- Words by Jane Zatylny Photography by Lia Crowe

I love to singB次元官网网址攑rivately. In the shower. In the car. And around the house. IB次元官网网址檝e never thought I was good enough to sing in any kind of public way. But singing in a choir, IB次元官网网址檓 learning, is about more than just hitting the right high notes.

B次元官网网址淚f you want to sing with other people, just do it,B次元官网网址� urges Marc Jenkins, director of The Choirs YYJ. B次元官网网址淚t feels good, whatever your skill level.B次元官网网址�

Marc tells me that Victoria has the highest number of choirs per capita in the country. B次元官网网址淭here are more choir singers than hockey players in Canada, too,B次元官网网址� he quips.

Different sorts of choirs are springing up all across the province, from the traditional symphonic, educational or auditioned choir to choirs that practice and perform pop music or gather to sing a hit together on a single night.

Choirs, of course, are all about community. And after the seclusion of the pandemic, it obviously feels great to gather again and work together as a community on a song or two. But something else happens when people gather to sing together, Marc says: B次元官网网址淚f two people sing next to one another for four months, their bodies get to B次元官网网址榢nowB次元官网网址� one another. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when the hook goes in with choir.B次元官网网址�

Lynda Kaye felt a strong pull when she first started singing with the Tofino Ucluelet Choir. She was part of a choir in junior high and loved it, but didnB次元官网网址檛 do anything with singing again until her 60th year.

B次元官网网址淪ome musician friends of mine told me about a woman named Sophie LB次元官网网址橦omme, who was starting a choir. I went in to that first rehearsal andB次元官网网址攚owB次元官网网址攊t changed my life overnight.B次元官网网址�

Seven years later, Lynda is still hooked on choir.

B次元官网网址淭here wasnB次元官网网址檛 a rehearsal in Tofino where I didnB次元官网网址檛 laugh and cry and feel fantastic. It was just an extraordinary, extraordinary experience. And everybody that I know whoB次元官网网址檚 done it has felt the same way,B次元官网网址� she says.

The creation of harmonyB次元官网网址攍iterally, as well as metaphoricallyB次元官网网址攊s another very powerful aspect of choir, says Marc: B次元官网网址淚n a way, weB次元官网网址檙e like bees in a hive.B次元官网网址�

I dropped in to listen to one of MarcB次元官网网址檚 rehearsals and saw immediately what he meant: there was laughter and close camaraderie as people arrived, greeted one another, and set up chairs. And then sweet, sweet sounds flowed across the room, from soprano voices to alto, then from to tenor to bass.

The vibe in the room was contagious, even from my chair at the back of the room. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 help but sing softly, too, close my eyes and sway to the music.

Rebecca Lam, creative director of the Vancouver-based Chorus Studio, explained why: singing, she said, releases endorphins and oxytocin, the famous feel-good hormones. Ah, that makes sense.

B次元官网网址淐onnecting with music and expressing yourself creatively is an empowering endeavour,B次元官网网址� says Rebecca. B次元官网网址淪inging in a choir is also a wonderful way to meet people and make new friends. WeB次元官网网址檙e vulnerable with each other because you have to be while singing. This naturally cultivates camaraderie between people.B次元官网网址�

Lynda now divides her time between Tofino and Victoria and continues to participate in her Tofino Ucluelet choir via Zoom. SheB次元官网网址檚 been checking out local Victoria choirs, too, and expects to find a new choral home in Victoria soon.

To anyone thinking of joining a choir, she advises: B次元官网网址淚f you have even an inkling that you might want to sing in a group, give it a go. Go someplace, find a drop-in choir or go to a choir performance and observe how itB次元官网网址檚 done. Talk to a choir director or someone else whoB次元官网网址檚 in choir. Just give it a go.B次元官网网址�

And donB次元官网网址檛 let your musical insecurities or inexperience hold you back. In the Tofino Ucluelet choir, Lynda said, half of the people knew how to read music and half didnB次元官网网址檛.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an advantage if you can read music, but itB次元官网网址檚 not a requirement,B次元官网网址� she explains. B次元官网网址淲hen you raise your voice with a group of people, the community of choir pulls everybody with it. ItB次元官网网址檚 okay if you miss a note or forget your lyrics because weB次元官网网址檙e all there to hold you up.B次元官网网址�

The joy of choir all comes back to that undeniable feel-good factor, says Marc. B次元官网网址淚f you sing in the shower or you sing in the car, and want to do that with other people, do it, because it feels really good.B次元官网网址�

Here are some tips to consider if youB次元官网网址檙e thinking of joining a choir:

Do your research.

Go online and find out what sorts of choirs there are in your area, then go to a few concerts to see what you like.

B次元官网网址淢ost choirs will have a website or social media presence,B次元官网网址� says Marc. B次元官网网址淭here you can get a flavour of what the choir will be like.B次元官网网址�

Recognize that choir is a commitment.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e all doing it and youB次元官网网址檙e all working hard at getting good at it,B次元官网网址� says Lynda. B次元官网网址淵ou have to learn the music, you have to practice the music, you have to show up for a rehearsal. And you have to be okay with repeating, repeating, repeating until you get it right.B次元官网网址�

Shy on commitment?

Consider a drop-in choir. There are many one-night performances where you learn a pop song and record it with the group in a single evening.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l still obtain a goal,B次元官网网址� says Marc. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l do a little three-part harmony.B次元官网网址� (The Choirs YYJ will do a Beatles drop-in choir night in June.) Check online for a drop-in choir event in your area.

DonB次元官网网址檛 be intimidated.

B次元官网网址淲e like to say, B次元官网网址業f you can speak, you can sing,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� says Rebecca. B次元官网网址淚t is outdated to believe that one is either born with talent or not. Musical ability can be cultivated and nourished.B次元官网网址�

And lastly, donB次元官网网址檛 give up.

It may take time to find the right choir, says Marc. ItB次元官网网址檚 like buying a car; sometimes you have to kick the tires.

B次元官网网址淪ome of it can be social too,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淔or instance, if youB次元官网网址檙e really extroverted and you join a choir thatB次元官网网址檚 pretty introverted, you might be like, B次元官网网址榃hy does nobody like me?B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 worth scoping around and trying things until you find your way.B次元官网网址�

Info

The Choirs YYJ

thechoirsyyj.com

A collective of three Victoria-based ensembles that represent over 200 people of all ages, genders, experiences, vocal abilities and musical tastes.

Chorus Studio

thechorusstudio.com

A Vancouver-based community of adult pop choirs, professional voice lessons and performance workshops, and regular open mic and karaoke nights.

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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