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Mad as a March Hare.

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Hello & welcome to our March Blog, Mad as a March Hare.

It’s been a crazy start to March for much of the country hasn’t it?  The Beast from the East certainly stopped us all in our tracks last week. In my neck of the woods, the snow has thawed, the birds are singing, sun feels warm on my face and the daffodils in my window box brighten my mood every morning.  It’s a shock and upsetting to understand that so many parts of the country are struggling with running water. I can’t imagine not being able to take a shower for 5 days! And as for the sporty teenagers in my house -ppppphhhhooooffffff…doesn’t bear thinking about.

March is a wonderful month isn’t it? Winter is coming to an end, the mornings are getting lighter, friends seem happier and I find myself with a Spring in my step, ready to face a whole new season and what that might offer. I LOVE people – meeting new folk, reminiscing with old acquaintances, talking to strangers or collaborating with like minded musicians is so important to me. Human beings are social creatures and we need to spend time together; To learn from one another; to actively listen; to co-operate; to inspire; to create harmony. Real time in the presence of another person, in touching distance almost……not just via a screen. 

As a choir leader I am constantly looking for harmony and hugely aware of discord. Yesterday I looked up the word “Harmony” in the dictionary. HARMONY ; peaceful agreement and co-operation; to fit in or go well with one another; combination of notes to make a pleasing sound.  My role as choir director is something I take rather responsibly.  I’m hugely aware of the many personalities in the room at rehearsal each week. Some singers are very confident, their voices are loud and they support others. Some choir members are very active on Facebook or via email and I am invariably involved in some great “conversations” outside of the rehearsal room, I may never get an opportunity to chat to them otherwise. Other choir members simply sign up, show up, sing and go home again. So many different needs in one room for two hours a week trying to create harmony. Human beings all with one shared common goal – to create a harmonious sound and interpret the vision that their director has, often through unspoken gestures. So, how on earth do we do that as choir leaders and singers? The quality which I feel is paramount to the success of a choir is trust.  Again, I have turned to my dictionary to share the meaning of TRUST ; confidence in the truth, reliability or a person or thing; obligation arising from responsibility; believe in or rely on; expect or hope.  Our voices can sometimes be unreliable and human beings can certainly be irresponsible at times.  We must be MAD to even begin to think that we can learn 5 songs in 4 part harmony off by heart  in 10 weeks!! But, that’s what we do. EVERY time, trust me.

Working with other musicians has been a theme for me over the past year.  Our most recent visiting musician was Kevin Fox from the Swingles singers.  He remarked at how well the choir worked together and how well they responded to me as their choir director. It takes a great deal of trust to invite a stranger into a room and ask them to lead a group of 65 singers, all with their own wants, needs and personalities.  I am so proud to share that over the past 10 years I have invited many guest leaders into the rehearsal room and ALL have remarked on just how welcoming everybody is. It is my job to create a safe and welcoming space where every voice matters. Where visiting musicians, regardless of fame or fortune can work effectively with open minded, trusting people. Working with Kevin Fox has been a big highlight for me. It took almost a year of quietly planning before letting him loose on the choir members. Preparation and planning can be very time consuming for me. Time which I’d sometimes rather spend making music and yet its worth every moment spent deliberating, procrastinating and waiting.  “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” springs to mind. I may be considered slightly ‘mad’ for planning so far in advance but by doing so it means I can be creative, spontaneous and react appropriately when things take us by surprise – which happens quite often in a choir rehearsal or a performance.

Another moment of great teamwork amongst like minded musicians was working alongside a fabulous team at the Royal Borough of Kingston Big Sing.  Four experienced vocal leaders + 130 singers = a an afternoon of harmony, creativity and trust.  Did this happen by chance? Of course not….it took many months of planning and communicating by email in advance. Did the leaders rehearse for days before hand? Not at all! The trust we have in one another allows us to have individually practised and bring our own unique personalities and vocal skills together on the day for the good of the group.  The singers at the event responded so well. They trusted us and we trusted them. Together we created harmony.  

