- What Kind of Choir Should You Join?
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Date Posted: Thu, 3 Apr 2025
What kind of choir should you join?
Cornwall is known for being a musical place. From sea shanties to folk bands, you don't have to go far to find music being played and voices raised in song. So, it's no wonder that Cornwall has plenty of choirs for a wannabe singer to join! The trouble is, how do you know which is the right one for you? In this month's blog, we've decided to take a deep dive into some of the considerations that go into making your choice and - we hope - make that decision a little easier.
1. Are you a novice or a seasoned singer?
This is often the first stumbling block for anyone looking to join a choir. We can get stuck in our own heads, thinking if we're new to something then everyone with more experience is going to look down on us, or treat us differently. Right off the bat, let us tell you this: if you visit a choir rehearsal as a complete beginner and anyone treats you badly for not knowing all there is to know already? Walk away!! Singing is a wonderful, joyous experience and deserves to be shared by everyone, regardless of whether they've stood on a dozen stages or only ever sung in the shower. The right choir for you - whether it's big or small, a cappella or accompanied - will make you feel welcome from the moment you walk through the door and will support you as you learn.
Another worry for new singers is whether or not they might be required to read music in order to join a choir. Our best advice is to do as much research as you can! Most choirs should have this on their website ( for example, on our "About More Harmony" page, we tell anyone considering joining that there is no need to be able to read music, as we learn from teach tracks).
As for experienced singers, finding a new choir can be a great way to freshen up your skills or even try something completely out of your comfort zone! Remember in either case, that many choirs offer a free session for you to try them out, so you won't lose anything by going along to see if you like it. In fact, here at More Harmony, we offer you three!
2. Single-Gender or Mixed Choir?
There are plenty of different reasons people have for wanting to join a single-sex choir - and just as many for joining a mixed one! This is entirely down to personal preference, so our only advice here is to think about which you might be happier with. It may be that you'd be perfectly pleased to sing in either type of choir, but for some people, there is a preference, so bear that in mind when you're researching groups in your area.
3. What Kind of Music do You Want to Sing?
Music taste is entirely subjective and one person's favourite tune could be another's worst nightmare! Whilst most choirs do try to vary their repertoire, it's best to check what kind of music they choose before you take the plunge. Many choirs have either repertoire lists or video examples on their websites to help you make a decision (some examples of the type of songs we sing can be found here). After all, if you're looking to sing hymns, joining a modern pop choir might not be the right move for you - and vice versa!
It's also worth finding out whether the group sings with accompaniment or a cappella (with no backing tracks). There are pros and cons to both: some people prefer the safety of a keyboard or backing track to sing along with, whereas some singers find they get more enjoyment out of the challenge that a cappella brings - and the fact that they can hear the voices around them more clearly!
4. Size DOES Matter!
Whilst there are definitely people who are equally at home in a large group or a small one, for many of us, the size of a choir could well have some bearing on how comfortable we feel about joining. Again, there are pros and cons to both. For example, for a novice singer, a very large choir may provide a feeling of protection - you won't feel so exposed if you get a word wrong or a note out of place if there are eighty other people drowning you out! On the flip-side, a small group can be far less scary for someone new to walk into. There are fewer names to remember, it's easier to get to know everyone and you'll have a much higher level of support from a leader that only has a handful of other people in their section than you might from a leader with 30+ voices to look after!
If you're an experienced singer, a smaller group could be your chance to really shine! You can share your knowledge and actually hear the difference your voice makes to the choir's overall sound - a seasoned singer may feel stifled by being in a large group; a big fish, struggling to be heard in the pond. However, it may be that you've sung in several small choirs and you feel ready to try something different!
Have a think about whether you'd feel more comfortable in a very large group or a smaller one and, if the information isn't immediately obvious on a choir's website, drop them a line and ask how big the group is.
5. How Is The Choir Run?
Choirs and singing groups are run in all kinds of different ways and whilst it might not initially seem important to know how things work behind-the-scenes, in our experience, the more you know before you join a group, the better placed you are to get the most out of being a member.
For example, is the choir you're thinking of joining a business, or is it a not-for-profit organisation? A business may have a whole group of people involved in keeping things operational - marketing managers, CEOs etc. This can be beneficial, as it means all you have to do is turn up and sing, plus brand recognition can give you a feeling of belonging. If your choir is one of many up and down the country, you can take pride in the achievements of other groups, not to mention make the most of opportunities to perform together or to transfer your membership should you move elsewhere. However, as with any business where profit is the name of the game, make sure you look into the small-print. If you give up your membership, do you have to pay to the end of the term, or even the year? Do you have to pay any extras on top of your monthly or annual subs, such as for branded uniform to wear when you sing? Equally, remember that when a group is run as a business, the members will have far less of a say when it comes to things like performance outfits, repertoire and rehearsal structure. If you're someone who wants to have their voice heard, a not-for-profit or community choir may work better.
