Feb
Feb
The Show Goes On!
What a start to this term we have had! Mother nature tried her very best to mess with the Sing for Fun workshop schedule with her snow storms, then we had the maze known as Trinity school to deal with, the asbestos debarcle at Costello which cancelled last weeks workshop in Basingstoke to be followed by a fire incident also at Costello this week which threatened the workshop yet again however this problem was resolved and did not interfer too much with the workshop. What next?
Feb
Feb
Amanda’s Blog – Week 4
Category: 10 Week Workshops, Amanda Frawley, Basingstoke Workshops, Sing for Fun · Tags:
22nd February 2010
After a false start last Monday, I really enjoyed the workshop tonight but was left wondering, who is the Fire Starter? I know it’s cold in the school, but starting a fire to try to keep us all warm was frankly irresponsible and didn’t work anyway!
Craig and Jane gave us all badges tonight with our name and emergency contact details printed on each one. Jane said it was so she can learn all our names and ring our nearest and dearest should we take a funny turn. I found it particularly useful because, as a woman of a certain age, I am hopeless at remembering names! Never forget a face, but you could tell me your name ten times and to my acute embarrassment, I would still fail to remember it.
One of the good things about Sing for Fun is I can sing a whole song instead of just the chorus. This was the case for Angels by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. I could easily sing you the chorus but would only be able to hum the verse. Many songs I have known for so long have wonderful lyrics and it’s been a joy discovering them and sing the song completely.
Great to see Graham back with us tonight, we just need Wendy now to complete our choir!
Looking forward to my next adventure in Sing for Fun Land!
Amanda Frawley
Feb
Feb
Amanda’s Blog – Week 3
Category: 10 Week Workshops, Amanda Frawley, Basingstoke Workshops, Sing for Fun · Tags:
8th February 2010
I hate to keep going on about the cold, but even the dog with the brandy around its neck would turn back from its rescue mission if it ventured into the hall tonight! Many people kept their coats on and my body twisted with a huge shiver. How I suffer for my art!
It was great to hear the harmonies tonight as we took turns to practice in our groups. The sound they made was so good that the rest of us, in the tune group, clapped to show our approval. When I went to the Newbury workshop it was so nice just to watch the singers and witness the sheer enjoyment people experience whilst singing. I love the way many singers, in both Newbury and Basingstoke, are compelled to sway and really get into the songs we sing. It just showed me that singing can take you away from your day-to-day life and is such a pleasurable activity. Or perhaps they were just trying to keep warm!
See you next week, I’ll be the one wearing thermals, a balaclava, ski jacket and sipping a hot toddy!
Sing to keep warm!
Amanda Frawley
Feb
Feb
Amanda’s Blog – Week 2
1st February 2010
If a stranger had wondered into the much warmer hall last night at Sing for Fun, they would have heard Jane talk about we-ing on notes and Tenor ladies. They would probably think they had walked into an incontinence workshop by mistake. It was all part of our warm-up session where we must look and sound very strange. My particular favourite is when we make the sound of a horse by vibrating our lips. I suppose Jane has to have her fun!
Lean On Me by Bill Withers is our new song to learn which I remember singing a long time ago, without really knowing the lyrics. Our other song is Straighten Up and Fly Right by Nat King Cole and Irving Mills which I find myself singing all the time. The words are a little unusual and I can only remember a few, so I do more humming than singing. Of course, once I reach the chorus, which I can remember, I sing it out loud as it’s very catchy. It’s a fun piece with a great opportunity for some cheesy Jazz hands at the end!
So I’ll sign off like Nat and Irving, Sing_righ – t. (Jazz hands)
Amanda Frawley