So working as a choir leader can be an isolating place unless I put my trust in others and they put theirs in me. Trust in the singers that the song will come together. Trust that some choir members do their homework on week one, whilst others leave it until much later. Trust that the chatty choir member who emails and shares more personal stories with me can feel assured that despite being a chatterbox I’m not a gossip.  Trust that the choir members are invested in the same harmonious outcome, however long that may take.  Being in front of a choir or being behind them and supporting them whilst lovingly trusting a guest leader is something I am very proud of. We are all forever learning from, and inspiring one other. Long may music be the vehicle to allow us to show the most trusting, harmonious human beings we can be. My commitment to developing my own skills to be the best singer and choir leader will take my lifetime, of that I am sure.

Until our next blog – trust your instincts, trust you can do it (if you want to), and trust that it will all be OK. Is that Madness? Not from where I’m standing (at the front of the choir).

With love 

Mary xxx

Sing to be Free

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Hello, and welcome to our February Blog, written by one of our much loved and long standing choir members, Anne.

It’s always wonderful to hear just how much being part of the choir means to our singers. 

Sing to be free, By Anne Bren ~ Choir member, Prima Voce Choir (Tuesday evening).

Recently [today in fact] I was asked to explain why I joined a choir, and what it meant to me… on video… It proved quite tricky to sum this up in a few pithy and coherent phrases, so I decided to give it a further bash on the keyboard.

Taxing

In 2011 I emerged from an intense two years spent combining a full-time job with part-time study for a Master’s degree, with an unaccustomed amount of free time on my hands. Having tested to the limits the adage that however busy you think you are, you can always make time for something you really want to do, I was keen not to lose that special extra dimension… but I wanted to do something that was perhaps a bit less taxing, unrelated to work, and could simply be enjoyed for its own sake.

Cool

I’d always enjoyed being in the choir at school. I went to a C of E primary, where hymn singing was a daily part of the routine, and I still remember, and love (despite being an ungodly soul) all that traditional church music. But being in a school choir in the 70s, in a secondary modern in the Midlands, just wasn’t cool. Leaving the choir didn’t make me cool, but it was one less thing to be tormented about. Decades on, and with the rise of Gareth Malone and the emergence of Rock Choirs, and looking into what was available at adult ed, I discovered that a local woman, whose house I’d walked past on the school run every day for years, ran a community choir that met weekly at that very same school I’d delivered my daughter to since the late 90s.

Mary: with no auditions, no requirement to read music, and a strongly held belief that [almost] everyone can sing with the ‘singing it back’ method. Reader, I joined the choir.

Warmth

Immediately, I found warmth, fun, laughter, encouragement, challenge – and music! The choir is a community, and over the years I have met some lovely people, and made some wonderful friends. Whilst I would say we don’t take it too seriously (perhaps not as seriously as Mary would like, at times!) I think most of us want to make a good sound, do well, and feel a sense of achievement

Several years on, with increasing demands from my work role, and a natural tendency towards hibernation in the darker months, it can be hard to motivate myself to leave the house on a cold winter evening. But I’m always glad that I’ve made the effort. Choir practice requires concentration, participation, exertion. This means that we quickly feel free of the stresses and strains of the day – there’s no time to dwell on them.

Many of the choir members have gone through, or are going through, difficult times – ill-health of themselves, or a loved one; bereavement; stress and transition. I don’t think Mary set up the choir as a therapeutic group, but it clearly serves that function.

