what is the most important thing to know about choir rehearsal?
You are in a supportive and inclusive space where the focus is singing with joy. We don’t care if you sing out of tune, sing the melody or harmony, or sit or stand. We are just happy you are with us!
HOW DO I FIND MY VOCAL RANGE?
Many of the songs we sing are divided into different parts for different voices – sopranos, altos, tenors, and bass. These terms refer to the natural vocal range of any given chorister from highest (soprano) to lowest (bass).
Your voice probably doesn’t fit neatly into any one category. We encourage you to sing what feels comfortable to you, where you can sing without straining your voice on high or low notes.
In our choir, we usually combine the tenor and bass parts into one lower‑voice group called baritone.
Check out these videos below if you’d like to explore what your vocal range is. If you think your voice is on the higher side, watch the top one. If your voice is a little lower, try checking out the bottom video.
What is a harmony? Do I have to sing it?
You’ll sometimes hear our music director talk about melody and harmony. The melody is the part that makes a song recognizable — it’s what we naturally sing along with when we’re enjoying our favourite tunes at home.
Harmony refers to the other notes that, when sung alongside the melody, create a fuller, richer sound. This blend of different parts is one of the key things that distinguishes a choir from a sing‑along, where everyone sings the melody.
Sometimes you may be asked to sing a harmony (eek!), and that can feel confusing if you’re new to choir singing. But rest assured — it’s a skill that gets easier with practice. It’s a fun mental challenge, and we encourage you to give it a try.
How can I practice singing the harmony?
1) Sit between choristers who sing the same part.
If you’re singing alto, try sitting with the altos. Hearing others around you sing your part makes it much easier to stay on track.
2) Listen to the songs at home.
Our music director records practice tracks for each part, and the more you listen to yours, the more familiar it becomes. Your brain starts to recognize the pattern, which makes singing it at rehearsal much easier.
And remember: you never have to sing the harmony. If singing the melody brings you joy, that’s always a wonderful choice.
I can't read music, how can I follow the choir director?
Many of our choristers are brand new to music and don’t read notation. That’s completely okay — you can follow the lyric sheets we provide, or simply watch and listen to the director as you learn.
We also provide pencils so you can jot down reminders about what’s happening in the song. Your notes don’t have to be just words — try arrows, squiggly lines, or any markings that help you create a system that makes sense to you.
If you prefer to use the music itself (or if no lyric sheet is provided), we encourage you to highlight your own part so it stands out from the other lines. And as always, feel free to write notes directly on the music to help you remember what’s happening.
Check out the video below if you’d like to familiarize yourself with choral music sheets.