Hot dates –
Pub (business) Meeting in the spa, Tuesday 9 February 7.30
The best of Dorset, Sunday 21 March
And look -http://www.youtube.com/dorsetforsinging - here is the link to the super-duper-all-in-one place youtube channel, and there’s a hot link over on the right along with one for this year’s charity. If you have the picture of Ed posing with the link on the screen, I want it for this blog, so drop me a line, quick before he says no!
We were back in the music room last night, which makes for a lovely intimate practice but the computer is old and chuggy compared to the one in the hall. Mind you I hope we don’t have to watch One Voice lyrics shooting up the screen again, I felt quite sick after that, and much prefer the lovely PowerPoint presentations Michael always makes us! How about you? And from here on it is to be known as Ron Voice, unless he backs down from his solo intro. The del boy version was a treat, thanks for that!
Does anyone have any stuffed and cuddly tigers? From one voice to one-brow, we tackled the ‘Susan Boyle’ number, I Dreamed a Dream, and quite nicely too I think, Ed certainly looked pleased with us. I am happy with this one, as I often sing it while scrubbing potatoes.
Anyway, its time I put clothes on myself, don’t forget if you want to have a say on what the choir does, drop us a line, use the forum or turn up to the pub meeting detailed above. Mines a half.
21 january 2010
Coo-Coo-Kazoo!
Having wasted some time this morning trying to locate a fictitious youtube channel called known as Dorset for Singing, and verifying that I was searching properly by finding my own channel, I have given up and will leave you in the busy hands of Michael and Ed to enlighten you as to the whereabouts of our one-stop-shop for choir music. I hope it hasn’t gone the way of the solos from the summer concert.
Other choir info can still be found back on our ‘proper’ choir website. I’m just the blogger, after all. Look there’s a link over on the right there, and when we have the youtube info, ill pop on a link to that too.
I am not posting 5 videos this week, other wise we will never get any work done. We sang quite a few high energy songs, and I felt as if I had been jogging, mind you I still had enough puff to sing very loudly in the car on the way home. Marie was behind me in the queue, looking in her glove box for her ‘80s leotard dance greats – the electric blue edition’. And maybe some gloves.
When Ed stuck a microphone in my face I had no choice but to make like the karaoke queen I am, so very sorry about that. Anyone fancy any karaoke in half term? We could empty a pub and have lots of room for doing the YMCA actions, and some arc welding in legwarmers.
I don’t think I have any very sensible advice for you today. That choir practice was bonkers. Stand by for more information on videos and some word documents too. Lets hope they are the right ones. I don’t think F# is the right key for me …
Having wasted some time this morning trying to locate a fictitious youtube channel called known as Dorset for Singing, and verifying that I was searching properly by finding my own channel, I have given up and will leave you in the busy hands of Michael and Ed to enlighten you as to the whereabouts of our one-stop-shop for choir music. I hope it hasn’t gone the way of the solos from the summer concert.
Other choir info can still be found back on our ‘proper’ choir website. I’m just the blogger, after all. Look there’s a link over on the right there, and when we have the youtube info, ill pop on a link to that too.
I am not posting 5 videos this week, other wise we will never get any work done. We sang quite a few high energy songs, and I felt as if I had been jogging, mind you I still had enough puff to sing very loudly in the car on the way home. Marie was behind me in the queue, looking in her glove box for her ‘80s leotard dance greats – the electric blue edition’. And maybe some gloves.
When Ed stuck a microphone in my face I had no choice but to make like the karaoke queen I am, so very sorry about that. Anyone fancy any karaoke in half term? We could empty a pub and have lots of room for doing the YMCA actions, and some arc welding in legwarmers.
I don’t think I have any very sensible advice for you today. That choir practice was bonkers. Stand by for more information on videos and some word documents too. Lets hope they are the right ones. I don’t think F# is the right key for me …
14 January 2010
Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll ….
And Happy Bloggiversary!
Hello Dorset for Singing, and welcome back to choir for 2010. We all squeezed into the music room as the hall as being used for an interesting talk! Jenny was particularly pleased to see some new faces again too, and most of us had a peep at Michael’ and Catherine’s new baby Ruby.
Time warp time tonight as we slipped into some Eighties numbers and an interesting selection it was too! You know how I am always telling you to sit and listen to the songs on repeat? Well here is the first one, by the magic of new bloggery blogs! Soon all those jumbly-up words will fit into the right places just like we did with ‘river of dreams’.
Video number two gave us such a giggle, especially as they kept singing ‘we are happy now,’ but they were very plainly not! And I remembered how when aged about 12 I had written some new lyrics for this song about dinner ladies!
There are some odd words that don’t make sense at all, but again, sit with you tube for a while and get your head around the phrasing.
Most people know bonnie Tyler’s songs; we are that kind of choir! I know a Welsh Mountain pony we can borrow for the concert, and we can scour the charity shops for lots of white nighties to wear!
Sorry if you were a bit squashed in the music room, our default setting is now the school hall, unless there are things going on there …see you next week choir, and ooh look, you can leave comments on this blog! I do hope you like it, and enjoy a poke around in the archives too. The Choir Blog is 1 year old…
And Happy Bloggiversary!