Uplifting

The choir is truly more than the sum of its parts (either individuals, or sopranos, altos, tenors and basses). The sound we make together is surprising, uplifting, occasionally hilarious, but can at times feel transcendent! Singing together genuinely makes people feel part of something special, connected with each other – and happy. The buzz when we make a harmonious sound is palpable – and that buzz lasts beyond the practice. I really believe all that stuff about community singing contributing to community cohesion

In case this all sounds a bit too worthy, or preachy, or simply too good to be true, practice sessions include plenty of banter, a good deal of irreverence, and a certain amount of healthy rivalry between sections. There is a very noisy tea break, with cake if it’s someone’s birthday. The choir is not made up of a huge number of folk who really wanted to do X Factor, and are disappointed at finding themselves in a suburban school hall on a Tuesday evening. Most people actually don’t want to be the centre of attention. Male voices are in short supply, so men are warmly welcomed, but not feted and must prove their worth.

Mary has become a more demanding choir leader. She won’t allow us to rest on our laurels, but will push us to work harder, do more, take ourselves out of our comfort zones. She has made the choir a real part of the community, with our participation in concerts at the Rose Theatre, local churches and the streets of Kingston. I think most choir members are in it for the participation, the camaraderie, the huge sense of wellbeing we get from making music – but the performances certainly galvanise us in a desire to do ourselves, and our lovely leader, proud.

As Mary gives us the opportunity to take our experiences, and our message about the unifying and joyful benefits of community singing to a wider audience, I would like to thank her, our mischievous and hugely gifted pianist Greg, and (all too) occasional, brilliantly talented soloist, Patsy – and all my lovely fellow choir members (especially the Lady Tenors!) for truly enhancing my life.

Anne Bren

29th October 2017

 

 

Hope.

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It’s mid December and I’m gearing up to performance number four of five…..that means it can’t be long until the end of the Autumn term and indeed the end of another year. I love working with my choirs and often feel sad as one term comes to an end.  The break and time away are a great tonic though and I’m already excited about the new songs I’ll be teaching in 2018. 

I love December, it’s a chance to reflect and also a time of great anticipation and hope.  It’s been a really busy year for me and one which I am especially proud of.

My “Do you hear My voice” campaign for AnxietyUK and Action for Happiness has taken up a lot of my time this year and I’m hopeful that this is just the start of something new which grows and develops in 2018. If you have hope you have everything don’t you? 

I hope you enjoy the short film below. I have been truly touched by the interviews you will see and hear as part of my fundraising and awareness campaign. The kind words and candid thoughts shared by three of my choir members has reminded me of why I started leading choirs ten years ago and why I continue to love every aspect of my work as a choir leader. 

So, in the words of Mariah Carey “I don’t want a lot for Christmas”, but if I did have one wish to make, it would be for a happier & healthier world.  Perhaps my composition can help others to find their voice too? Perhaps my song will be an anthem of hope for 2018? Perhaps….I can only hope and wait and see.

With love until my final blog for 2017

Mary Bourne 

Founder, Singing it back.

 

November Flurries.

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The forecast for late November : Flurries of activity, Flurries of kindness and Flurries of snow.  It’s been a really wonderful past few weeks and I’m hopeful you may even get a flurry of excitement yourself when you read all about what’s been happening and how your unique and wonderful voice can be involved in part of something musically memorable.

November 13th 2017 was World Kindness Day and one which my choirs were very excited about. It was the launch day of our 365 day “Do you hear my voice?” campaign.

It’s been 10 years since I started leading choirs and that’s a cause for celebration, but how to mark the occasion?  

 

 

On 29th Oct 2017, 76 Singing it back choir members and 24 wind players from Woking Wind band met for the first time at the Visconti recording studio at Kingston University.  I’d been planning the project for the past 6 months and finally the day had arrived to capture a song written by yours truly.  

 

 

The choir, the band, the sound engineer and I had never worked together before.  Many of the choir members had never been into a recording studio before.  It was an incredible experience working with the sound engineers, the band and the choir. Everyone was patient, enthusiastic, willing, kind and excited.  

