4 June Update

Jun 5
4 min read

Week 1 of 6 (Half Term 2)

In this week's bulletin, we have:

Coffee Notices
A rehearsal recap
Get ready for 7th June, Winsford Gardens

☕ Coffee Notices

The heatwave may be over, but COTH remains! We hope you've all enjoyed the sunshine during our week off.

We're looking forward to singing in the sunshine (or rain!) this weekend and celebrating all the hard work we've put in this year.

Winsford Gardens

Our performance at Winsford Gardens this Sunday is set to be a wonderful celebration of some of our favourite songs. The Event Pack is now available, and black folders should be prepared with lyrics in the following running order:

Flight
Glorious
Keep on Movin'
Walking on Sunshine
Perfect
What Happens When a Woman

If you can, please spend a little time practising beforehand, particularly the lyrics for What Happens When a Woman.

We'll be meeting at 11.45am for the warm-up (location will be shared on WhatsApp on the day). Our performance is at 12.15 - 12.45.

The closest bus stop to Winsford Gardens is Avenue Road and there are free parking spots in the surrounding roads if you are coming by car.

Come rain or shine, the show will go on. If the weather looks uncertain, we suggest bringing a raincoat just in case.

If you're a newer member, or you've missed a few rehearsals this year, you're very welcome to come along and support us from the audience. Friendly faces always help! Family members are welcome too, and there will be a number of activities available, some of which are suitable for younger children.

🎤 Rehearsal Recap

Warmup

This week we focused on a few exercises designed to help with some of the more challenging aspects of singing.

When singing higher notes, try directing the airflow through a slightly narrowed mouth so that it travels past your top front teeth. A 'vvvh' siren sound is a great way to warm up for this. If you try singing the same notes on a 'laa' sound, you'll often find it requires more effort. A good warm-up will always make it easier to reach both the top and bottom of your vocal range.

Another useful technique for accessing higher notes is to begin with a nasal 'ng' sound. We practised this using arpeggios.

When singing pop songs, or songs with crisp, rhythmic lyrics, it also helps to focus on clear consonants. We practised this with the following tongue twister:

The tip of the tongue, the teeth, and the lips

Are making each word as clear as can be

The tip of the tongue, the teeth, and the lips

Are working together as you can see

The phrase was repeated several times, increasing the speed with each repetition. It may be a tongue twister, and mistakes are inevitable, but with practice even the trickiest lyrics can be delivered clearly and confidently.

Performance notes

The following suggestions should help everyone perform confidently and enjoy the experience on Sunday.

Relax

Keeping your body loose helps your lungs, diaphragm and vocal folds work efficiently, producing a stronger and more supported sound.

Enjoy yourself

We all want to sing well, but it's just as important to enjoy the experience.

Warm up well

If you're unable to join the group warm-up before the performance, try to fit in a few vocal exercises on your journey if possible. Our favourite online warm-up can be found via this YouTube link.

Remember the beat

Tap your foot, tap your folder, sway gently – whatever helps you stay connected to the pulse of the music and keeps the lyrics flowing in time.

Follow the leader

Lizzy will be leading us this time. She'll help with entries, cues and any moments of uncertainty. If nerves strike, she's always a reassuring face to look towards.

Consonants are key

The lyrics in these songs are fantastic, and we want the audience to hear every word. Even with a 'Pingu' or 'fish face', clear diction is absolutely possible.

Have fun!

Once all the preparation is done, the most important thing to remember is that we sing because it brings us joy. We've worked incredibly hard, made mistakes, refined our phrasing, tweaked lyrics and learnt new music. The hard work is done – now it's time to enjoy the fruits of our labour.

Notes on songs:

Glorious opening lines

'There are times when, you might feel aimless' – Ivna & Lesha
'Can't see the places where you belong' – Ivonne & Vicky
'But you will find that there is a purpose' – Eva & Angela
'It's been within you all along' – Caroline & Sandra

Keep on Movin'

Clapping begins on the third repetition of 'Get on up...' and continues for one repeat. If possible, tuck your folder under your arm to make this easier. Ideally, the clapping section and final two boxes will be sung off- book. Watch Lizzy for cues if needed.

Dates for the diary 7th June - Winsford Garden Party