Total Choir Resources

In this episode, we are joined by Scott Tucker. Scott has enjoyed an incredible career as a choral conductor and is currently Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society in Washington DC. You'll love this interview - Scott is an inspiring choir leader and his joy and gratitude for his career is infectious. The post #236 The joy of leading choirs with Scott Tucker appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Our guest for this episode is Beth Morgan, community choir leader and founder of The Creative Choir Leader. We talk about building a sustainable career as a choir leader where we can be our authentic selves and play to our strengths. The post #235 Building a sustainable choir-leading style with Beth Morgan appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Our guest for this episode is Tom Metzger, founder of Choir Genius, one of the world's most popular choir management platforms. We talk about his background in barbershop, what inspired his business and how he uses his knowledge of the choir world to keep innovating. So let's welcome Tom. The post #234 Innovating for choirs – with Tom Metzger appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In the last few months, we've all been on a journey with our choirs. From online rehearsals to being back in a room, then online again for some. It's been a rollercoaster ride! As many of us look towards performing again, how we can ensure our singers sound great, feel ready and embrace the experience? The post #233 Raring to go? Preparing our choirs for post-lockdown performance appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Amy Standridge is a choir leader and Total Choir Resources member who specialises in leading singing for people with dementia and their carers. She's a self-confessed ‘brain nerd' who joined us in this episode to talk about the importance of humour in our choir rehearsals. The post #232 The best medicine – with Amy Standridge appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Marie Benton is the founder and Chief Executive of The Choir With No Name, an organisation that supports homeless and marginalised people around the UK. Christine talked to her about community, connection and friendship through choirs. The post #231 The Choir with No Name – with Marie Benton appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

As we head back into the rehearsal room, many of us are still living with covid protections, including shorter session times. How does this affect our planning and teaching? How can we get the most out of the time we have with our choirs? The post #230 How organisation feeds inspiration – with Jane Reeves appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

As we head back into the rehearsal room, many of us are still living with covid protections, including shorter session times. How does this affect our planning and teaching? How can we get the most out of the time we have with our choirs? The post #229 Shorter rehearsals? A new approach to choir planning appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we want to give you a glimpse behind the scenes at something our paid members get on the Total Choir Resources website. The post #228 An exclusive peek behind the scenes appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

The pandemic continues to take us all on a journey. Here in the UK we now have the opportunity to return to indoor rehearsals, something which we ourselves did last week. So how did it feel and how did it all go? The post #227 Back to live choir – how does it feel? appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Eyleen Braaten is the Executive Director of the Giving Voice Initiative, a unique organisation that inspires and equips choirs to help people with Alzheimer's and their care partners through the joy of singing. In this episode, Christine talks to Eyleen about building a movement that celebrates the unique power of singing together. The post #226 – Music in the Brain with Eyleen Braaten appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In our modern world we can connect in so many different ways, yet we hear about high levels of loneliness in our societies, particularly during the pandemic. How does loneliness affect people and how can being part of a choir change that? The post #225 Together – the importance of choir and community for loneliness appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Matt Ramsey is an American voice coach and founder of the Ramsey Voice Studio. In this episode, we discuss how individual voice tuition can benefit choral singers, how to find a contemporary sound when you've been classically trained, and just how many Mariah Careys is too many!  The post #224 – Finding a singer's unique voice with Matt Ramsay appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

This special episode is a first for the Total Choir Resources podcast - a collaboration with the Music(Ed) Matters podcast, hosted by Dr Emily Williams Burch. We're exploring the issue of collaboration by launching our own collaboration project. The post #223 – Exploring collaboration with Dr Emily Williams Burch appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we catch up with our old friend Dean Jones. You may already know Dean from his beautiful choir arrangements that are available to all Total Choir Resources members. Dean is a musician, composer and all-round great guy who we've known since the early days of Total Choir Resources. We talk to him about finding the music that your audience needs, building a career that inspires you, and bringing music to communities. The post #222 Audience-focused programming with Dean Jones appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In one of our most popular podcast episodes, we talked about the idea of imposter syndrome, what it could mean to us as choir leaders and how we could take action to minimise it. So, today, a few years later and on the back of a global pandemic we've decided to pick up this topic once again and see how it looks today. The post #221 Revisiting ‘impostor syndrome' appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