Together we captured an original composition written by me called “Do you hear my voice?.  It was a very special and rather emotional moment hearing the opening bars being performed live by the wind orchestra. I felt as though my heart was going to burst with pride. The experienced team of sound engineers at the studio worked patiently to get the balance right between the choir and the band.  The choir members were intrigued and patient every step of the way. Many have remarked that it was a day that they will never forget.

We need you too…………

There are over 40,000 choirs across the UK and my dream is to reach as many choirs as I am able and to encourage them to learn my song. It’s a really easy piece of music and there are two different arrangements available determined by your choirs needs and abilities.  I am hopeful that the lyrics resonate with many “We will sing to be heard, we will sing to be free. Let our voices unite as one voice, you and me”.

Anybody who sings in a choir often remarks on how happy it makes them. How it has increased their confidence or how being part of a choir has supported them through times of change, loss or illness.  My composition “Do you hear my voice?” is available to anybody who would like to join me in my campaign for a happier, healthier world. I’m supporting two charities who will receive any voluntary donations given in exchange for the score. The two charities I have chosen are Action for Happiness and Anxiety UK.  You can read all about the campaign at the link below where you can watch the film, hear the song, read my own personal story, download the score and make a voluntary donation.

Flurries of excitement alongside flurries of funds raised so far and flurries of  snow forecast leaves me feeling warm and cosy inside. I hope you enjoy hearing my joyous, uplifting song and that you’ll consider adding your own act of kindness by getting involved as a choir, school or individual.

Thank you to the wonderful choir members, their friends, families and supporters. To Woking Wind orchestra for your trust, enthusiasm and wonderful accompaniment.

Here’s to all our voices and our own personal reasons for being part of one of the many choirs across the world. Together we can make a difference so “Raise your voice the time is here”. You can get involved on social media by using the hashtag #DoYouHearMyVoice. 40,000 choirs all singing from the same page? Now that’s something to celebrate.

With very best wishes until December

Mary Bourne

Composer : Do You Hear My Voice?

Founder & Choir leader : Singing it back.

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/doyouhearmyvoice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=cStDoj6Hgns

 

 

 

“Do you hear my voice?”

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Hello and welcome to the first of our November Blogs “Do you hear my voice?”.

There will be a second blog post in November as there is just so much to tell you about! For now, grab a cuppa or settle yourself down somewhere quiet for a few minutes. Easier said that done right? Busy old lives that we lead………

I’ve missed putting pen to paper since my last blog before the Summer holidays, but I’ve finally had an opportunity to sit down and share a few thoughts. It’s been an incredibly busy Autumn both professionally and personally. There’s been all sorts of new projects to plan, as well as new, exciting and daunting phases in my family life. I’m very excited to be here now though and to sharing all sorts of news with you over the next few days, weeks and months.

As a choir leader, I am constantly aware of the many different voices I work with on a weekly basis.  I now have the luxury of working with over 250 voices per week which feels like quite a responsibility.  Everybody’s voice is different, but they all have one thing in common ; the desire to feel heard, to feel understood and to be responded to appropriately.  In our fast paced world, it sometimes feels as though the human voice is the least effective way of communicating, and yet, our body language, our tone of voice and the ability to say what we mean, and mean what we say, appear to sometimes get lost in translation.  

It seems at times, that all around us there are moments when those with the loudest voices are the only ones being heard.  We all have a voice, it’s how and when we choose to vocalise and verbalise our thoughts,and how to use our voices effectively which can make the difference in feeling misunderstood, or empowered and valued. Every day the news is full of stories of how voices are not being heard. It really is time to change, to feel heard, to feel understood and valued by everyone around us, regardless of our age, race, gender or ethnicity.

Later this month, I am very proud to be presenting a TEDx talk called “do you hear my voice?”  It’s my opportunity to share some thoughts to a wider audience, albeit it for just 16 minutes. So much to talk about in such a short amount of time. I’ve been practising and preparing my talk for almost 51 years and I feel hugely honoured to have been invited as one of the speakers. I look forward to seeing you in the audience if you are planning on attending.

