Tag: singing

  • Trust In Singing

    Singing, and music in general engender many emotions, as discussed in this post. There are many positive emotions that arise from singing, as well as the occasional one. One aspect of positive emotion found particularly in choral singing, is trust. Trust is a powerful emotion because it takes time and effort to build, but can…

  • How Emotions Affect Singing

    Emotion is necessary in musical expression, but our emotions can have a very strong effect on how we sing. Here are 3 ways in which our emotions can affect our singing: #1. Positive emotions: Positive emotions, such as joy, excitement, and love, often have an equally positive impact on our singing. These emotions help us…

  • Singing For Wellness

    There are many studies that have shown the benefits of music on cognitive function, and childhood development, but perhaps one of the greatest benefits of music, and singing in particular is the benefits to our sense of well being. #1. Physical Well-being: Singing requires a great deal of physicality, and an excellent sense of self.…

  • The Benefit of Sectionals

    We spend a lot of time discussing how important it is to sing as a group, to listen to the other parts, and to blend seamlessly, but it’s just as important for sections of the choir to break off sometimes and have their own time in a sectional, separate from the rest of the choir:…

  • Discipline In Singing

    One of the most important aspects of learning music, is the discipline that it requires. Studying music is not like many other pursuits; it  requires continual and dedicated time, patience, and discipline. #1. Little by little: Music, like learning a new language, is best done in small, but consistent portions of time. The repetition required…

  • Growth In Singing

    Since many of us start singing at quite a young age (our Music Makers program starts at 3!) We can experience a lot of growth in our time as singers. This manifests both physically (our voices often don’t mature fully until we’re ~30 years old), but it also manifests in our state of mind. Here…

  • Self-Awareness In Singing

    Singing is different than playing any other instrument. Because a singer’s body is their instrument, singers must make an extra effort, not just to take care of their instrument, but to conceptualize that instrument from the inside out: #1. Self-visualization: Singers are not able to open up their body and view their instrument, to have…

  • Welcome to 2016-2017!

    Welcome to our 2016-2017 Singing Season! We are thrilled to welcome returning and new choristers to another year of wonderful music with the CCC! There are many wonderful events in store this year, including the celebration of our 30th Anniversary! September 16th-18th, 2016 – Choir Camp December 10th, 2016 – Christmas Concert @ St. Giles…

  • 3 Ways In Which Singing Makes Your More Empathetic

    Singing helps to hone many important characteristics. One of those essential traits is empathy. Here are three ways in which singing can make you more empathetic: #1. Listening: Singers need to listen to other singers, and musicians in a very subtle and nuanced manner, in order to perform at their best. This form of acute…

  • The Value of Singing Acapella

    The term acapella refers to singing without any accompaniment by instruments. The word is Italian, and means, ‘of the chapel’. It refers to early sacred music, when instrumentation was not permitted inside the church, and specifically the chapel. Only human voices were permitted, and thus acapella music was created. There are many benefits to singing…

  • 5 Ways In Which Singing Makes You Happier

    #1. Endorphins: Singing releases the same chemicals in your brain that exercise does. These chemicals, called endorphins are responsible for positive feelings. The more one sings, the more our brain is flooded with these chemicals, and the happier we feel! This also serves as positive reinforcement for our behavior, and it is likely why people…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • The Value of Singing With Different Ages

    There are many reasons why it is valuable to sing with others, but it is especially beneficial to sing with others of different ages. Here are three reasons why: #1. Voice types: For many children, being able to sing with the full spectrum of voice types is something they have to wait until they are…

  • Choir Camp 2015 Roundup!

    This past weekend we were very excited to be out in Bragg Creek, on our annual retreat to choir camp! Camp is a great opportunity for our choristers to get to know one another better, to rehearse new music, and learn more about what it means to sing as part of an ensemble! We had…

  • 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…

  • Ottawa Tour 2015 – Day 5!

    Today we started with the doors to the breakfast hall being locked, so after some confusion and some well placed phone calls by Heather Fradette we got our morning meal in lots of time. We then walked through Ottawa to get to the national arts centre and got to see some of the prep work…

  • Ottawa Tour 2015 Day 3!

    Today was a very full day, rehearsing en masse with the mind-bogglingly energetic and musically brilliant Dr Sirett. We were especially 8:30 in the morning when the rehearsal started, or six-thirty back home. We would love to learn his secrets. We were a bit bogged down this morning, too, with our formal uniforms for tonight’s…

  • Ottawa Tour 2015 – Day 2!

    Today was a very eventful day. We went to the Museum Of Canadian History, the mall and had our first mass rehearsal for Unisong! We woke up quite early to grey skies and the smell of rain, making sure we were dressed in the right choir tee shirt for the day (it matched the sky).…

  • Ottawa 2015 Tour – Day 1

    What a day! Starting off bright and early, we met at the Calgary airport at 8:10 am. We took off right before noon. The flight was a little bumpy, but fun all the same! Granola bars and good company got us through the long flight.   Arriving in Ottawa, we saw it was cloudy and…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • The Value Of Not Performing

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