25 June Update
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Week 4 of 6 (Half Term 2)
In this week's bulletin, we have:
Coffee Notices
A rehearsal recap
Song facts: Where The Sun Don't Shine
☕ Coffee Notices
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When it brings the heat of a thousand suns, we find the shade – because the show must go on!
A big thank you to everyone who came along despite the heat. For those who have had to stay indoors because of the high temperatures, we hope you're keeping cool and that the weather becomes a little more comfortable soon.
We have just two rehearsals left before our next performance. If your availability has changed and you're now able to attend, please let Vicky know.
Many of us will be singing on 18 July, at an 80th birthday party (at Ralf Perring Court, Beckenham). Further information will be shared in our WhatsApp group in our COTH community.
🎤 Rehearsal Recap
Warmup
As many of our performances take place outdoors, the way we hear ourselves can feel very different from rehearsing indoors. It can sometimes take a song or two to adjust. This week's outdoor rehearsal gave us a great opportunity to experience that difference in a relaxed setting.
To help us hear our own voices more clearly, we revisited the face-cupping technique that Elena introduced earlier this term. Place one hand close to, but not touching, the side of your face, with your fingertips near the top of your ear and your palm gently cupped beside your mouth. Holding this position, we sang arpeggios using 'la, la, la, la, la', first ascending and then descending the scale.
This simple technique helps direct more of your own voice back towards your ears, making it easier to hear yourself and sing with confidence, whatever the performance setting.
Song Notes
Where the Sun Don't Shine
This song uses rubato – a flexible tempo in which the music speeds up and slows down slightly for expressive effect. The changes are subtle but really add to the character of the piece. If you have time, listen to the rehearsal recordings and Elena's backing track to become familiar with these changes.
There is only a very short introduction, so be ready to follow the conductor from the very beginning.
First Verse (Unison)
Line 1 – first phrase rises, second phrase falls
Line 2 – first phrase falls, second phrase continues to descend
Line 3 – first phrase falls, second phrase also descends, except for the word 'old', which lifts high
Line 4 – rises slightly
Line 5 – first phrase is flat, second phrase rises on 'right'
Line 6 – rises slightly and reaches its highest note on 'nights'
Line 7 – 'Con-form' drops on 'form', breathe, then sing 'to-the' quickly before 'norm' drops down
Line 8 – 'take-up' is sung quickly, then the line descends through 'gard'ning'
Altos
Box 1 follows the same pattern as the first verse.
Line 6 – 'slow the pace' is deliberately stretched for dramatic effect
Line 7 – 'don't be' and 'don't do' are sung quickly
Box 2
Lines 1–2 – follow the up, down, down, down pattern
Line 4 – 'have' goes high and 'humour' slides
Box 3
Line 1 – first phrase rises, second phrase falls
Line 2 – 'new' rises
Line 3 – 'hap-py' and 'cra-zy' are sung quickly
Line 4 – first phrase is flat; 'be' drops before 'you' rises
Box 4
Line 1 – both phrases rise
Line 2 – first phrase rises, second phrase falls
Line 3 – breathe between the two halves
Line 4 – 'don't' drops before returning upwards
Sopranos
Box 1
Line 1 – join on the second phrase with the altos, dropping on each word
Line 2 – drop on each word
Line 3 – starts on the same note as line 1, dropping on each word
Line 4 – 'an-y-thing' is sung on one note; 'unplanned' slides upwards
Line 5 – each 'ooh' drops
Line 6 – the second 'ahh' slides upwards and is held slightly longer
Line 7 – 'sil-ly' and 'fash-ion' are sung quickly
Line 8 – sung flat, except for 'pas-sion', which rises slightly on 'pas-'
Box 2
Line 1 – first phrase rises with a jump on 'different'; second phrase falls
Line 2 – begin low; 'young' rises for emphasis
Line 3 – sung flat
Line 4 – sung flat, with 'hu-mour' dropping on '-mour'
Box 3
Line 1 – first phrase rises, second phrase falls
Line 2 – both phrases rise high
Line 3 – 'hap-py' and 'cra-zy' are sung quickly
Line 4 – first phrase is flat; 'be' drops before 'you' remains flat
Box 4
Line 1 – first phrase rises high from 'definitely'; second phrase falls
Line 2 – first phrase rises, second phrase falls
Line 3 – breathe between the two halves
Line 4 – sung flat, with the final three words short, crisp and deliberate.
Song facts: Where The Sun Don't Shine
Unlike most of the songs we sing, Where the Sun Don't Shine wasn't written for the stage or the charts. It was specially composed by James Radford for Staysure's 'Dream Big' campaign, which celebrates living life to the full after 50.
The song playfully lists all the clichés people are often told about getting older – 'Stay at home', 'Take up gardening', 'Don't do passion' – before turning those stereotypes firmly on their head with its memorable final line. The message is simple: don't let anyone else's expectations define how you live your life.
Although it was originally written for an advertising campaign, the song has proved so popular that Staysure launched a nationwide choir competition, inviting choirs across the UK to perform their own versions.
Musically, the piece is full of character. It uses rubato – subtle changes in tempo – to add expression and drama, and moves from a tongue-in-cheek opening to a bold, defiant ending. The close harmonies and changing textures make it as much about storytelling as singing.
It also feels particularly fitting for COTH. Judging by the energy, laughter and enthusiasm at our rehearsals, we'd say we're doing a pretty good job of proving that getting older certainly doesn't mean slowing down!
Dates for the diary 18 July
80th birthday party at Ralph Perring Court, Beckenham - starts 6pm with singing starting around 7. Food will be provided.
