- Words by Jane Zatylny Photography by Lia Crowe

I love to sing香蕉视频直播攑rivately. In the shower. In the car. And around the house. I香蕉视频直播檝e never thought I was good enough to sing in any kind of public way. But singing in a choir, I香蕉视频直播檓 learning, is about more than just hitting the right high notes.

香蕉视频直播淚f you want to sing with other people, just do it,香蕉视频直播� urges Marc Jenkins, director of The Choirs YYJ. 香蕉视频直播淚t feels good, whatever your skill level.香蕉视频直播�

Marc tells me that Victoria has the highest number of choirs per capita in the country. 香蕉视频直播淭here are more choir singers than hockey players in Canada, too,香蕉视频直播� he quips.

Different sorts of choirs are springing up all across the province, from the traditional symphonic, educational or auditioned choir to choirs that practice and perform pop music or gather to sing a hit together on a single night.

Choirs, of course, are all about community. And after the seclusion of the pandemic, it obviously feels great to gather again and work together as a community on a song or two. But something else happens when people gather to sing together, Marc says: 香蕉视频直播淚f two people sing next to one another for four months, their bodies get to 香蕉视频直播榢now香蕉视频直播� one another. That香蕉视频直播檚 when the hook goes in with choir.香蕉视频直播�

Lynda Kaye felt a strong pull when she first started singing with the Tofino Ucluelet Choir. She was part of a choir in junior high and loved it, but didn香蕉视频直播檛 do anything with singing again until her 60th year.

香蕉视频直播淪ome musician friends of mine told me about a woman named Sophie L香蕉视频直播橦omme, who was starting a choir. I went in to that first rehearsal and香蕉视频直播攚ow香蕉视频直播攊t changed my life overnight.香蕉视频直播�

Seven years later, Lynda is still hooked on choir.

香蕉视频直播淭here wasn香蕉视频直播檛 a rehearsal in Tofino where I didn香蕉视频直播檛 laugh and cry and feel fantastic. It was just an extraordinary, extraordinary experience. And everybody that I know who香蕉视频直播檚 done it has felt the same way,香蕉视频直播� she says.

The creation of harmony香蕉视频直播攍iterally, as well as metaphorically香蕉视频直播攊s another very powerful aspect of choir, says Marc: 香蕉视频直播淚n a way, we香蕉视频直播檙e like bees in a hive.香蕉视频直播�

I dropped in to listen to one of Marc香蕉视频直播檚 rehearsals and saw immediately what he meant: there was laughter and close camaraderie as people arrived, greeted one another, and set up chairs. And then sweet, sweet sounds flowed across the room, from soprano voices to alto, then from to tenor to bass.

The vibe in the room was contagious, even from my chair at the back of the room. I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 help but sing softly, too, close my eyes and sway to the music.

Rebecca Lam, creative director of the Vancouver-based Chorus Studio, explained why: singing, she said, releases endorphins and oxytocin, the famous feel-good hormones. Ah, that makes sense.

香蕉视频直播淐onnecting with music and expressing yourself creatively is an empowering endeavour,香蕉视频直播� says Rebecca. 香蕉视频直播淪inging in a choir is also a wonderful way to meet people and make new friends. We香蕉视频直播檙e vulnerable with each other because you have to be while singing. This naturally cultivates camaraderie between people.香蕉视频直播�

Lynda now divides her time between Tofino and Victoria and continues to participate in her Tofino Ucluelet choir via Zoom. She香蕉视频直播檚 been checking out local Victoria choirs, too, and expects to find a new choral home in Victoria soon.

To anyone thinking of joining a choir, she advises: 香蕉视频直播淚f you have even an inkling that you might want to sing in a group, give it a go. Go someplace, find a drop-in choir or go to a choir performance and observe how it香蕉视频直播檚 done. Talk to a choir director or someone else who香蕉视频直播檚 in choir. Just give it a go.香蕉视频直播�

And don香蕉视频直播檛 let your musical insecurities or inexperience hold you back. In the Tofino Ucluelet choir, Lynda said, half of the people knew how to read music and half didn香蕉视频直播檛.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 an advantage if you can read music, but it香蕉视频直播檚 not a requirement,香蕉视频直播� she explains. 香蕉视频直播淲hen you raise your voice with a group of people, the community of choir pulls everybody with it. It香蕉视频直播檚 okay if you miss a note or forget your lyrics because we香蕉视频直播檙e all there to hold you up.香蕉视频直播�

The joy of choir all comes back to that undeniable feel-good factor, says Marc. 香蕉视频直播淚f you sing in the shower or you sing in the car, and want to do that with other people, do it, because it feels really good.香蕉视频直播�

Here are some tips to consider if you香蕉视频直播檙e thinking of joining a choir:

Do your research.

Go online and find out what sorts of choirs there are in your area, then go to a few concerts to see what you like.

香蕉视频直播淢ost choirs will have a website or social media presence,香蕉视频直播� says Marc. 香蕉视频直播淭here you can get a flavour of what the choir will be like.香蕉视频直播�

Recognize that choir is a commitment.

香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e all doing it and you香蕉视频直播檙e all working hard at getting good at it,香蕉视频直播� says Lynda. 香蕉视频直播淵ou have to learn the music, you have to practice the music, you have to show up for a rehearsal. And you have to be okay with repeating, repeating, repeating until you get it right.香蕉视频直播�

Shy on commitment?

Consider a drop-in choir. There are many one-night performances where you learn a pop song and record it with the group in a single evening.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檒l still obtain a goal,香蕉视频直播� says Marc. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檒l do a little three-part harmony.香蕉视频直播� (The Choirs YYJ will do a Beatles drop-in choir night in June.) Check online for a drop-in choir event in your area.

Don香蕉视频直播檛 be intimidated.

香蕉视频直播淲e like to say, 香蕉视频直播業f you can speak, you can sing,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� says Rebecca. 香蕉视频直播淚t is outdated to believe that one is either born with talent or not. Musical ability can be cultivated and nourished.香蕉视频直播�

And lastly, don香蕉视频直播檛 give up.

It may take time to find the right choir, says Marc. It香蕉视频直播檚 like buying a car; sometimes you have to kick the tires.

香蕉视频直播淪ome of it can be social too,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淔or instance, if you香蕉视频直播檙e really extroverted and you join a choir that香蕉视频直播檚 pretty introverted, you might be like, 香蕉视频直播榃hy does nobody like me?香蕉视频直播� It香蕉视频直播檚 worth scoping around and trying things until you find your way.香蕉视频直播�

Info

The Choirs YYJ

thechoirsyyj.com

A collective of three Victoria-based ensembles that represent over 200 people of all ages, genders, experiences, vocal abilities and musical tastes.

Chorus Studio

thechorusstudio.com

A Vancouver-based community of adult pop choirs, professional voice lessons and performance workshops, and regular open mic and karaoke nights.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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