There’ll be more exciting news for November as I launch the “do you hear my voice?” worldwide campaign. This will be your chance to get involved, make a difference, raise your voice and raise awareness for two beloved charities, both which have helped me understand how to value, respect and use my own voice to create a happier, healthier more respectful world. 

Until then, thank you for reading

I can hardly wait to share my next blog with you

best wishes

Mary 

Singing it back founder and Choir leader.

 

 

 

Let’s sing a new tune for June.

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Hello, and welcome to our June Blog.

It’s been a difficult few weeks hasn’t it? Each day I wake up and almost dread turning on the news for fear of hearing another tragic story.  It can feel like a lonely, scary world at the moment can’t it?

The Manchester tragedy was a hard hitting blow to me as a musician.  Live music and concerts are a place of celebration. A place where everyday people come together and share something magical and memorable.  I can recall my very first concert back in the 1980s. I was scared, I was inspired, I was shocked, I was elated, I sang, I danced, I laughed, I stayed up late with my big sister and I came home to my safe warm bed and I have those memories captured forever.  Sadly, for many young people, what should have been a joyous occasion turned into a nightmare at the Ariana Grande concert. How amazing then, that she would return to sing at the same arena at the tribute concert. Music defying the face of fear.

Just a short time later, I woke up to the tragic news of the Borough Market attack. I was away on a teachers vocal retreat and felt very far away from my family and loved ones when receiving the news.  I felt isolated and scared. I wanted to be with my children and to get home quickly. My journey would involve travelling through Paddington station later than day which made me feel anxious. Whilst I couldn’t be with my loved ones for another few hours, I found great comfort in being with fellow musicians. Strangers at the beginning of our 3 day vocal retreat, our passion for the voice and music had allowed for an intimacy and inexplicable camaraderie. We helped one another through a difficult day.  Music allowing for shared emotion.

Waking up to the vision of the Grenfell Tower on fire was a shock. Lives so utterly destroyed in just a few hours. Loved ones separated, home vanished. I could hardly bear to tell my children that there was more bad news.  Once again, the power of music to heal and bring communities together has revealed itself.  The beautiful song “bridge over troubled water” is sung by members of the Grenfell community, led by Gareth Malone. The Grenfell Tower Charity Single. Music allows us grieve without the need for words.  Watching the accompanying film to the song, brings a stark reminder of how communities can come together. Music bringing healing to a community torn apart.

My work this week at the choirs I lead has given me great hope during a difficult time.  At my adult evening choir 60 people sang together and had the opportunity to share some extraordinary insights on an extraordinarily hot night. The newly formed 60 strong children’s choir I lead had a moment like no other today. One of the teachers told me that she had overheard some boys saying “yesssss – it’s Thursday”. It fills me with such pride to understand that I am respected and valued in my community and that I can bring joy, happiness, and a sense of belonging to so many.  There’s not many jobs where you can work with 8 – 80 year olds and feel understood, connected and authentic.  A place where strangers have a common goal, a place where children feel safe and adults feel heard, valued and brave. Music bringing a common goal across the generations.

So, rather than reflect on June as a bleak and sad month, let’s sing a new tune for June. A tune of joy, of understanding, of kindness, of compassion, of community, of music across the generations.  Music has the power to heal, to share, to unite. 

Thank you for reading my June blog. 

Written with love for a happier, kinder more respectful world.

Mary xxx

 

May is the month of “Maybe & May I”

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Hello, and welcome to my May Blog.  Possibly one of my favourite months of the year for all sorts of reasons. We celebrate a much loved family member’s birthday in May, the weather is perking up, the trees are as Green as green can be and the Rose which I planted outside my house 22 years ago, once again, reminds me that there is nothing quite as perfect as Mother Nature.