One of the greatest joys about doing this podcast is getting to talk to some amazing people within the choir world. Today we welcome Kathryn Rowland, a choir leader and Total Choir Resources member, who runs a multi-choir business including adult, workplace and charity choirs. The post #220 Juggling multiple choirs with Kathryn Rowland appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we're going to bore you silly and that's a promise! We're talking about all the issues that creative types would prefer to ignore, but which are vital to our success as choir leaders. The post #219 – Boring but important stuff every choir leader needs to know appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode we're discussing the role of technology and social media in our lives and how we can use it responsibly to support and develop our choirs while looking after our mental health. The post #218 We can do things differently – using social media and technology for our choirs appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we're reaching back into the archive to repost a great podcast that may have passed you by. We discuss how to approach leading a choir made up of individuals with diverse abilities, expectations and preferences. These issues are incredibly relevant at the moment, as we rebuild our choirs post-pandemic and decide what to keep and what to change going forward. So let's dive in. The post #217 FROM THE VAULT: How to handle different abilities and expectations in your choir appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Dr Kerry Boyle is a singer, choir leader and academic who has launched a major study into participation in choirs worldwide. In this episode, we discuss Kerry's career, the importance of choirs and how your choir can get involved. The post #216 Finding out the ‘why' of choirs with Dr Kerry Boyle appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we're delighted to welcome conductor Adam Luebke. Adam is an Assistant Professor of Voice and Choral Conducting at the State University of New York at Fredonia. He is also the music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and winner of the 2021 GRAMMY award for Best Choral Performance. The post #215 Preparing choirs for conductors and orchestras with Adam Luebke appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Our guest in this episode is Rachel Greaves, general secretary of the Association of British Choral Directors. ABCD, like so many other organisations, had to pivot hard in 2020 to help and support choirs as the pandemic forced us all out of rehearsal and performance venues. We talked to Rachel about how ABCD is working to gather data to support a return to singing so we can all get back to doing what we love. The post #214 Gathering evidence to support choral singing with Rachel Greaves of ABCD appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we welcome internationally-recognised vocal coach and trainer Chris Johnson to the podcast to get his wisdom on post-pandemic voices and how to nurture them back to full glorious life. The post #213 Awakening underused voices with Chris Johnson appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In our years as choir leaders, we’ve heard all sorts of conflicting advice from hundreds of different sources. So today, we’re sorting the good from the bad and busting a few myths along the way. The post #212 Terrible advice about choir-leading you can ignore appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, it’s our great pleasure to welcome to the podcast Hilary Apfelstadt, Interim Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association. Hilary stepped up to this vital role at the height of the pandemic and has helped to support and encourage ACDA members towards a revival of live singing. The post #211 The power of personal connection – with Hilary Apfelstadt of ACDA appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode we welcome Paul Gudgin to the podcast. Paul has worked at some major festivals including eight years as Director of the Edinburgh Fringe. He is also a passionate choral singer and conductor. Paul is an inspiring speaker and a wonderful advocate for the transformative power of choral festivals. The post #210 Competition and collaboration – talking festivals with Paul Gudgin appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we’re talking to Barbara Eifler, Chief Executive of Making Music, a UK organisation that supports leisure-time musicians. We discuss the unique challenges of the last year, the road back to live music-making, and the prospects of a bright future for choirs everywhere. The post #209 Helping musicians thrive with Barbara Eifler of Making Music appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Listening is a skill that is central to what choir leaders do, but it’s one that we often take for granted. While choirs have been unable to meet in person, we haven’t been listening to anyone but ourselves, so in this episode we’re focusing on how to revive this vital rehearsal skill. The post #208 A choir leader’s most important skill appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Lydia Jane Pugh is a singer, voice coach and composer, living on the channel island of Guernsey. In this episode, I talk to her about young voices, composing for choirs and taking the scenic route during the covid pandemic. The post #207 Writing inspiring music for voices – with Lydia Jane Pugh appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