More Harmony are a not-for-profit group. The subs our members pay go towards paying our bills (rehearsal venue hire, music licensing etc) and the rest goes straight back into the choir. We're proud to provide our members with their music bags and uniform. As we're run by our membership, you'll also be able to suggest songs to add to our repertoire, vote on changes to rehearsal structure and even take on a committee role if you'd like to be more involved. Being run this way also means we're cheaper than a lot of other groups, especially those run for profit. Plus, we're members of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers, meaning you'll have the opportunity to attend local and national events, access education if you'd like to further hone your musical skills and even receive coaching from experts!
6. How Important Is Performance?
Some people join a choir purely for a bit of fun, whereas others are keen to strut their stuff on the biggest stage possible! Whilst most choirs like to sing in front of an audience and show off what they can do, the size of that audience - and the level of polish required in the performance - can differ wildly. Some groups even enter local, national or international competitions! Find out what kind of performance opportunities come with singing in any choir you're looking into (their social channels or blog should reference recent performances) and pick one that is going to give you what you're after.
Don't be fooled into thinking only larger choirs offer big performance opportunities - we're a small group and we love performing on any sized stage we can get! Remember that if you're shy or completely new to the world of performance, any choir worth its salt will support you and give you the confidence you need.
7. Make Sure Your Values Align
Now obviously we're not saying that choosing a choir is as big a decision as picking which box to cross at a General Election, but it is a good idea to find out as much as possible about a group's ethos and values before you take the plunge. Is the choir LGBTQ+-friendly? Is the rehearsal venue fully accessible and are they open to people with disabilities? Are they affiliated with any other groups and if so, what are their values? Finding out these things in advance is a good way to judge how comfortably you're going to fit in!
For example, the More Harmony ethos is: "...to encourage respect, positivity and inclusivity between our members and to be as welcoming and accessible as possible to people of all abilities and backgrounds. Whether you've sung in a choir before or you're a total novice, you are welcome."
8. What Level of Commitment Can You Give?
We're all busy people, often juggling jobs, families and plenty more besides! Joining a choir should be something fun that slots into your life, rather than something that makes you feel overwhelmed. For that reason, it's worth being really clear about the level of commitment you can give to a choir - and asking how much they expect from you. For example, a large choir with several branches locally may not worry about whether you can attend every rehearsal, or be present for every concert, as there are plenty of people to take your place. That might work for busy singers with less free time to devote to their hobby, but for others, it can result in feeling as though you've missed out, or that your voice isn't important to the overall group. Smaller choirs may be more dependent on their singers attending rehearsals or performances, but this is balanced out by the satisfaction of feeling like you're an integral part of the team. Of course, it's not just about size, either! Some large choruses are competitive on a national or even international level and will expect singers to be available for a number of additional rehearsals and special events, whereas some small choirs know they have a core group who can carry off performances when necessary and won't mind so much if you can't be there every time. Asking what level of commitment is needed from you - and being realistic about what you can give - will help you pick the right choir for you.
Get Out There And Sing!
As we said, there are plenty of opportunities to sing in North Cornwall. We have male voice choirs, mixed groups, a cappella choruses, shanty singers and everything in between. If you're someone who loves to sing - or just wants to give it a try - there's definitely somewhere for you. We hope we've given you a few ideas on how to narrow down your search!
If you think More Harmony Women's Chorus could be for you, why not drop us a line and find out more, or simply pop along to Wadebridge Ambulance Hall on a Thursday night to see what we get up to? Rehearsals start at 7:15pm and we'd love to see you there!
- Concerts & Competitions!
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Date Posted: Wed, 5 Mar 2025
Concerts & Competitions!
What an action-packed start to 2025 it's been! We've hit the ground running and we're already sensing big things ahead in this, our fifteenth anniversary year (keep your eyes peeled for celebrations happening later in the year - and for your chance to join in the fun!).
As always, we kicked off January with our AGM, at which our members get to put forward their ideas for the year ahead and vote on our annual "Barbershopper of The Year" award. This year, the lucky recipient was bass superstar Alice! As you can see, both she and MD Lesley were delighted with the result! The winner of the Pauline Gobbitt Award for Musicality for 2025 was AMD/Lead section leader Emma, who was incredibly honoured to receive an award given in memory of our fabulous and much-missed founding member.
Our AGM is always a great chance for everyone to sit with a cuppa (and a biscuit or two!) and make plans. It's really important to us that we're a member-led chorus, as it means that our singers have a say in how the group is run, what songs we sing and the direction we take. As mentioned, this year is our fifteenth anniversary, so plans were put forward for a celebratory concert to mark the occasion!