I also love May because the word itself is so VERY underestimated. “May-be” is a great example. Maybe, is neither “Yes” nor “No”. It allows us a bit of time before making up our mind, and time these days is a precious commodity. I often think I have to come up with the correct answer in the form of Yes or No, when in fact, “Maybe” is the answer I’m looking for.  

Another great way in which we can think about May is in “May I help you”? Often asked in the form of “Can I help you”? to which I suppose I would reply, “Yes, you can, but will you”? “MAY I help you” on the other hand, is so much more genuine, with so much more intent.  I spend a lot of my time wanting to help others, it’s in my nature. I’m currently reading ‘The Mind of a survivor” by Megan Hine and the idea that being empathetic is crucial to our survival really resonates with me.  Can empathy be taught? Is it a learned behaviour or something others have in abundance? We all have times in our lives when we feel another person’s pain and other times when our own lives are going through so many changes, and so much turmoil, that we must put our own needs first.  “Fitting you own oxygen mask before helping others” really is crucial to survival.

Every day, I do my best to meet my own needs FIRST! If that means getting up 20mins early, then that’s what I try to do. The time I give to myself puts me in a better position to genuinely ask ‘May I help you?” as many times a day as I can. When I meet my own needs, I find that I can give more freely and readily to others. I can notice more of what is going on around me, and truly see what I might do to help. Helping others is helping to create a happier place to live, work and raise my family. If I open my eyes, ears and heart to what is going on around me, I can do my best to make a difference. Today, was a prime example of how “May I help you?” possibly saved a life, or certainly made a difference in somebody’s life today. Let’s make that two people, then three, then four and MAYne even more who read my story below.

This morning, on this fine May Day, I left my house, ready to jump in my car when I noticed an elderly man with his arms around a tree trunk at the end of my road.  I noticed that he had a stick and that his legs appeared to be very weak. My car (actually, it’s a van) is often full of kayaking gear or camping chairs which I use to sit to watch my son play football at weekends. I quickly ascertained that this gentleman needed to rest his legs or he was likely to collapse. I grabbed my camping chair from the boot of my car, and slowly helped the man sit down to rest a while. During this brief interlude we chatted about where he lived and how he had sadly fallen earlier in the year, leaving him unable to walk far.  “May I take you back to your home”? I asked. He replied that it would be so very kind of a stranger to do that for him. I replied that it was just one human being helping another one.  The man was quite weak, and I knew I needed help in getting him from the chair to the seat in my car. With the help of a young nearby carpet fitter, together we slowly helped the gentleman into my car and drove him less than 1min around the corner. Could he have walked this far? Possibly, but probably not. When we arrived at his home, we navigated at least 20 steps to a first floor flat and by this time, the gentleman was exhausted, but grateful to be home. Three strangers from different generations all helping one another. The kindness of strangers indeed.

Today’s episode reminded me of so many things. To notice what’s going on around me. To ask ‘May I help you?” To ask for help when the job can’t be done single handedly. To understand that when the job looks like it might be finished, that it barely ever is. I’ll probably go and knock on the gentleman’s door later today to see if he has eaten, or if he needs anything. Life offers us many opportunities to build community, to build trust and to work together. “May I help you?” Maybe I can. 

Thanks for reading my blog

See you again in June

With love

Mary x

 

 

It’s Spring at last; April Showers & time to fly.

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It’s Spring at last and despite the many sad and unsettling events of the past few weeks, it’s been a time where I have noticed the extra kindness that is all around me.  Rather than dwell on some of the sad times or rant about the decisions being made about the future, I have tried hard to concentrate on the here and now. Work on the things that I can change and put energy into those around me where I can truly make a difference. My friends, my family, my community. Does that make me irresponsible or childish? I don’t think so, but others would perhaps suggest otherwise. If I can do my bit to make the world and people around me a feel a bit brighter and happier, even for just a few hours, then that feels like the best way forward. Of course I feel sad and scared at times and have stood by and witnessed some terribly shocking and unbearable moments of pain and torment recently. Some of the events that have occurred have been a terrible shock to those closest to me. All I can do is offer them my love and support. That’s all that’s wanted sometimes. No solution, just time to heal and to feel heard.

