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The Great Choir Debate


Question 6 - Can anybody sing in a choir?
Mike Brewer

Mike Brewer: "Yes!"


Hayley Westenra

Hayley Westenra: "Yeah I guess so! There are some choirs you have to audition for... I sang in all my school choirs – although maybe I was a bit loud for them! It's never too late to take up singing."


Jonathan Ansell

Jonathan Ansell: "I think anybody can sing in a choir... but I don't think 'anybody' can sing in a choir and win this competition! Everybody should try it, even if you're not very good you should give it a go... My parents recently joined a choir and will openly admit they're not the best singers in the world, but they have a fantastic time, meet people and enjoy it - and that's what music and choir singing is about."


Dominic Tighe

Dominic Tighe: "Everybody's got a singing voice, it's just a question of finding it."


Zoe Salmon

Zoe Salmon: "I do think you need to be able to sing to be in a choir. I'm sure there are some people that have stronger vocals than others, however I basically think that you do need to be in tune at some point!"


Sharon D. Clarke

Sharon D. Clarke: "Anybody and everybody! But you've got to work at it. It's not enough to say I'm here and I'm singing. You've got to be listening, you've got to be trying to grow... challenging yourself. You've got to be stretching yourself and trying to find the songs that show you off and make me feel like you've tried to up your game a bit!"


John Partridge

John Partridge: "The great thing about a choir is that they are great at building confidence. The fact that you're all singing together, it doesn't really matter if you're not the best singer in the world, as a great choir is about blend."


Your Comments

Rachael Edwards, Coventry 2008-08-20

Yes! Just give it a go.

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Ella, London 2008-08-19

I agree completely! If u cant sing then theres noway that u will get a solo part but if u have a good singer then they'll probably sing solo at every performance which will be unfair on the rest of the chior so u do kinda need to be able to sing!!!

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Izzy, Surrey 2008-08-13

Prospective members of our barbershop chorus need to pass an audition to ensure they can sing in tune before becoming full members. We aim for good quality singing and teach performance and vocal skills so that we can produce a good blend and unity of sound within our chorus.

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Anonymous 2008-07-16

I've worked with all sorts of choirs from beginners to professional. The question is can anybody sing in a choir? The answer : yes. Can anybody sing in any choir? The answer: no. A choir which sings atonal music (intentionally atonal, lol), would only be suited to a professionally trained musician, or a non-professional with a magnificent ear. Gospel and Jazz have lots of complex rhythms and harmonies, which only a competent musical ear could manage. But there is such a wide range of music out there, there's something for everyone. Can anyone play football? Yes. Does that mean they are all good enough to play for Man Utd or the England Team?

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Carol ( Ex Cantamus Girls Choir Mum), Mansfield, Notts. 2008-07-15

Everyone in the gospel choirs seems to be able to sing and they sound so lovely.
I think you need to sing in tune, be able to keep up with the music and not look uncomfortable.

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Cat, Sheffield 2008-07-07

I think anybody should have a go. The best way to get better at singing is to do it and singing with others who support you can help you improve really fast. Just make sure you choose your choir carefully, if you're not very confident don't join a close harmony chamber choir :-)

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Sapphire, Penzance 2008-07-05

I don't believe everybody can sing. If in a choir their is 1 or more people who can't sing then anyone with a good ear for music is going to pick that up.

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Ellie Napier, Fort WIlliam 2008-07-05

I think the most important thing about singing in a choir is not necessarily your singing ability but your ability to be a team player and to listen to your team mates. Many good choirs are spoiled by Divas wanting to be soloists. There's nothing more beautiful than the sound from a group of people obviously linked by the music, they sound like anything from a breeze sighing through a field of grass to waves crshing on the rocks. . . . wonderful

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Sue, East Devon 2008-07-05

Yes, of course anyone can sing in a choir. It's all about confidence, if you have an inspiring leader who teaches you how to sing in a fun way, you will sing and gain in confidence. That perhaps new found confidence can overspill into your personal life and really help, so bring it on.

I've always sung in a various choirs, but my current one is by far the best fun. We started in Jan 08 as a 12 week community project in a rural area. 100 turned up between ages 7-80, many who had never sung in choirs before, many couldn't read music. Our conducter is fantastic, brings the best out of us. We started off with perhaps 3-4 part harmony in places on some songs, now we can sing 5-6 part harmony confidently, I would never have thought it possible in 6 months. We have such fun and don't take our selves too seriously but somehow this amazing sound comes out. Watch out for us next year if it's on, we may well apply as from what I've seen of the videos we are good enough.

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Anonymous 2008-07-04

Yes, I sing in a choir for people who don't have the confidence or abiltity to sing in other choirs. If we make mistakes its ok because we sing for fun, and over time we are getting better and better!

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