Ensemble singing

Being able to sing as part of an ensemble is a difficult yet imperative skill. It essentially means singing as part of a chorus or group, which sounds simple enough however when singing as part of a multiple part harmony there are several things a singer has to concentrate on. First the singer must know their range and be able to follow their own harmony line, this means singing in tune and in time whilst the people around you sing something entirely different. It can be hard to remain fully concentrated and I personally tend to try to match pitch with the person beside me. This is also an issue for me if I'm singing lead and I get confused and start singing the backing/harmony line and vice versa.

Since joining Sunderland Choir my ensemble singing has improved greatly. I find it much easier to match pitch with other singers and with the piano, for instance before we rehearse our pianist Tim will say "here's your starting note Alto's" and I can match it with my voice which is something I previously struggled with. I feel like already my range has improved just from singing more often, your voice is like a muscle and the more you use it the more flexible it becomes. "When proper diaphragmatic breathing technique is employed, and when a singer's endurance is being tested, the intercostal muscles can get a very good workout. Muscle fatigue is especially common amongst new vocal students who haven't yet built up strength in these muscles and are isolating them during singing for the first time." O'Connor, K (2015). By singing more frequently I am strengthening the muscles required to sing well and therefore improving my ability as a vocalist.

Dr Dr Eiluned Pearce conducted a study into "whether there was something special about singing as a bonding behavior" as part of a series of studies looking at how music strengthens relationships. The co-author, Dr Jacques Launay, said "music-making had been an important part of all human cultures throughout history" and “evolved to serve some purpose”. He added that “Evidence suggests that the really special thing that music does for us is encourage social bonding between whole groups of people playing and dancing together". She concluded that "Singing acts as a bonding behaviour among adults, making it easier for people to make new friends."

Photo taken of Sunderland Choir at the North East Proms. November 1st 2015