Raring2go! WHATS ON, CLUBS AND CLASSES 22 AN EVENING IN THE LIFE OF A MUSICIAN 6.00pm: After opening up the hall we rent for our Monday choir rehearsals, the chairs need setting out (usually about 40), a table for the register, newsletters and new music, the piano and stool and the music stand at the front for the conductor. 6.15pm: People start arriving at choir. There’s a lot to do on a new music night. After people sign in and take a newsletter, they receive their library copy of the new song we are learning tonight. I’m really excited about this one; it’s called Swinging On A Star. It’s an absolute classic, but this arrangement has some comical call-andresponse phrases in as well as some beautiful harmonies. Just what you want from a choir piece. 6.30pm: We start the rehearsal with a game. The choir split into 2 groups and each learn a very similar rhythm to clap. In fact, there’s just one clap difference. One group have to count to 5, and the other have to count to 4. They have to listen very hard and concentrate on counting in order to keep their rhythm strong. It’s always a lot of fun, but there was a lot of laughter tonight, and a lot of concentrating faces in between! 8.00pm: That rehearsal flew by! After our initial warm up and games, we worked hard to learn our new song all the way through and it sounded spectacular. I think it’s going to become a new favourite. Now we have to rearrange the piano and chairs for our next rehearsal while people are leaving. 8.15pm: The second choir is smaller, but the music is harder so the concentration in the room is more intense for this session. There are usually about 8 singers but we sing in 4, sometimes 5 parts. The harmonies swirl up to the ceiling and we bask in the sound we create. We are so lucky to be able to do this every week. 9.30pm: Everyone’s gone and it’s time to tidy everything away and lock up the hall. As soon as I get back I unload the van and pack everything away so that the studio is nice and tidy for the next morning. What a day! I have the best job in the world. Home time now, and now I can relax before bedtime.
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