fascinating insights into sound recording, and orchestral film recordings.

What do you think of film orchestras? Tell us in the comments below!

May 5, 2014
Songs Of The Cinema: The Role of Music in Movies

In preparation for our upcoming concert, Songs of the Cinema on May 10th 2014, we are starting a blog series of the same name, which will focus on a different aspect of ‘movie music’ each week!

Music plays an important, and often essential role in creating the appropriate atmosphere in a movie. The score of a film can help to convey subtle emotions, and enhances the performance of the actors greatly. For instance, if you watch a horror movie on mute, the film is nowhere near as frightening. The music adds, suspense, anticipation, and often foreshadows story elements.

Another, important use of music in film and theatre, is the use of musical themes. Often, important characters in scored films will have a theme associated with their character, as in the case of the massively popular series, Star Wars. Here is the theme music written for Princess Leia:

This music is heard throughout the film, associated with Princess Leia, and it helps the audience to familiarize themselves with her character. The most popular theme from the Star Wars films, is the infamous Imperial March. This music conveys power, and control. It is precise, and militaristic, and perfectly encapsulates the character of Darth Vader.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPK3IJBiTDs

One of the most subtle, and nuanced aspects of a scored film, such as Star Wars, is the use of leitmotifs. This is a musical device used most notably by Richard Wagner in his operas. A leitmotif is a musical phrase associated with a person, place, or idea. A leitmotif occurs often within a work, in different incarnations, and there can be multiple leitmotifs, depicting many people, places or ideas.. The rhythm, and structure of the leitmotif can change slightly, but it remains the same musical phrase at its core.

The purpose of the leitmotif is to enhance the characterization and narrative of a story, by adding another layer of information through music. Leitmotifs can help foreshadow, they can serve as reminders, and character associations. Here is a brilliant example of one of the leitmotifs used by John Williams in his Star Wars score. Note how the leitmotif changes slightly in each scene, but is still musically recognizable as the same musical idea.

What’s your favourite film score? Tell us in the comments below!

April 28, 2014
Songs Of The Cinema: Famous Film Composers

In preparation for our upcoming concert, Songs of the Cinema on May 10th 2014, we are starting a blog series of the same name, which will focus on a different aspect of ‘movie music’ each week!

With the advent of sound in cinema, composers became of paramount importance in establishing the mood of the movie. Their work contributes greatly to the subtlety and nuance of the performances seen on screen! Here are several notable film composers:

Bernard Herrmann: (June 1911 – December 1975)

Herrmann was an American composer, who was best known for his collaborations with the movie director, Alfred Hitchcock. His music was heard in the films Psycho, and Vertigo. As well, he composed music for Citizen Kane, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and the television program, The Twilight Zone.

Leonard Bernstein: (August 1918 – October 1990)

Bernstein was an American composer, and is one of the most well known film composers. He is considered to be the first of the truly successful cinematic composers, and his work was truly prolific. His music is heard in such productions as Peter Pan, On The Town, and most famously, West Side Story.

Elmer Bernstein: (April 1922 – August 2004)

Bernstein was another American composer, and is no relation to Leonard Bernstein. His music has been heard in such movie classics as, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Black Cauldron, and most famously, Ghostbusters.

John Williams: (February 1932 – present)

John Williams is one of the most famous film composers of all time, due in large part to his work on blockbuster movies. His film credits include, Jaws, E.T., Home Alone, and the first three Harry Potter films. But he is most famous for his work with George Lucas on the Indiana Jones films, and the Star Wars series.

Howard Shore: (October 1946 – present)

Howard Shore is a Canadian composer, who has contributed to over eighty films. His film credits include, The Silence of the Lambs, Gangs Of New York, and Panic Room. Howard Shore is most famous for his film score in The Lord Of The Rings movies.

Hans Zimmer: (September 1957 – present)

Hans Zimmer is a German composer, who has composed the music for over 100 films. His film credits include, The Lion King, The Thin Red Line, Sherlock Holmes, and Inception.

