- All We Want For Christmas is YOU!
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Date Posted: Wed, 11 Dec 2024
All we want for christmas is...
YOU!
Well, here we are at the end of another year - and what a year it's been!! We've had a change of Chairperson, a re-shuffle of the committee and a whole lot of new songs to have fun with. We've also won a trophy at Wadebridge Festival of Speech & Music and we've performed in places as varied as school halls, Christmas markets and care homes! We've welcomed some fantastic new singers to our ranks and we've shown our phenomenal team spirit, with members temporarily switching sections when needed, to ensure we always make the best sound possible. We are so proud of our singing family and we can't wait to see what 2025 brings! And that's where YOU come in...
Wadebridge is incredibly fortunate to have all kinds of wonderful music groups on offer. Whether you're looking to play an instrument or sing your heart out, there are a great many options to choose from. We're proud to belong to such a wide-ranging musical community and we do our bit to give back - whether that's through our annual fundraising activities, or by singing in local care homes and hospices. It's really important for us to be a part of our local music scene and to foster fantastic relationships with the groups around us. That's why we're incredibly excited to be sharing the stage with Wadebridge Town Band on Friday 13th at Wadebridge Town Hall (7:30pm) and why one of the absolute highlights of this year's music festival was gathering in the pub with other local choirs afterwards and swapping stories! All of these local music groups are joined by a common love, after all!
We also know that, with the wide range of musical options on offer, we have to be competitive. That's why we keep our membership prices lower than many national singing organisations and why we continue to offer as much as we can in return - for example, we try to provide as much of our performance uniform as possible, rather than making our members buy it themselves, and we offer coaching and educational opportunities to our singers, so they can learn how to get the most out of their voices! We are also entirely member-led. That means that, whilst we do belong to a parent organisation (the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers, or "LABBS"), we are not run by a parent company. Everything - from our music choices and costumes to our performance opportunities and how we perform the songs we sing - is chosen by our MD, committee and our wider membership. We relish the freedom that gives us. We are a team, proud to be doing things our way.
Another thing that marks us as different to some other choirs is our size. There aren't a huge number of us - but that doesn't mean we don't make a big sound! More Harmony are a close-knit group of women who pride ourselves on the warm, friendly atmosphere we foster at rehearsals. We have members who openly admit to being shy away from the stage, but who've found their musical home with us and have absolutely blossomed in confidence as a result! We don't see being a small singing group as a negative - far from it! We see it as a wonderful positive. Every single one of our members is valued, everyone feels like they're contributing towards the wonderful sound we produce and everyone knows one another and has a chance to make friends - you only have to look at how many social evenings we have during the year to see that we don't just love to sing together! We've long said that whilst we'd like to grow the chorus, we want to keep numbers below 30, so we never lose that sense of familiarity amongst everyone - and nobody ever has to do that scary thing of walking through our doors to be confronted by a vast sea of strangers. The welcome you get when you walk into Wadebridge Ambulance Hall has been described by our newest singers as "so incredibly warm" and "like walking into a room full of friends." That's something we're deeply proud of and we never want it to change. Again, we know there are bigger choirs around, where novice singers may well be happy to blend in until they feel a bit more confident. That's fine! However, rest assured that our small size never means you'll stick out like a sore thumb. We sing together.
Another thing we're proud of is the dedication of our members. In a small group, as we mentioned, every voice counts and all of our singers know how important they are to our overall sound. That makes our members feel valued, but it also offers them a challenge! Singing a cappella - without a backing track to hide behind - means that it's vital we've learned our words and we're singing all the right notes (in the right order!). We're firm believers that anyone can do what we do, but you have to throw yourself into it wholeheartedly. Many of our members had no real singing experience before joining us and have become the absolute superstars they are through practise, enthusiasm and the nurturing support of our music team. If you're up for the challenge, we've got the tools to take your singing to the next level!
So, with a new year just around the corner and with lots of goals being set and resolutions made, we're glad to be a part of a community with a whole range of musical options to suit wannabe singers. If you're looking to join a choir in 2025, whether it's just for fun or to really push yourself and find out just what you're capable of, you're not going to have to look too far find the perfect fit! We just hope that you might consider trying us on for size...
If what you're searching for is a warm, friendly group where your voice can make a big difference - and where you'll be able to challenge yourself to hit musical heights you never imaged - why not fill your 2025 with More Harmony?!