Hello Dorset for Singing, and welcome back to choir for 2010. We all squeezed into the music room as the hall as being used for an interesting talk! Jenny was particularly pleased to see some new faces again too, and most of us had a peep at Michael’ and Catherine’s new baby Ruby.
Time warp time tonight as we slipped into some Eighties numbers and an interesting selection it was too! You know how I am always telling you to sit and listen to the songs on repeat? Well here is the first one, by the magic of new bloggery blogs! Soon all those jumbly-up words will fit into the right places just like we did with ‘river of dreams’.
Video number two gave us such a giggle, especially as they kept singing ‘we are happy now,’ but they were very plainly not! And I remembered how when aged about 12 I had written some new lyrics for this song about dinner ladies!
There are some odd words that don’t make sense at all, but again, sit with you tube for a while and get your head around the phrasing.
Most people know bonnie Tyler’s songs; we are that kind of choir! I know a Welsh Mountain pony we can borrow for the concert, and we can scour the charity shops for lots of white nighties to wear!
Sorry if you were a bit squashed in the music room, our default setting is now the school hall, unless there are things going on there …see you next week choir, and ooh look, you can leave comments on this blog! I do hope you like it, and enjoy a poke around in the archives too. The Choir Blog is 1 year old…
a happy new year, dorset for singing!
i have been busy putting all the past 12 months choir blogs together on this bloggery blog, for your enjoyment ...
has anyone got any god pictures of choir they we could use, too?
i think we need lots more!
i hope you are keeping singing? cat xxx
3 december 2009
Term one year 2 week 10
Getting better…
Now its time for some feedback, the kind that wont hurt your ears. I think Dorset for singing just gets better, and better. Every time we finish a concert and go home, I feel a little twinge of sadness knowing I wont see my 100 best buddies for a few weeks … and last year there were only 80 of you! But this busy mum-of-many does enjoy the rest, too, all this frantic blogging that no one else has the time to do …
Gasps last night, as the phantom blogger was unmasked, yet again, and more then once! Ed’s cheesy jokes will be told on the BBC (website). Michael has lost his on-stage job as we have a new charity and it was nice to hear some words from the local man for the Alzheimer’s society, but for the life of me I can’t remember his name. Erm… oh well at least I can remember most of the song lyrics when they are hidden behind a Christmas tree. Last years tree in the school hall wasn’t that tall. It only affected the bottom line. Thanks to Dave for shifting all the words over to the right, for the second half!
And talking of bottoms, I suppose you all had a good look at Ed’s after I pointed it out. I don’t suppose he will leave me in charge of the microphone again. I am very proud of him for being honest about his mistakes. Sorry there were so many everyone! But well done choir for keeping smiling and keeping singing … that’s all I ever ask of you, isn’t it?
I know im always nagging you to practice, and read my blog of course, but now im feeling generous. Once the turkey sandwiches and chocs from the tree have vanished, and its time to think about the new year, I would like to give you a present, so send me an email after Christmas (coombes6@btinternet.com) and ill tell you were to find it. And pop into the new Portland Arts Centre’s fund raising exhibition, coz I’ve got some art and crafts in there from 6th-29th December. ‘Cause I do love you, you know! Cat xxx
here is what i wrote for the local paper, and sent to ruth meech ...
"Dorset for Singing’s big Christmas Concert, number two
Review by Cat Coombes, AKA the choir blogger …
Weymouth’s biggest community choir does exactly what is says on the tin. The choir gives its members the opportunity to perform, and if any want to, to stand up there and sing alone. And last night again we brought good people of Weymouth and further affield together for an evening of song, and as more than one person said to me afterwards, there was something for everyone, in our audience of 180 people!
If you enjoy singing all kinds of songs, then this is the choir for you, and the concert is an option of course, but to make sure everyone is welcome we have our words on a screen at the back, and often some seating. We even have a naughty corner, but this year they redeemed themselves just in time for Santa’s visit by handing out refreshments in the interval! Having the words on a screen can be interesting when they are half hidden by the All Saints school hall Christmas tree, but members of the audience laughed along with Director Ed Hintze when he pointed out some mistakes, and some said they loved how friendly and informal the evening was.
We sang a bit of everything, from Abba to snow patrol, show tunes, and old favourites, with a handful of Christmas ditties this year too! There were solos from familiar faces and a new choir member too, some of them beautifully and spontaneously backed by the rest of choir seated on stage. When I joined Dorset for Singing I had no idea it would take me to centre stage for solos, but what a great opportunity that is, all ears upon you, bright lights and your own pianist, nerves and wobbly notes, and all! And the applause! Oh yes, and the mince pies at half time.
Of course we also worked together to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society, voted as this years charity to benefit from our termly concerts, and Malcolm Cumber from the south Dorset branch, came on stage to talk to us about ‘singing for the brain’, therapy for people suffering from Alzheimer’s. The concert raised a fantastic £462.83! Go Dorset for Singing! To find out more about our lovely choir, and catch up with the choir’s blog, go to www.dorsetforsinging.co.uk, and have a lovely Christmas, from all of us!"