Lisa Gerrard: (April 1961 – present)

Gerrard is not as famous as the other composers on the list, which is due in large part to her collaborations with Hans Zimmer, whose name is often the first associated with their collaborations. Lisa became more well known after she worked with Zimmer on the film Gladiator, but she has a myriad of titles to her name, including, Whalerider, King Arthur, the trailer music for Man Of Steel, and most recently, I, Frankenstein.

Are you familiar with these film composers? What is your favourite film score? Tell us in the comments below!

April 21, 2014
The Benefits of Learning Music Aurally

Often, when we’re learning music in choir, we receive sheet music, and learn the piece by reading the essential information contained in that sheet music. While learning to read music is a vital part of being a good musician, there are also several benefits from learning music aurally.

Learning music aurally is often referred to by other names; ear training, playing by ear, etc… It is an extremely important skill for any musician to develop, but it is particularly useful for singers.

Ear training allows singers to understand the note they are singing in relation to the other notes around them. Understanding the context of the music, allows singers to listen to music critically, and more thoroughly appreciate the relationship between intervals. This can be an especially important skill when singing atonal music.

Learning music aurally can also help singers to appreciate the nuances of sound. When a singer doesn’t have to focus on the written music, they are able to hear the small subtleties in intonation, timbre, and colour of the sound they are producing. This focus on the nuances of sound can greatly improve the overall choral sound, as well as individual singers’ voices.

When an entire choir is focused on the subtleties of the sound they’re creating, by learning the music aurally, they also become much more attuned to the sound the other people around them are creating. Listening critically is essential for any singer, and it greatly aids choirs in producing a blended sound; the ultimate goal of choral singing!

Do you like to learn music aurally? Tell us in the comments below!

March 31, 2014
3 Techniques To Memorize Music

All musicians must memorize music at some point in their careers, and singers have an extra bit of work to do when it comes to memorizing music, because there is the added layer of text that needs to be memorized.

#1. Repetition:
This seems quite basic, but one of the best techniques for memorizing music is by doing it over and over again. But repetition alone will not remain lodged in your memory. The best way to ensure quick memorization, is by focusing on a different aspect of the music every time you sing it. By making mental note of these different aspects of the music, you are hard-wiring your brain to remember multiples aspects of the music, and increasing the depth of your musical understanding at the same time!

#2. Silent Practice:
Silent practice is related to repetition, but it does not require actually singing out loud. This type of practice involves performing the piece silently in your mind. Breathing, phrasing, and dynamics are all considered and practiced, even though they’re done silently, but this technique can be used anywhere – in an apartment, in the halls at school, even on the bus!

#3. Story Telling:

Most vocal pieces include text, often a piece of poetry or prose. This can be very helpful in memorization, because instead of just memorizing words, you can memorize the overall narrative of the text. Knowing what comes next in the story aids in memorizing the specific text used to tell that story.
This is especially helpful when memorizing music in a language that is foreign to you. Understanding the meaning behind the text you are singing, makes it that much easier to commit the text to memory.

So, what techniques do you use to help you memorize music! Tell us in the comments below!

March 24, 2014
Flamenco Guitar

Continuing our posts about Spanish music, and in particular the Flamenco style from the Andalusian region, in today’s post we will be looking at the flamenco guitar!

The Flamenco guitar is quite similar to a classical guitar, in its structure, and sound. There are subtle differences, however, including the use of lighter woods than classical guitar, so that the top portion of the guitar plays with a ‘brighter’ sound. This is especially important for the more percussive section of Flamenco, when the guitar player taps the top of the guitar in time with the dancing! Flamenco guitars often have a section on top of the guitar that allows the guitarist to make these percussive sounds.

In general, flamenco guitars are constructed using harder woods. As well, their strings are not meant to sustain notes as well as classical guitars. This is because of the speed of flamenco, and its rhythmic quality. A lighter, faster guitar means that the flamenco music sounds crisp and patterned!

