Choir FAQ’s
How do I join a choir?
Sign up for a free 2-week trial at Join the People’s Orchestra | Local Choirs and Orchestras (thepeoplesorchestra.com)
If you are interested in joining The People’s Show Choir, go to the website Join the People’s Orchestra | Local Choirs and Orchestras (thepeoplesorchestra.com) Click the button that says, “2 weeks free” and complete the form.
- Fill in your name, email, and phone number.
- In the first drop down box, select The People’s Show Choir.
- In the second drop down box, select your nearest choir venue
If you aren’t sure which is your nearest choir, click “Find your group” at the top of the page and then select The People’s Show Choir. Then click “Find your local choir here” and decide which is the best location for you. Once you know which choir you want, go back 2 pages, and continue to fill in the form.
- Click sign up now and wait for an email! Once you receive the email saying you are signed up for your free trial, you are good to go!
Can I just turn up to a choir practice?
You will need to have signed up for a free two-week trial to be able to stay at a choir practise.
Ideally, you need to have signed up online before you attend a practice, just so that choir leaders know to expect you and are ready to help when you arrive. However, if you do hear our wonderful singers as you pass by or see a banner or poster and want to look in, please do and someone will be able to guide you to the website to join for your free trial.
Your first choir practice.
I am nervous about coming to choir for the first time, what should I expect?
Expect fun, friendship, and lots of singing!
First sessions of anything can be nerve wracking but don’t worry! When you get to your first practice, your choir leader will be there. Go and introduce yourself, say hi and they will help you work out where the best place for you in the choir will be. Don’t worry if you don’t know where your voice sits, if the section you start in isn’t right for you, you can move. The People’s Show Choir is all about enjoying singing, no matter what your experience or ability so just have fun.
Who should I talk to when I get to choir practice?
The choir leader will be your first port of call, but there will be lots of choir members who will gladly welcome you and steer you in the direction of the choir leader. All our choirs are full of welcoming and friendly people who will help make your time with them fun and memorable.
Can I bring a friend to choir?
Absolutely! The more the merrier. If you have a friend who wants to come along, they will need to sign up for a free two-week trial too, but you will be able to help them with that as you will have already done it. We love it when people spread the word about our choirs so feel free to bring as many friends as you like (if they have signed up for their trial!).
I don’t know anyone – what should I do?
Lots of people come to their first choir practice without knowing anyone and very quickly make lots of new friends. Your choir leader can introduce you to people in your section who will chat to you and explain what is going on. As time goes on you will remember faces and feel much more comfortable talking to lots of different people.
What should I bring to choir?
The most important thing to bring to choir is yourself! Lots of people like to bring a pen, highlighter, or pencil so they can make notes on their music, and a water bottle is always a good idea. Some people like to have a folder to keep their music in while they are singing, some people don’t. Whatever you think will work best for you is what you need to bring.
What if I can’t read music?
You won’t be on your own! Lots of choir members can’t read music and they still have a brilliant time and learn to sing songs with 3-part harmonies. The music is there to help you with the lyrics and to show the general way the tune moves. If the notes are on a higher line, they are a higher pitch and lower down they are a lower pitch (easy right?). Just following the pattern of the notes can help you understand where your voice should be going, even if you don’t know what the actual note sounds like. If you would rather not have the music at all, you will be able to access just the lyrics on the website which might be better for you.
What happens in choir practice?
Each choir has its own way of running a practice session. Some have a break part way through for a cuppa and a natter, some have tea and coffee before the session starts, some don’t do either! There is no set format for a session, and it can differ from week to week, depending on what is happening.
Each choir leader will have their own unique style and will teach the songs in the order they feel works best for them and their choir.
It is important to note that sometimes we have a guest choir leader for a rehearsal or two. They will introduce themselves to the group and may well have a different rehearsal style, but you will still get the same level of professionalism as you get with your regular leader.
Sessions will usually start with a warmup, getting vocal cords loose and ready to sing and breaking the ice for any new members. Once the warmup is completed, choir leaders will begin working on the music for that term. Most choirs will look at a few different pieces in a session, running through different vocal parts and putting them together. Over the course of a term, you will learn to sing all the pieces in full that you have been given. It is always a treat to hear how a piece comes together over time, from the first few attempts with wobbly notes and muddled words, to the final performance where everything sounds amazing.
How do I work out what part I should sing?
Follow the link below to find out how to work out where you voice sits in a choir.
SAB Introduction – TPC Halesowen (youtube.com)
If you have never sung in a choir before then you probably don’t know what vocal part you would sing. As a general rule, if you like to sing the melody and have a higher range you will most likely be a soprano, if you have a lower range and don’t feel like you can hit those high notes you are most likely an alto. If you voice feels like it’s low (think Barry White or there about) then you will be in the baritone section. Once you get to a practice session you will be able to try out the different parts and make a better-informed decision about where you feel most comfortable to sing.
Can kids / children come to choir?
Children from the age of 9 are welcome to join the choir. They can have a two-week free trial and will need parental supervision for each practice session. From the age of 14, children can be dropped off at and collected from practice by an adult but can be unaccompanied during the session.
When you sign a child up for a choir there will be forms that need to be completed, please make sure they are done so the leader knows they are expecting a child to attend.
If you want to join the choir yourself but need childcare to be able to attend, please contact us on [email protected] and we will see if there is anything we can do to help. Different venues and choir leaders will have different restrictions on what they might be able to offer.
I need help – who can I talk to?
We are always happy to help with any enquiries or questions. You can contact us on [email protected] and someone will reply to you.
Whichever choir you are a member of your leader or other members will be able to help in some instances. You can also ask on Spond if you are a member or click the contact us button on the website.
The charity offers other forms of support too, you can text the following numbers for support:
- Text the word WELFARE to 07821 854430 to get help and advice from a benefits advisor.
- Text the word SUPPORT to 07881 279970 to get help and advice from an employment advisor.
- Text the word KINDNESS to 07881 279970 for a natter with our Mental Health First Aider.
How do I tell you what I think about the choir, can I write a review?
- You can tell us what you think about the choir through your leader, they love to hear your comments and will listen to your suggestions.
- You can also use the “Contact us” page on the website to let us know your thoughts.
- Send us an email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you.
- We sometimes send feedback forms out, fill them in and send them back.
- If you want to write a review, you can add it to Google reviews. Just Google The People’s Orchestra and the option to write a review will come up on the right of the search page. Click on write a review and tell everyone how amazing we are.
How do I make a complaint?
We really hope you don’t ever need to make a complaint, but if you do here is the process.
If it is a low level issue that can be dealt with either by yourself or with the support of the choir leader, then that is always the first step. We aim to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
If you still can’t resolve the issue then email [email protected] and we will assist you as much as possible.
If you have a complaint about your ensemble leader or another member of TPO staff, please email Peter Davis at [email protected].
We have complaints procedure that we follow if needed, and all issues will be treated with the upmost care, attention and respect.
