16 April Update

Week 1 of 6 (Half Term 1)

In this week's bulletin, we have:

• Coffee Notices

• A rehearsal recap

• Festival Friday prep

• Song facts - A Million Dreams

• Other dates for the diary

☕ Coffee Notices

Welcome back to our third term of the year! It’s always a great season for music and performing, and we all look forward to some amazing songs to sing.

Penge Music Festival 2026 - April 24th

👉🏻REGISTRATION is now open.

Penge Music Festival is fast approaching. We've been invited to take part in Festival Friday at Penge Congregational Church. This event will take place as part of the festival launch and celebrate local talent, featuring a selection of soloists and groups. We will have a 10-minute slot, so we'll sing around 3/4 songs. This will be a relaxed evening, and you are encouraged to bring your own drinks and snacks as you enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

Doors open at 7 and the singing starts at 7.30 with our performance time tbc. This is an event for charity, so performers and attendees are asked to pay a £5 contribution. Please register asap.

🎤 Rehearsal Recap

Warmup

In this week's warm-up, we created a “vvvvv” sound, like the beginning of the word very. We then ran through some scales, ensuring that the air escaped past our top lip and not out the side of our mouth. You can double-check that you are releasing the breath correctly by tapping your top lip with your finger. It will interrupt the sound when breathing correctly/making the correct shape with your lips. 

A Million Dreams

Soprano Harmony

• Remember to transition down in boxes 6 and 15 for 'A million dreams is all it’s gonna take'. This drops you out of the higher octave, ready to sing on the main note for the final line of each box.

• Box 15 ~ 'gonna' climbs up to 'make' which dips down then up on the 'a'.

Soprano Melody

• Box 11 ~ the final word 'design' goes high on the 'ighn'

• Box 15 ~ 'gonna' stays flat leading to 'make' which dips down and up on the 'a'.

Alto

• Box 15 ~ bring the power! 'Make' dips down. Make sure it is resonating and pushing your note to be clear next to the two soprano parts

Flight Page One and Page Two

Alto

• Box 9 ~ After the word 'behind' is sustained for 5 beats (dropping down on the 5th), the following 'I' on the next line is sung with 2 syllables as 'aiii-yai'.

• Box 12 ~ The third line should build power for the final word 'inside', which goes high and dips down at the end.

• Box 13 ~ This stanza should be powerful to provide a strong foundation for the higher notes of the Sopranos

Soprano

• Box 10 ~ The 'I' on line three should be sung at the end of line two.

• Box 12 ~ build the power through the three words so that the third line is punchy and powerful.

• Box 13 ~ This stanza is high, but you can sing these notes well with precision. Remember to use the Pingu/Fish face.

• Box 13 ~ Take half breaths after 'night' [line 1], 'my' [line 2], 'flight' [line 2], 'in a' [line 4]

• Box 14 ~ There is no rest between lines 4 and 5. These lines slow down. Watch Elena for timing.

Both

• Final Line 'Be Fore I Am [pause] Gone' Watch Elena’s hand for timing.

Song Facts - A Million Dreams From The Greatest Showman, A Million Dreams sits right at the heart of the story, capturing a young P.T. Barnum’s imagination and his determination to build something bigger than his circumstances. The song returns later as a reprise, reinforcing that sense of vision as his journey unfolds.

It was written by the songwriting team behind La La Land – Benj Pasek and Justin Paul – who are known for their strong storytelling and memorable melodies. In the film, the song appears in stages: first sung by a young Barnum, then as a duet, and later reprised by Hugh Jackman – which mirrors the way the music itself builds and develops.

Musically, it’s a gradual build. It starts simply and gently, then layers up with richer harmonies and a fuller sound. The melody is quite flowing, with lots of scope for shaping phrases, and the harmonies really add warmth as it grows. It’s that steady lift – both musically and emotionally – that gives it such an uplifting feel.

The song has also taken on a life beyond the film, with covers by artists including Pink, whose version introduced it to an even wider audience.

With its themes of possibility and shared ambition, it’s a piece that really comes into its own when sung as a group.

Dates for the diary

7th June - Winsford Garden Party

We have also been invited to sing at the Winsford Garden party - an event that will include other vocalists and musicians. Our performance will be some time between 12.15 -1.30pm. More details to follow.