Have you ever heard flamenco guitar? What did you think?

March 3, 2014
Flamenco!

As our Spanish folk concert approaches, we are getting very excited about many of the interesting elements of Spanish culture that our touring choir experienced on our recent trip to Spain. One of those elements was the Spanish tradition of Flamenco!

Many people associate Flamenco with a style of dance, but that’s just one aspect of it. Flamenco comes from the Andalusian region of Spain and it incorporates singing, dancing, guitar playing, and hand-clapping! It is a form of Spanish folk music, that is often associated with the Romani people of Spain.

Stylistic features of the dance aspect of Flamenco include, stamping of feet, hand-clapping, and great use of both the arms and feet. It is a very passionate and exciting form of dance!

The musical aspect of Flamenco is very interesting, because it is modal. Flamenco generally uses the Phrygian mode. The music is often structured as a set of verses, interspersed with guitar solos. In Flamenco recitals, these solos can also be accompanied by the Flamenco dance. Thus, there is a great deal of room for variety, and improvisation in Flamenco!

Have you ever seen Flamenco? What did you think?

February 24, 2014
The Olympics and Choral Music

The Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics are often a great occasion to demonstrate fun and unique choral music. In celebration of the Opening Ceremonies of the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, here is a look at some of the great choral music from the Olympics!

Calgary Winter Olympics 1988 – Can You Feel It:

And check out this video from the CBC Digital Archives about the Calgary Winter Games!

Atlanta Summer Olympics 1996 – The Power of A Dream:

Sydney Summer Olympics 2000 – The Flame:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFy_s1-YrIE

Torino Winter Olympics 2006 – Nabucco Va Pensiero:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5OfG5DABRM

London Summer Olympics 2012 – Caliban’s Dream:

Sochi Winter Olympics 2014 – Daft Punk – Get Lucky:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Np5rP5vBMI

So, what are your favourite choral moments from Olympic Opening Ceremonies? Tell us in the comments below!

February 10, 2014
A Brief History of Folk Music

Come and check out our annual Folk Concert on March 8th, 2014 at the Rozsa Centre, and hear some great examples of Spanish folk songs!

Folk music has a long history, and because of the nature of the music, it has no definitive historical date of origin. It is widely considered to be the ‘music of the common people’ . In the latter part of the 16th Century, only a small, elite portion of society was taught to read, and practice traditional music. The peasants, although almost all illiterate, still played, and enjoyed music. But because they could not read or write, they had to learn music using alternate methods, primarily through oral transmission.

Thus folk music is largely music that was not written down, but passed from person to person by listening and performing the songs many times. It is usually quite specific to the region and culture that it comes from. For example, many Canadian songs from the Maritimes discuss the fishing industry, because it was such an important aspect of Maritime culture.

Since there are no definitive dates for folk music, stylistic characteristics are the common determinant of music belonging to this genre.

– music acquired through oral transmission

– folk music is generally very regionally and culturally specific

– the composer for pieces of folk music is usually unknown

– there are many different versions of the same song

What are some of your favourite folk song? Tell us in the comments below!

February 3, 2014
The Value of Touring

Tour is just one of the many exciting benefits of joining a choir. The Calgary Children’s Choir tours every two years, and we carefully select touring destinations that enhance our music knowledge, and our cultural experiences. Here are three reasons why going on tour is such a valuable experience:

#1. Exposure to new cultures:

Travel is a wonderful way to be exposed to new cultures, ideas, languages, and most importantly on choir tours, new kinds of music. While on tour, choristers are immersed in all the tour destination has to offer; food, historical and cultural landmarks, language, and of course, music! This provides an invaluable experience to young minds, and fosters an interest in other cultures, and their music!

