Most of us will be aware of the success of the military wives choir and the work based choirs under the encouragement of Gareth Malone, and one can speculate on the reasons for their success. Here we had a group of ladies, seemingly connected only by the circumstance of their partners’ career choice. When first approached, few of them had ever thought about joining a choir and some didn’t even think they could sing at all – but sing they could and who would have thought they would top the Christmas charts in December 2011?
The village of Baslow is fortunate to have an excellent choir and is now seeking to recruit new members (especially tenors!). The choir holds three concerts per year and perform a very wide range of music – from Handel’s Messiah to Songs from the Shows to Folk Music!
Rehearsals take place from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on a Wednesday evening.
What puts people off joining a choir?
Well we’ve heard all the excuses so let me try to explode a few myths:
“I can’t read music” – well you are not alone – although it may help a little, it is by no means essential. Several people in the choir couldn’t read music when they first joined but this is something that can be picked up along the way.
“I couldn’t bear to attend an audition” – We don’t expect our new members to undergo the ordeal of an audition but you are expected to be able to sing in tune – this is very important so you can blend in with the other voices in the choir.
“I am afraid that my voice is not good enough” – well you won’t know if you don’t try and most people are capable of making a good sound. There are four sections in the choir – soprano, alto, tenor and bass. If you can’t reach the high notes (soprano for the ladies; tenor for the gents) then alto and bass might suit you better.
“I don’t want to join a Church Choir” – Baslow Choir is not a Church Choir. It is true that most of our concerts take place in churches but that is only because they tend to be large enough to accommodate a reasonably sized audience and can usually offer much better acoustics which enhances the sound of choral music, especially when accompanied by an orchestra.
“I don’t have time” – One of the problems of today is that we all lead busy lives and the thought of taking on another commitment is somewhat daunting. Please bear in mind that singing with a choir is actually a very relaxing experience which helps us to forget our problems for a while. Our choir asks for regular attendance on a Wednesday evening for a couple of hours so forget the TV for a while – record your favourite programme and watch it later.
What do I get out of it?
The Challenge: Learning to sing in a choir in a choir can be quite a challenge initially but it is a challenge that is well worth the effort. The joy of learning to harmonise with other like-minded individuals has to be experienced to be appreciated but it really is a very rewarding and pleasurable experience.
The Social benefits: As with any club or society, membership will not only enhance your circle of friends but also your social life. Some of us like to go to the local pub after rehearsals and enjoy the social side of the choir. In the closed season during the summer holidays, some of us continue to meet up on a Wednesday evening (with partners if preferred) and we go for a walk followed by a pub meal.
Education: There is a wealth of choral music to discover and being part of a choir is one way of being introduced to new music under the tuition of an expert choral director.
Health Benefits: It is an established fact that singing is an ideal way to relax and relieve stress. It gives you an opportunity to get away from the pressures of daily life for a couple of hours.
So why not give it a go – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We hold rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from September through to June so please come along to Baslow Village Hall on that – you are sure to enjoy it!
We are a friendly bunch – why don’t you come along to one of our rehearsals held every Wednesday evening at Baslow village hall.
If you want any more encouragement or information, please contact our Membership Secretary, Gill Duckworth by email:
membership.
You can also contact our Chair Dotty Watkins at:
chair or on 01142356265, if you would like an informal chat.
Also, there are three websites which will give you more advice and information:
www.garethmalone.com
www.baslowchoir.co.uk
www.classicfm.co.uk
Go on – give it a try!