Love to sing? Then you’ll love Rock Choir! Gayle joins rehearsals in Perth
I have a secret – I used to be what might loosely be termed as a “singer” in a couple of bands.
Sadly, I wasn’t blessed with the voice of an angel but it didn’t matter because the bands, a mixture of punk, rock and funk, encouraged the art of making a racket.
No matter how bad I sounded (I really wasn’t great), I’ll never forget the huge buzz that leaping around on stage gave me.
I felt alive, elated, happy and energised when I was up there singing or more accurately, shouting my heart out.
This is all in the distant past – my last band was called Where’s Dave? and I haven’t seen Dave or any of the other members since 2009.
However, I still sing in the car, the shower, while walking the dog – it’s an essential part of my life, although God forbid anyone hears me a capella.
Realising I missed singing with accompanying music and people, I began hunting for choirs which might accommodate my lapsed crooning.
There’s no audition to join the Rock Choir, which has groups across the UK and is described as being the “world’s largest contemporary choir”, so it sounded right up my street.
There are an abundance of local groups, but I picked Perth and headed along to St Matthew’s Church where rehearsals take place on Wednesday nights.
Video of the Rock Choir is above this article
I was welcomed by Rachel Leitch, the Rock Choir leader for choirs in Perth, Stirling and Glenrothes, and given a batch of song sheets.
“Any idea whether you’re bass, alto, or soprano – so low, middle or high?” she asked?
I know I’ve got a low-ish voice so between us, we deduced alto might be a good starting point.
As I took a seat in the alto section, I was greeted by a sea of happy, smiling faces, 99% of which were women.
“We love coming along to sing – it’s addictive!” beamed a lady in her 70s.
“It’s really sociable. You meet so many new people and make friends.”
Before we got stuck into the songs, Rachel took us through a vocal warm-up consisting of some easy breathing exercises.
Then, with her conducting, and with an accompanying soundtrack, we ran through a few lines of the gospel song, Praise You, in three-part harmony. It sounded pretty good.
Next up was a tune I adore – Don’t Leave Me This Way by The Communards. I know the song fairly well, but of course, I didn’t know the alto parts so ended improvising in a few places. I don’t think it mattered – well, nobody told me to shut up!
I also didn’t know the moves and dance routines, so I found myself going left while everyone else was going right quite a few times…
Other songs we rehearsed included I’ll Be There by Jess Glynne, Abba’s Super Trouper, This is Me from The Greatest Showman, John Legend’s All of Me, and Queen’s feel-good anthem Don’t Stop Me Now.
The feeling of singing along with so many others did indeed feel good. It was such an uplifting, joyful and goosebump-inducing sensation.
Having only been to one rehearsal, I realised a lot of practice would be required before I could consider joining the choir for any sort of public performance.
While sessions are fun, they’re taken quite seriously, with singers expected to learn their parts thoroughly.
“It’s all about singing, fun, community, friendship and life-changing experiences,” said Rachel, who’s been running Rock Choirs for nine years.
“It gives people the chance to sing contemporary songs without the need to audition, read music or have any previous singing experience. It’s really inclusive.
“I break down the songs and teach them in sections – usually bass, alto and soprano, then add the different harmonies together.
“It always comes together and sounds fantastic!”
The choir is brimming with fantastic opportunities. Members perform across the UK and abroad, record albums and appear on radio and TV.
“We’re always performing, whether locally for charity fundraisers, recording at Abbey Road Studios in London, playing at Liverpool Arena, Disneyland Paris, or in front of The Kelpies!” said Rachel.
The choir’s main performance of 2020 is at Edinburgh Festival, having performed there twice every night for the past three years.
And because this year is Rock Choir’s 15th Anniversary, thousands of “Rockies” are coming together at Birmingham’s NEC to sing while also being part of a performance from the nation’s choir leaders.
Considering joining? You absolutely should! As well as being great fun and boosting your social life, singing with Rock Choir is good for you. It builds self-confidence and self-esteem and in turn, improves your mental and general health.
“It’s normal for people to be nervous at first, especially if they’re coming on their own, but I always place newcomers next to those who’ll be able to guide them through the session,” said Rachel.
“I can guarantee you a great time, full of singing and laughter!”
info
Rock Choir offers all ages an alternative experience to the traditional classical or community choir introducing members to feel-good pop, rock and contemporary chart songs. Log on to rockchoir.com to book your free taster session.
More than 32,000 Rock Choir members participate in around 400 communities across the UK.
It was launched in Surrey in 2005 by musician and singer Caroline Redman Lusher with 70 members. Now Rock Choir performs at around 2000 events annually from local community and charity fund-raisers to high-profile national events. It helps raise around £1 million a year for charity via such events.