26 november 2009
Term one week nine!
On your marks, get DORset ….
Ed was at the clavinova compiling a list of songs and picking our brains for ideas. Michael was nowhere in site, but we had Dave in attendance of course.
This was our longest practice ever, and was a very good idea, as finishing at roughly 8.45pm gave us enough time to sing 14 songs, laugh at Ed’s cheesy jokes (I mean it, they were REALLY cheesy), and have a break too.
The evening passed by in a blur, probably because May opened the bar at half time, and we were warned not to slur our words. Michael, Carol and Catherine did arrive, and good job too, because M’s laptop often fills in when the school PC goes on strike!
We are getting lots of complements from Ed, about our tone, which is good now, and we are singing a lot of songs which require LOTS of energy and power…at this years concert, we will have been practicing together for over a year, so we cant get the sympathy vote we had at our first concert when we had only met nine times!
I wasn’t choir blogger in our first term together, having followed a friend to Dorset for Singing, and joined at week 4. In January when days are short and nights are long we will start practising again, and I will have my choir blogger first birthday. Perhaps May will open the bar, again!
Have a GREAT WEEK, keep singing, and be in the hall ready for the concert at 6.30 please, mince pies in hand. Does it matter if they have toddler finger prints in them? Cat xxx
On your marks, get DORset ….
Ed was at the clavinova compiling a list of songs and picking our brains for ideas. Michael was nowhere in site, but we had Dave in attendance of course.
This was our longest practice ever, and was a very good idea, as finishing at roughly 8.45pm gave us enough time to sing 14 songs, laugh at Ed’s cheesy jokes (I mean it, they were REALLY cheesy), and have a break too.
The evening passed by in a blur, probably because May opened the bar at half time, and we were warned not to slur our words. Michael, Carol and Catherine did arrive, and good job too, because M’s laptop often fills in when the school PC goes on strike!
We are getting lots of complements from Ed, about our tone, which is good now, and we are singing a lot of songs which require LOTS of energy and power…at this years concert, we will have been practicing together for over a year, so we cant get the sympathy vote we had at our first concert when we had only met nine times!
I wasn’t choir blogger in our first term together, having followed a friend to Dorset for Singing, and joined at week 4. In January when days are short and nights are long we will start practising again, and I will have my choir blogger first birthday. Perhaps May will open the bar, again!
Have a GREAT WEEK, keep singing, and be in the hall ready for the concert at 6.30 please, mince pies in hand. Does it matter if they have toddler finger prints in them? Cat xxx
19 october 2009
week eight ...
The penultimate practice
Ed scared us by reminding us that this was our last practice before our ‘technical’, and then the concert the week after that. Although technically, we wont be getting in next week, as the hall is yet again in use. Never mind, we may not be able to tread the boards but we will be able to stay longer, running onto 8.45pm, and all squished together in the practice room. I wish we could put the words on the ceiling, so we can stand up and give it some welly…
Michael was back in charge of words and music this week, with some help from Dave, and chose the songs for us to rattle through. I won’t list them in dreary succession, but I will make a few points…
The biggest surprise was how lovely ‘chasing cars’ sounded, esp. after all the grumbling and booing last week! Well done choir, you really have been listening to me nagging you to go on you tube! The same could be said for ‘river of dreams’ where all those jumbly up lyrics seemed to fit on the right lines, at last!
We will need to watch Ed for the timings of ‘higher and higher’ so perhaps we had better practice it next week, along with ‘I wanna be the only one, the only one’ which we adore so much. We changed the backing in the second verse to more ‘yeah-yeah-yeah’, a very positive move indeed.
Keep singing choir, not long to go now. And remember, unlike this time last year when it was out first time, this time we really need to impress the punters. But don’t worry too much. I’ll still love you, whatever happens xxx
The penultimate practice
Ed scared us by reminding us that this was our last practice before our ‘technical’, and then the concert the week after that. Although technically, we wont be getting in next week, as the hall is yet again in use. Never mind, we may not be able to tread the boards but we will be able to stay longer, running onto 8.45pm, and all squished together in the practice room. I wish we could put the words on the ceiling, so we can stand up and give it some welly…
Michael was back in charge of words and music this week, with some help from Dave, and chose the songs for us to rattle through. I won’t list them in dreary succession, but I will make a few points…
The biggest surprise was how lovely ‘chasing cars’ sounded, esp. after all the grumbling and booing last week! Well done choir, you really have been listening to me nagging you to go on you tube! The same could be said for ‘river of dreams’ where all those jumbly up lyrics seemed to fit on the right lines, at last!
We will need to watch Ed for the timings of ‘higher and higher’ so perhaps we had better practice it next week, along with ‘I wanna be the only one, the only one’ which we adore so much. We changed the backing in the second verse to more ‘yeah-yeah-yeah’, a very positive move indeed.
Keep singing choir, not long to go now. And remember, unlike this time last year when it was out first time, this time we really need to impress the punters. But don’t worry too much. I’ll still love you, whatever happens xxx
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