#2. Musical Memories:

Any kind of travel forms lasting memories, but a choir tour exposes choristers to a unique kind of experience; musical memories. Because the main goal of a choir tour is to educate choristers about new and different kinds of music, or performers, the memories made while on tour, are often associated with music. This is an exceptionally powerful kind of muscle memory, and it means that those recollections will be that much more potent. Memories made on tour last a lifetime!

#3. Choir cohesion:

Going on tour, is a much different experience than a weekly, or even twice weekly choir rehearsal. On tour, almost every moment is spent with the choir, or with a small group of the choir. This is a time when friendships between choristers, and their conductors flourishes, as everyone gets to know each other, and form meaningful connections from shared experiences. Eating, sleeping, singing, and visiting new places together forms a really wonderful bond between choristers who travel together. Amazingly, this tight bond is reflected in the quality of the touring choir’s performances! The choir that tours together, sings even more beautifully together!

Tell us, what do you love most about tour? Where do you hope the choir is touring on our 2015 tour?

January 27, 2014
Why Choose Choir?

There are so many wonderful extracurricular activities for kids to enjoy these days that it may be hard to decide between them all! Here are four reasons why choir is a fantastic experience for young people!

#1. Music is good for your health:

There are many studies (here, here, and here) that have shown how beneficial music can be in maintaining good health. In a very interesting study published in Frontiers of Neuroscience, researchers demonstrated that when people sing together in a choral setting, their heartbeats actually begin to sync together! The benefits of learning music are many!

#2. Choir is social:

Unlike other musical endeavours, choir is very a social activity. The main purpose of choral music is to make many voices sound like one voice! This requires teamwork, excellent listening skills, and above all a group mentality. In choir, you can make friendships that will last the rest of your life!

#3. Additional Skills:

The study of music imbues students with many skills other than the ability to read music. Performance skills, essential to any kind of presentation, confidence, focus, and self-discipline are all skills that result from time spent in choir.

#4. Travel:

One of the greatest adventures in choir is going on tour! The Calgary Children’s Choir tours both nationally and internationally every two years, and it is always a wonderful experience for choristers. Exposure to other cultures, languages, and music is such a valuable asset to young minds!

Why do you think choir is a great activity? Tell us in the comments below!

January 13, 2014
Christmas Concert Roundup!

On Saturday, December 14th, 2013, we had our annual Christmas concert, A Child’s Carol, at the Rozsa Centre! We featured Benjamin Britten’s, A Ceremony of Carols, as well as some traditional holiday tunes!

Our day started at 9:30 in the morning with our dress rehearsal, on the Rozsa Centre stage. We are so fortunate to be able to perform in such a gorgeous auditorium!

We were also thrilled to have the amazingly talented Gianetta Baril playing the harp for us in Britten’s Ceremony of Carols!

That evening, we reconvened at the Rozsa Centre, to a fully decorated auditorium! The Christmas decorations were designed by our amazing Creative Consultant, Kat Long, and were made by our choristers!

We were so excited to present Benjamin Brittan’s A Ceremony of Carols, because it is one of our absolute favourite works! We were fortunate to have the wonderful Kat Long as our Master of Ceremonies for the evening!

We were thrilled to present the Chandler Zawalykut scholarship to this year’s recipient, Patrick Shield!

It was a wonderful concert, and a great way to celebrate the season!

(Photography by Brieannah Mollison-Read)

Check out our Facebook page on Wednesday for more photos from the concert, including a look backstage!

Tell us, what was your favourite part of the concert?

December 16, 2013
The Five Senses In Singing – Taste

Welcome to our series, The Five Senses In Singing! For the next five weeks, we will be examining how the five senses – sound, sight, smell, touch, and taste, are all related to singing!

Taste is a very important sense in singing. As singers, our instrument is an integral part of our bodies, which means that any food we put in our bodies can have a negative or a positive impact on how we sing.
One of the most important things singers need to consume is liquid; specifically, water. Although coffee, and soda might seem like hydrating fluids, they can contain caffeine, which, as a diuretic, is not helpful in hydrating your voice.
Sugary drinks like soda, and fruit juices are also not great for singers because they leave a sugary coating on the throat. Milk is definitely something singers should drink, if they can, but not right before a concert, as dairy products can also leave a coating on the throat.