More Harmony return to rehearsals on Thursday January 2nd 2025 with a "soft reopening" and an evening of brushing up on the basics and finding where our voices fit best - ideal for new singers! From Thursday January 9th we'll start working on our brand new repertoire. To join us, simply turn up on the night, or email us for more info.
- How To Get The Most Out Of Our Upcoming Harmony Masterclass!
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Date Posted: Mon, 26 Aug 2024
how to get the most out of our harmony masterclass!
If you're a woman aged 16+ and you love to sing, you might have already been tempted by our upcoming Harmony Masterclass course! If this is the first you're hearing about it, then grab a pencil and get ready to mark the date in your diary...
From Thursday 29th August, More Harmony will be holding a four-week course (held on consecutive Thursday nights, 7:15pm-9:30pm), teaching you all you need to know about singing in harmony! From posture to performance, we've got everything covered. You'll learn where your voice fits within our chorus - are you a bass, baritone, lead or tenor? - and we'll teach you to sing two songs with us, one up-tune and one ballad. It promises to be a a lot of fun and with all of the proven health and wellbeing benefits associated with singing, there are a hundred different reasons why you should definitely come along and join in!
Of course, whilst we can promise a warm welcome, a cuppa during the break and all of the learning materials you'll need, you might be wondering what you can do to ensure you get the absolute most out of the course. Well, we've got some handy tips...1. come prepared!
You might not realise it, but singing is something of a workout - albeit one that is very accessible to all of us, without having to be a gym bunny! You'll want to bring a bottle of water with you, as it can be thirsty work. Consider eating at least an hour beforehand, so there's not a heavy meal sitting in your stomach when you arrive - you don't want to feel uncomfortable! Speaking of which, wear something you feel happy to move in and which lets you breathe easily, plus a comfy pair of shoes.
More Harmony are a sociable bunch! We're often found getting together for meals out, drinks or additional practises in between rehearsals and we believe that our closeness is a big part of what makes our chorus special.
2. take time to get to know people if you can
So, if you're able to arrive closer to 7pm rather than the course start time of 7:15pm, why not spent a bit of that extra time getting to know your fellow singers? It'll help you feel at ease and you may well find yourself making some long-lasting friendships. We're a very small chorus, so you won't be intimidated by dozens of names to learn, or a huge array of new faces. We're small enough that every section knows one another, which we think is a very good thing. And of course, on that first night, you won't necessarily know in advance which section you'll end up in, so it never hurts to say hello to everyone - you never know whether the person you nattered about dog-walking with might end up being your section leader!
Don't worry if you're a little on the shy side - we have all kinds of fabulous women singing with us and one of us is bound to say hello if you don't feel able to take that first step.
3. never be afraid to ask for help!
When you enter a brand new environment, full of people you don't know, it's easy to get a bit overwhelmed. Particularly if you're trying to learn a new skill, too! Each and every one of us was once a "newbie" - whether we came to More Harmony with lots of singing experience, or had never sung a note before, we all had to start our musical journey somewhere. Make the most of the friendly, helpful people you have around you within the chorus and if something doesn't make sense, ask for clarification. If you have a question, never be afraid to ask - if the person next to you doesn't know the answer, we can assure you someone is bound to! Our chorus thrives on being a supportive, encouraging place, so never feel like you can't ask for extra help if you need it.
4. practise, practise, practise!
We know you're a busy woman - we all are! But the bottom line is, you'll get more out of singing with us, whether on a course or as a full member, if you put in the effort to practise between rehearsals. We'll give you all the support you need, plus any advice and guidance you might find useful, but the best way to ensure you can participate fully and really reap the benefits of singing is by taking the time to learn your part. Some of our members like to get together in sections to practise between rehearsals, others have teach tracks playing during their commute to and from work and some take 20 minutes or so before bed to really focus on listening to the notes and the lyrics. Whatever method suits you best, we guarantee you'll enjoy yourself all the more on Thursday nights if you've done your "homework!"5. don't forget to enjoy yourself!
We know that singing is quite a personal thing and that doing it in a room full of strangers can be nerve-wracking, at first (you'll never be asked to sing solo in front of everyone - don't worry!). Add performance skills and silly warm-up games into the mix and we can understand why some people might feel a little self-conscious when they first join in. However, we're proud of the inclusive, warm environment we've created at More Harmony and we always aim to make it a fun, safe space for all women to explore their voices and discover their inner divas! So, throw caution to the wind and let Thursday nights be your time to shine.