One of our missions is to grow the chorus in 2025. Whilst we think there's a lot to be said for being a small, tight-knit group, we are keen to boost our sound and welcome some new singers to the mix. With that in mind, some members have been kind enough to change sections to ensure we keep things in balance - one of our baris is now a bass and our tenor is now a bari! A huge thank you to Sue P and Alison for making the moves and to MD Lesley for stepping back into the chorus to sing tenor for us - you are all sounding phenomenal in your new sections! We've also been delighted to welcome a brand new member: Maddy is now officially a member of our bass section and has not only shown incredible dedication - learning songs in record-breaking time - but has already completed her first performance with us and is now about to enter her first competition! Maddy, you're a superstar and we're so thrilled to have you on board.
Wadebridge Festival of Music & Speech celebrates their centenary in 2025 and this year's festival both opens and closes with a concert. We were thrilled to be asked to take part in the opening concert and performed our version of Everyday by Buddy Holly at the event. This week (tomorrow night, at time of writing - eek!), we'll also be entering the small women's choir category with two more songs that we've been polishing over the last few weeks. There's even some choreo involved, so hold onto your hats and wish us luck!
Our performance at the festival's opening concert was also a chance to show off our new navy trousers and blouses! Whilst we love our casual look, wearing indigo jeans and tops in our chorus colours, several of our members requested a more formal look for special events (remember what we said about being member-run?!), so we sought out a costume grant and set about making ourselves look even snazzier than before! A huge thank you to our treasurer Sue P, who has worked tirelessly to source sustainable costume for us, in line with our environmentally-conscious ethos.
So, as you can see it's been all go here at More Harmony HQ and we've got lots still to look forward to as the year progresses! The best part? You can join in! If you're a woman aged 16 or over (we've not got an upper age limit!) and you love to sing, why not come along to Wadebridge Ambulance Hall on a Thursday night (we start at 7:15pm, doors open at 7) and give a cappella a try?! You might think you need the safety net of a backing track, but our members range from performers who've sung at national competitions, to total novices who've only ever sung in the bath! Both ends of the spectrum are equally valued at More Harmony. We firmly believe that anyone can sing, given the right support - and with the enthusiasm to learn. So, whether you're an experienced choir-goer or a complete newbie, we can guarantee the warmest of welcomes and the opportunity to truly let your voice shine! Drop us a line at contact@moreharmony.co.uk to find out more.
We hope to welcome you soon!
- 12 Reasons To Join More Harmony In 2025!
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Date Posted: Thu, 9 Jan 2025
12 Reasons to join more harmony in 2025!
Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful festive season, filled with fun, laughter and lots of tasty treats!
For many people, January is a time to reset. The start of a new year is the perfect time to think about what you'd like to achieve over the next twelve months and what you want to leave behind. With that in mind, we thought it would be the ideal time to bring you twelve reasons - one for each month of the year - why you should consider singing with us in 2025...
1. Challenge Yourself!This time of year is great for setting goals. It might be to lose weight, find the job of your dreams or give up a bad habit. Whatever you choose, the purpose is to provide yourself with a challenge. Well, that's where we come in!
Singing in harmony is an incredibly rewarding, joyous experience, but it doesn't happen by magic. Learning the words, practising between rehearsals and working up the nerve to perform in front of an audience are all personal challenges and we support one another to reach them. Whether you're a total novice or a singer who needs to get back into the swing of things, taking up a hobby like singing a cappella could be just the challenge you need to kick your 2025 into action!2. Get Healthy!
A lot of the goals people set at the start of a new year involve improving their overall health. Well, you may not realise it, but singing can do wonders for that!
From improving your posture to increasing your lung capacity, singing has a whole range of both physical and mental health benefits. The actual act of singing works out a variety of muscles and promotes better breathing, so if you're looking to get healthy in 2025, joining a choir might be the ideal first step!
3. Get Rid Of Your Post-Christmas Blues!
Singing has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and the actual act of belting out a song releases endorphins and gives you a big hit of dopamine - all of which basically means that singing makes you happy! Research has shown that people in choirs view singing as a wonderful way to take their minds off their troubles. So, if you're feeling a bit down now that the festivities are over, come and immerse yourself in the music and sing your blues away!
4. Give Your Memory A Boost!
One of the many benefits of singing is that it can improve your memory. When you sing, you engage several areas of the brain at once. The act of singing involves focusing on multiple things (posture, breathing, remembering the words etc) and so has been proven to improve mental alertness, memory and concentration. Of course, hearing songs can also trigger memories and remind you of happy times - what's not to love?!