In terms of food, the best kinds of food to eat are healthy ones! Anything with a high salt content will not be helpful before a performance, because the salt will dry out your throat. Leafy greens, and lean protein are the best things a singer can eat before a concert!

Why else might taste be an important sense in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

December 9, 2013
The Five Senses In Singing – Touch

Welcome to our series, The Five Senses In Singing! For the next five weeks, we will be examining how the five senses – sound, sight, smell, touch, and taste, are all related to singing!

Our sense of touch is an important sense in singing. Touch is what allows us to feel the muscles in our abdomen support our air flow. Touch allows us to feel the air move up through our vocal folds, and to feel that air turn into sound. Touch enables us to feel that sound move up into our mouths to be formed into vowels, and sung out into the world!

Touch is also important because it allows us to plant our feet firmly on the ground, to support our sound from the bottom. As well, touch allows us to relax our bodies, so that our sound can flow naturally; free of unnecessary tension.

The sense of touch can also tell us if something is wrong with our body. If our throat hurts, if our body is too tense, or our sinuses are blocked, our sense of touch tells us that our body is not at its best for singing.

How else is touch an important sense in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

December 2, 2013
The Five Senses In Singing – Smell

Welcome to our series, The Five Senses In Singing! For the next five weeks, we will be examining how the five senses – sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch, are all related to singing!

The human ability to smell is the hardest sense to relate to the area of singing, because olfactory perception is not actually directly linked to singing. The nasal cavity however, is an essential aspect of the singing process, and one that is often discounted.

Singers need to have a keen awareness of the physiological processes that are involved in singing, including the vocal folds, the tongue, and the palates, but an understanding of the nasal cavity, and its involvement in singing is fundamental to the production of good sound. This blog post is only intended to provide a brief, and simplified outline of one of the anatomical processes involved in singing, focusing specifically on the nasal cavity.

In classical singing, the nasal cavity is considered an important resonance chamber, along with the oral cavities, and sinus cavities. The nasal cavity allows sound to resonate in order to amplify the sound a singer produces. In order to achieve the greatest resonance with the nasal cavity, the soft palate must be lifted, and widened in order to facilitate resonance with the oral pharynx.

For those interested in further exploration of the anatomy of singing, researchers at the University of Toronto created a great resource called Anatomia, which can be used to explore the anatomy of the head and neck in great detail.

* There is a great deal of misinformation available about the anatomy of singing. Singers should be discerning when choosing resources about singing, and the anatomy of singing.

Can you think of other reasons why smell, or the nasal cavity might be important in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

November 25, 2013
The Five Senses In Singing – Hearing

Welcome to our new series, The Five Senses In Singing! For the next five weeks, we will be examining how the five senses – sound, sight,smell, taste, and touch – are all related to singing!

Hearing:

Our ability to hear is one of the most obvious senses involved in singing. It’s also one of the most important senses! In order for singers to be proficient in music, they need to have excellent hearing. But not just any kind of hearing. Trained singers, and other musicians, listen to music in an entirely different way than most people. Music is made up of many layers of sound, and singers are trained to ‘sort’ through those layers and to highlight the most important aspect of music.

When singing in choirs, singers rely on the other choristers around them to enhance their sound, and so they must listen very carefully to the voices of the other singers surrounding them. This is especially true when the music has many different vocal parts.

Intonation, the ability to sing in tune, is essential for a singer, and it requires an intense focus when listening to the music, and modifying one’s own sound to match. A singer’s ability to be self-aware is essential when focusing on hearing. It is not enough for a singer to listen; they must be aware of how their own sound fits into the greater sound around them, and adjust themselves accordingly.

So, what do you think? What are other reasons why hearing is an essential sense in singing?

November 4, 2013