Don't stress if you're not note or word perfect right away - that's what practising at home is for! All we ask is that you bring your enthusiasm - the polish can be added as we go along and with a bit of teamwork, we'll have you sparkling by the end of the course!
Our Harmony Masterclass course begins on Thursday 29th August, 7:15pm at Wadebridge Ambulance Hall. Parking can be found in the library or Co-op car parks and the Ambulance Hall itself is situated at the end of Fairpark Road (down the side of The Regal Cinema). The cost of the course is £10 and we will supply all of your learning materials. You can simply turn up on the night, or if you'd like to book a place in advance, you can email us and we'll be happy to save you a space!
- More Harmony Are Set For Summer!
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Date Posted: Tue, 23 Jul 2024
more harmony are set for summer!
Well, here we are, almost ready for our Summer break! 🌞
Last month, we talked about it being the perfect time to jump on board and give singing with us a try. We've been delighted to welcome some new singers to our ranks since then, including in our bass section! In a barbershop chorus, the bass section should be the largest within the group, so we're still keen to grow this section even further - if you can hit those rich, lower notes, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line and we'll send you all the details you need.
At the opposite end of the scale, we recently celebrated our newest member Jan, who has passed her audition and is now a fully-fledged member of the tenor section (our equivalent to soprano!). If you' ve read this far and you're thinking "audition?!" with a rising sensation of panic, please don't worry. Our audition process is as painless as we can possibly make it. It's less a case of deciding whether someone is "good enough" (we fully believe anyone can sing, with the right support) and more about ensuring they're in the right section for their voice. You'll never be made to sing solo and you won't have to take your audition until you feel you're ready. You can find out more about our audition process on our website, but we promise, it's nothing to dread!
Jan isn't the only member we've been celebrating, however!
At the start of this month, we held a "Town Hall" style committee meeting, opening up the meeting to the whole of chorus, for our members to have as much input as they'd like. Due to the comings and goings of any group, we've had a few vacancies on our chorus committee recently and we're delighted to say that most of these are now filled!
After four and a half years in the hot seat, our Assistant Musical Director, Emma, has stepped down as chorus Chairperson, allowing her to focus on her other roles (not only is Emma AMD, but she is our Public Relations Officer and lead section leader, so her hands were rather full!). The position of Chairperson is now held by the lovely Sue T, who also sings lead and has been chorus Secretary for the last couple of years. Sue is hugely committed to making chorus the best we can be and her level-headedness, combined with her warmth and compassion will make her an excellent Captain of our musical ship!
Taking over from Sue T as chorus Secretary is Jean from our bass section - someone whose communication skills and experience make her perfect for the job! Lead section member Tess has joined the committee in the role of Fundraising Officer and we know that her boundless enthusiasm and positivity will help us to achieve our goals. Current Membership Secretary Alison has also added the role of Membership Representitive to her name, meaning our singers have a designated person to go to with questions, concerns or suggestions - it's important to us that everyone gets to be heard, so it's a vital role and we're thankful to Alison for taking it on. In fact, we're exceptionally grateful to all of our members who volunteer on the committee - it really does keep chorus running, so thank you to everyone.
The committee hasn't been the only aspect of chorus life that has seen change, this month - so has our repertoire!
With a very small bass section, the music team made the decision to add in some three-part harmony songs alongside our usual four-part repertoire. We've been working on a swing version of Mad World, even spending time in groups, trying to decipher what the lyrics actually mean! As you can see from the picture, it was quite the head-scratcher... After our two-week Summer break, we'll begin working on Buddy Holly's Everyday, which we're all really looking forward to.
With our committee members all sorted and our new repertoire ready to go, all of us at More Harmony are feeling like we're on track for a well-earned Summer holiday and a triumphant return to rehearsals on August 15th! As we said last month, it's a really great time to jump on board, so if you're a woman aged over 16 and you love to sing, why not come along?! You're guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome and you'll be joining us right at the start of a brand new song, so you won't be the only one learning it from scratch! If you'd like to find out more before you take the plunge, there's lots of information on our website, or you can email us for more info.
We hope you all have a wonderful Summer and we hope to see lots of you when we return to rehearsals at Wadebridge Ambulance Hall on Thursday August 15th!