It's been a long time since we were in the rehearsal room. As we gradually come out of lockdown, it’s time to brush up on the skills that have been neglected since the pandemic started, so we can get back to choir with confidence and enthusiasm. The post #206 5 ways to refresh your choir-leading skills appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we talk to the amazing Vince Peterson about taking risks and finding creativity in difficult times. You don't want to miss this one! The post #205 Finding adventure and creativity for a new choir era – with Vince Peterson appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we pick apart what it means to have 'a business' in today's world and how we can reject old business models to create something that works for ourselves, our families and our communities. The post #204 Creating a choir business with compassion appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, Victoria has a fascinating chat with Carrie and Charlie Kinnison about running a business together and creating choral rehearsal tracks that help choirs to take their music to the next level. The post #203 Creating awesome rehearsal tracks – with Charlie and Carrie Kinnison appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we look at the prospect for returning to in-person choir rehearsals and consider some of the challenges we will face during this phase. The post #202 Taking steps back to choir in ‘real life’ appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we’re talking about money. As we move towards returning to live choir rehearsals, it’s time to sit down, look at where we’re at, where we want to be and how the pandemic may have changed our views on how we handle money! The post #201 Take a fresh look at choir fees appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In our 200th episode, we look back at the last few years and hear from some of our guests and members about how the podcast has helped them, and what they've learned from their careers as choir leaders. The post #200 It’s our two hundredth episode! appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Our guest for this episode is Eliza Fyfe, leader of ChoirCast, an online choir experience. The post #199 Creating an enduring online choir – with Eliza Fyfe appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we talk to choir leaders in New Zealand and Australia where things have already opened up and face to face rehearsals are back on! The post #198 Getting up and running after lockdown – a view from the Pacific appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

How can we encourage our singers to look after their voices and stay motivated to practice even when there are no performances on the horizon? The post #197 Easy ways to help your singers look after their voices appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we look at how we perceive negativity, and we’ll give you tips and tools for evaluating it, dealing with it and moving forward without being thrown off track. The post #196 How to stay positive and take action in the face of negativity appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, our guest is Claire Wilmer, choir leader and TCR member, who shares her creative ideas and her tips for finding joy in difficult times. The post #195 Finding inspiration and creativity – with Claire Wilmer appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

2020 was a stressful year for all of us. For many choir leaders, that stress continues as we work to get our choirs back to in-person rehearsals and put the pandemic behind us. How do we handle this unique challenge? The post #194 Everything is practice appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we’re bringing you a singer’s perspective as we talk to four of our own choir members. We’re delighted to welcome Jackie, Steve, Anne and Gordon. The post #193 Keeping our choir together – what do our singers make of it all? appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

2020 has been a year like no other, and the world of choirs has been affected deeply. In this episode, we’re looking back at a rollercoaster 12 months for Total Choir Resources and its members and followers. The post #192 What kind of year has it been? appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Our guests today, Beth Lyons, Kay Bourgine and Marion van Namen, believe that Zoom singing doesn’t need to be a pale imitation of real life rehearsals. They use vocal improvisation techniques that play to the platform’s strengths and bring out the unique advantages of singing together in the virtual world. The post #191 The unique fun of vocal play – with Beth, Kay and Marion appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Christine and I were guests on the Corona Choir podcast a few weeks ago and now Steve’s here for an exchange visit. He’s a choir leader with wonderful insights and we know you’ll enjoy spending some time with him. The post #190 Making choir connections in 2020 – with Steve Fisher appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we welcome Siobhan Heaney, a choir leader dedicated to promoting health and well-being through singing. The post #189 The extraordinary health benefits of singing in a choir – with Siobhan Heaney appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

Use the tools in this episode to put your fears into perspective and move forward, whatever stage of the process you’re in at the moment. The post #188 From the Vault: Overcoming fear to take on new challenges with your choir appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we look at how far we've come in 2020 and how we can stay positive and do what we can, until we can get back to doing what we do. The post #187 If you can’t do what you do, do what you can appeared first on Total Choir Resources.

In this episode, we’re joined by Bernie Bracha whose long career in music teaching led her to create a choir for all those people who were told at some point in their lives that they couldn’t sing. The post #186 Creating a choir that changes lives – with Bernie Bracha appeared first on Total Choir Resources.