Why is my throat sore after singing?

I ran a full day of singing last Saturday. At the end, a few people came up to say that their throats hurt.

Let’s look at why this might be and how you might avoid it.

The 3 steps to becoming a singer: bonus step — RELEVANT READS

I’ve now outlined all three steps to becoming a singer: 1: sing, 2: join a choir and 3: be self-aware.

image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

Now here is a bonus fourth step: relevant posts from the archives.

The 3 steps to becoming a singer: step 3 — SELF-AWARENESS

In the last two posts I’ve outlined step 1 and step 2 to becoming a singer.

Now it’s time for step 3 to help you grow and develop as a singer.

The 3 steps to becoming a singer: step 2 — JOIN A CHOIR

Last week I wrote about the first step to becoming a singer.

photo by Rex Pe

You need to actually start singing! Now here’s step 2.

The 3 steps to becoming a singer: step 1 — SING!

People often ask how they can become a singer.

Here are three simple steps to follow. Results guaranteed.

Why does it take me so long to learn a song? Everyone else seems to pick it up fast.

People often write to me asking me why it takes them ages to learn a song.

photo by matea2506

They think it might be due to age, dyslexia, or all manner of other ‘problems’. But it’s probably simpler than that.

Choir leaders: are you being too nice to your singers?

Sometimes an individual choir member needs to be told that they’re getting it wrong. 

photo by Ondřej Lipár

In our attempt to not be unkind, we can sometimes end up being too nice, which is not helpful.

Why singing together is magical and unique

There is something special about a group of people singing together.

photo by Jason Paris

And it’s not just about sense of community and the health benefits. It really is a unique activity.

What is ‘community singing’? — an attempted definition by Liz Rog: part 2

A couple of months ago I wrote a post entitled What is a ‘community choir’?

Now it’s the turn of Liz Rog to attempt a definition. Last week was part 1, now this is part 2.

What is ‘community singing’? — an attempted definition by Liz Rog: part 1

A couple of months ago I wrote a post entitled What is a ‘community choir’?

Now it’s the turn of Liz Rog to attempt a definition.

There is no ‘right’ time for taking stock, but it’s important to do so from time to time

Many people use the New Year as a trigger to set themselves goals for the future. And many people fail by being unrealistic.

Whether that’s you or not, it is vital to take stock from time to time, even if it’s not at New Year.

The Sheffield carols

What could be more true to the spirit of Christmas than standing in a crowded pub and singing Christmas carols?

photo by Delaina Haslam

Especially if the tunes are only to be heard in a few towns and villages near Sheffield, in South Yorkshire.

How to look after your voice (especially in the winter): 5 relevant reads

This is one of a series of summary posts around a specific topic, bringing together five relevant posts from the past. 

This summary is all about looking after your voice, especially in the winter months or when you have a busy concert season or if feasting is involved.

Why I write my blog “From the front of the choir”

I started this blog way back in December 2006. That’s 17 years of weekly blog posts!

I thought I’d make a little video to let you know why and how I got started.

How to get on with things when you’re just not in the mood

I’m not in the mood to write this blog today. But I need to.

How can you get on with things when you’re just not in the mood?

What is a ‘community choir’?

The term ‘community choir’ is used a lot, but what does it actually mean?

There is no single definition, but I thought I’d look at some common characteristics.

If it hurts to sing, then stop!

Often a singer will come up to me in a session and tell me their throat is hurting. I usually tell them to stop singing. 

photo by Marco Verch Professional Photographer

In this post want to look at what might cause pain or discomfort when singing and what you can do about it.

Why I became a choir leader

People often ask about my background, assuming that I have a musical education.

They are rather surprised when I tell them that my training is as a computer scientist, but I then spent over 20 years as a theatre maker and performer. So how did I end up as a choir leader?

Why your concert publicity isn’t working

We all want audiences at our concerts, so we have to let people know about them.

I’ve seen so many bad examples of concert publicity recently, I thought I’d write a few tips.

What is a ‘Natural Voice’ choir?

I am a member of the Natural Voice Network and all my work is based on their ethos.

But what exactly is ‘Natural Voice’ and how do Natural Voice choirs differ from other kinds of choir?