5. Make New Friends!
Singing in a choir is a team sport! You'll get to know lots of like-minded people, all supporting one another to be the best they can be. The feeling of camaraderie that comes from performing together is second to none and friendships inevitably form, with regular social nights being held and members finding additional common interests. Plus, since we're a small, welcoming group, you won't ever have that "outsider" feeling - from the moment you walk through our doors, we'll make you feel like one of the gang!6. No Financial Risk!
Lots of choirs offer a free session to new singers, so they can "try before they buy," to see if singing is for them. Here at More Harmony, whilst we believe one session is all it takes for people to fall in love with a cappella, we offer three free sessions to newcomers, so they can really find their feet before they start paying to attend. From the fourth visit, a weekly sub of £6.50 is payable until a singer decides to become a full member. They then pay a one-off £20 joining fee and switch to a monthly Direct Debit payment of £25. We never want there to be a financial barrier to entry, so we try to keep our fees as low as we can. We're also not run for profit, so all of the money we receive from monthly subscriptions goes towards renting our rehearsal venue, paying for music & costume and providing educational opportunities and coaching for our members. Unlike some organisations, we also never chase members who leave, demanding that they pay to the end of a term, or worse, to the end of the year (trust us, we've read some horror stories!). Subs are paid on the 3rd of each month, so if someone chooses to move on from More Harmony, they simply cancel their Direct Debit and don't pay anymore.7. Develop Your Skills!
Joining a choir will obviously teach you how to sing correctly, with the right posture and breathing in place, ehancing your vocal skills in the process. But it doesn't stop there! You'll learn valuable life skills, such as teamwork, active listening and self-confidence. More Harmony are also member-led, with a committee of volunteers keeping everything ticking over. You'll have the opportunity to take on a role if you'd like to, which could lead to you organising fundraising events, writing press articles or even liaising with venues to arrange our performances - all of which looks great on a CV and will be a huge boost to your skill-set!
8. Give Something Back To Your Community!
As a not-for-profit organisation, More Harmony's primary focus is giving back to our members and beyond. Each year, we choose a charity to support and we raise money at a variety of events, from quizzes to concerts and everything in between! We also love being a part of our local community and show our support for various causes, whether by having a stall at a town fair or performing in care homes and hospices. If your goal for 2025 is to do a bit of good for your community, why not come along with us and have some fun at the same time?!
9. Unleash Your Inner Diva!
It might seem a little mad to have not mentioned this one yet, but we wanted to make it crystal clear how much you can get out of singing with us beyond performance opportunities! Of course, getting up in front of an audience and showing off what we can do is a big part of being a member of More Harmony. Over the years, we've sung at all kinds of events, both big and small. From brightening up an afternoon at the local care home, to competing at Wadebridge Festival of Speech & Music - and even travelling to Germany to sing in front of hundreds of people - our members have all kinds of opportunities to strut their stuff!10. Give Yourself Something Just For YOU!
Our choir is full of women with busy lives. Day jobs, children, grandchildren, other responsibilities... We've all got plenty on our plates! Thursday nights are a chance for us to let our hair down and do something just for ourselves. We have a laugh, work hard on polishing the songs we sing and feel like we've achieved something we can be really proud of. As one of our members once put it: "For a couple of hours a week, I'm not 'Mum' or 'Wife.' I'm a singer in an amazing group - and that feels so special!"
As a group of all ages and experiences, we try to ensure our repertoire has something for everyone. This year, we've got everything from 1950s rock and roll, to modern-day floor-fillers! To put that into context, our song list for 2025 features artists such as Buddy Holly, Billy Joel, Queen, ABBA, Whitney Houston and Jessie J, to name but a few! It's not unheard of for our members to fall in love with a song (or even an artist!) they'd never heard of before. It's equally common for us to bond over a new song that everyone knows - sung in a way that's totally fresh and exciting!
11. Broaden Your Musical Tastes!12. It's FUN!
We could go on all day about the many ways that singing is good for you, but if we had to boil it down to just ONE reason to join More Harmony, it would be this one! Yes, it can be tricky to to learn a brand new song and yes, getting up on stage in front of an audience can be rather nerve-wracking, but there is a reason that we all keep doing it and that's because it's positively joyous. The thrill we get when a song comes together, the laughter we share when we're doing funny warm-ups, the friendships we've made and the support we give to each other make rehearsals something we look forward to every week. In the seven years I've been at More Harmony, I've never attended a rehearsal that hasn't featured a lot of giggling and fun in amongst the singing!
We do it because we love it. Why not come along and see if you do, too?!
More Harmony rehearse on Thursday nights, 7:15-9:30pm at Wadebridge Ambulance Hall. There is no need to book in advance, just come along and give it a go! If you've got any questions you'd like to ask, please feel free to get in touch by emailing contact@moreharmony.co.uk and we'll be happy to help!