I may not be a Saint (despite the photo) and my halo is certainly worn at a jaunty angle and I’ve a devil of a temper (especially when hungry.) But I’m fit, I’m well, I’m loved, I’m lucky enough to be working in an area I love with my choirs. I’ve had some pretty bleak times in my life in the past, but have managed to Spring back, despite it feeling impossible at times. Darkness turns to light, Winter turns to Spring, the sun rises every day and there IS always something to be grateful for and somebody who cares. A very wise Mother once said to me ‘if you have your health you have EVERYTHING’. How true! But how sad that hers was taken away too early. My Mum died at the end of a rotten Winter in 2007 and left behind a huge loss in her community and huge void in my own life. Many of my choir members know that the choirs were set up in her memory in 2008 and since that time, I have met some extraordinary people who amaze and inspire me.  Her death brought about a new gift of life for me which I want to give to help others. 

On 1st April 2017 (yesterday), I was showered with love and happiness. April Showers indeed of the best kind.  Each Spring, I arrange an end of term concert and party for my choirs and their families and friends. This years was truly memorable. I noticed all the joy and happiness around me which was shared by so many.

At the event I spent time with 4 year olds who reminded me that sharing fruit, dressing up and skipping around are VERY important. I’ve watched young boys with heads fully immersed in “beano” magazines reading in a row. Chatted with teenage boys who weren’t ‘too cool for school’ and who were able to have a fabulous time without the need for a gadget in hand.

I noticed the lovely young woman (who just happens to be my daughter) surprise an older wiser woman by presenting her with some handmaid jewellery of treasured memories. I witnessed people dancing side by side, 82 year old alongside 15 year olds. People holding hands and smiling. Friends and strangers looking after one another. Serving food, washing up, hoovering and shifting furniture. Teamwork at is’s best and love amongst friends, families and communities. I shall never forget the feeling of pure joy yesterday.

April Foolish???? No, not at all. It was real, it was there for all to see. No fame, no glitter, no gold, just pure happiness and joy.  Spring has certainly Sprung with memories to treasure forever.  The dark days are gone and I’d rather choose the sunny side of the street and leave my worries on the doormat.  Life is very short and time is very precious. Choices of how and with whom to spend that time can make a big difference everyday.

My work as a choir leader in the community is so similar to my time working in the airline industry which taught me so much. Communication, teamwork, leadership, understanding how to help people (with and without baggage), making things comfortable, fighting fires, putting people at ease, thinking on my feet and being ready for that ‘brace brace’ moment if the performance starts to look like it might just be crashing! My job as a choir leader is literally like ‘flying without wings’. The Captain (me), the co pilot (my accompanist), and the crew (the choir) making sure the passengers (the audience) have a memorable journey (performance).  

I leave you with the words of Stephen Sondheim “If I cannot fly, let me sing”. With a Spring in my step, lots of love in my heart and a song on my lips, thank you for reading my blog. There’s always a warm welcome aboard at the Singing it back rehearsal rooms. The people are lovely, the smiles are real, the entertainment often works and there’s barely any jet lag!  

I look forward to catching up with you in May. 


Until then, it’s time to Spring into action.

Mary xx

 

 

 

 

 

February flew past let’s March on……

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Welcome to my Blog……..February flew by so let’s March on! See what I did there? Pretty clever eh?

Apologies for the lack of February blog, it’s a rather short month isn’t it? That’s my excuse for not putting pen to paper. I’m sure I was barely missed, but I’m back now and I hope you are looking forward to reading my blog. All settled down? Good….let’s start.

