Choir Workshop - Saturday 15 February

What a great afternoon, wild and windy, but that was outside. A great turnout of singers old and new as almost 30 people attended our workshop on Saturday 15 February at Palestra, including 14 lovely people who had seen the publicity or been talked into it by friends and colleagues. It was great to see so many people come out on a pretty nasty day!

Some of our guests had been boy sopranos and not sung since their voices had broken, a couple see themselves as dancers rather than singers and others sing in the bath or had sung in Robert’s Christmas group. What was astonishing was how well everyone sung together even after 45 minutes, staying in pitch after singing Abba’s ‘I have a dream’ a capella - not once but twice!

Robert, one of the tenors in the choir,  started the workshop off with some warm-ups and he got us all to do our best Julie Andrews impressions singing ‘Do re mi’ then got stuck into the Abba. 

Merel taught us Schulz Dua which is not (as Gabi thought) in Dutch but a great piece to get us finger snapping, knee slapping or clapping whilst we sang.  We got it going as a four part round and you could see everyone enjoying singing together in their groups.  Merel also got the choir up and walking around, showed us how to breathe properly and sing on the move.  

We finished off with ‘Doing the Lambeth Walk’ in honour of one of our guests who works in Lambeth Walk and who inspired us to do our own version of the Walk whilst we sang.  Some lovely walks and lots of fun and laughter.  And good singing.

All too soon it was time to say goodbye (apart from those who came to the pub).  It was lovely to see our choir friends after almost a two month break and it was great to meet so many new people -  we hope they felt welcome and will come again -  if not for this term, but maybe when the time is right for them.  

There is much scientific evidence that ‘Singing is good for you’ but it didn’t need a scientist to see the fun people were having and how much they enjoyed the afternoon!

​Gabi and Bob