Staff Choir - Ideas Please! Options

[Ivories]

Further to many of our staff thoroughly enjoying the recent series of 'The Choir', we have decided to start a staff choir. Names have started going down on the list and looks like we will have a mix of sopranos and altos - a couple have choral experience but thats all. Then as suspected about 3 men by the look of it.

Not experienced in starting up a choir for adults and just wondered whether any of you could help with a few questions I have:

1. I need to establish who are SATB (maybe will only have tenors actually at a guess) - what is the best way without hearing individually? I guess finding songs with higher or lower and see who is comfortable - any suggestions?

2. I use 'Voiceworks' with the children to get warmed up first but not so sure with adults - the music head who teaches the seniors at our school tends to go up & down 5 notes & then raise a semitone each time - anything a bit more interesting/beginner friendly? - don't want to scare them away at the 1st rehearsal!

3. I'm looking for a jazzy Christmas song or 2 with parts which is fairly straight forward but will sound effective - we are hoping to perform for the children in a Christmas assembly.

Thank you for any pointers or tips you may have - my main aim is for the staff to enjoy it and want to come back. They all keep joking to me about having solos and will I be auditioning them (no!) ... so I know they are a bit nervous.

Thank you so much - as usual - for any help (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[busylizzy]

Further to many of our staff thoroughly enjoying the recent series of 'The Choir', we have decided to start a staff choir. Names have started going down on the list and looks like we will have a mix of sopranos and altos - a couple have choral experience but thats all. Then as suspected about 3 men by the look of it.

Not experienced in starting up a choir for adults and just wondered whether any of you could help with a few questions I have:

1. I need to establish who are SATB (maybe will only have tenors actually at a guess) - what is the best way without hearing individually? I guess finding songs with higher or lower and see who is comfortable - any suggestions?

2. I use 'Voiceworks' with the children to get warmed up first but not so sure with adults - the music head who teaches the seniors at our school tends to go up & down 5 notes & then raise a semitone each time - anything a bit more interesting/beginner friendly? - don't want to scare them away at the 1st rehearsal!

3. I'm looking for a jazzy Christmas song or 2 with parts which is fairly straight forward but will sound effective - we are hoping to perform for the children in a Christmas assembly.
There is a fun carol in two parts in which the audience can sing the chorus as well. Simple to learn. If you would like to telephone 01252 715783 you could be sent a copy free.
Thank you for any pointers or tips you may have - my main aim is for the staff to enjoy it and want to come back. They all keep joking to me about having solos and will I be auditioning them (no!) ... so I know they are a bit nervous.

Thank you so much - as usual - for any help (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)