So, welcome to March. The Daffodils are in bloom and this half Welsh lass has not forgotten her roots. Wishing a very Happy St David’s day to my followers, friends & family (lots of Welsh folk there) on 1st March 2017.

So, I rather like March for many reasons. The days are getting longer, Spring is around the corner and Summer holidays never far behind.  A big part of my life is devoted to travel and planning adventures as much as possible alongside working as a freelance choir leader and parenting. I’m excited to have some lovely trips planned for 2017 with my family of intrepid travellers.  Now that my children are older, we are able to travel a bit further afield and try a few more adventurous things.  Travelling together as a family has taught us lots about each other. We love discovering new places, revisiting tried and tested favourites and returning home re-energised.

This March I am especially excited to be arranging a Hoe Down and concert for my three choirs. It’s going to be such a HOOT and I especially love any excuse for a bit of ‘heel, toe, heel, toe, grapevine’. Throw in a few sausages and a choir performance and you’ll find me in my element.  Kids and adults all having fun together with music and dancing at the heart of the event.  

I am very lucky to live and to have created work in a great community.  Since leading community choirs for the past 9 years, I have met in the region of 700 people and their friends and families. As my own family change and grow, it’s a pleasure to be able to be involved with other families with younger children and learn from the generation ahead of me who have so much knowledge, wisdom and time to share. The Hoe down event (with Line dance caller) is a great way for the generations within the choirs to mix and mingle, regardless of their age.

When I was growing up, I remember going to all sorts of community gatherings with live bands and dancing the ‘March of the Mods’ with my Mum and feeling very proud of getting the steps right.  If you’ve never done the March of the Mods, I highly recommend it!

It’s wonderful that my work can encourage new friendships and relationships. I’ve certainly made some new friends along the way. Whether these friendships are for a reason, a season or a lifetime, who knows? But true friendships are so important (and I don’t mean the ones you find on Facebook!). 

Thanks for reading my March Blog. I look forward to seeing you in April

In the meantime…. Let’s March (of the Mods)

With best wishes

Mary x

 

 

 

 

 

“In Flow”, in more ways than one.

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Welcome to my January Blog: “In flow” in more ways than one.

First and foremost welcome to 2017. It’s almost the end of January now, but for many, the idea of the New Year is still very much on our minds. Perhaps you started a new hobby this year, or made some resolutions which you’ve managed to maintain or decided to abandon?

I’ve been developing a brand new workshop for 2017 called 3Flow which I’m really excited about.  What is Flow?  Often described this way: Flow — the mental state of being completely present and fully immersed in a task — is a strong contributor to creativity. When in flow, the creator and the universe become one, outside distractions recede from consciousness and one’s mind is fully open and attuned to the act of creating. Wow!

Many members of my choirs talk about feeling ‘in the present moment’ at rehearsal. Some describe their experiences of singing as part of one of my groups as ‘being lost in time’ and ‘without a care in the world’. They comment that as choir leader, I am often fully immersed in enabling ‘music making’.  Have we all reached our state of flow in the same room at the same time? How do we know we are ‘In Flow’?  The idea of being “in flow” has encouraged myself and two other fabulous workshop leaders to develop and deliver a unique one day workshop called 3Flow on Thursday 16th March 2017. 

We are looking forward to welcoming all sorts of people who are also looking to create more “flow” in their lives and we would love to hear from you if you would like to join us too?

If you like the sound of the workshop, then do drop me a line on mary@singingitback.com.  You can find more details on what to expect and how to book here.

In the meantime, thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed reading it and that my blog has encouraged you to notice something in your life which enables your state of Flow. Maybe it’s dancing, maybe it’s walking in nature, swimming or Yoga? Maybe it’s baking or kayaking or simply playing with your children. Maybe you’ve yet to discover it, but when you do it’s like that wonderful moment so beautifully described by so many of my choir members of ‘being in the present moment, fully immersed without a care in the world’. 

Very best wishes

Mary

 

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