Hello all.

I have a piano student who performs in her local singing group. She sings very well, but says when she hears somebody singing the wrong notes, she sings the wrong notes as well then can't correct herself!

Eventually everything goes haywire and the whole group sounds awful. This appeals to my warped sense of humour ( ) but my student (and the audience!) would be grateful for any tips you can pass on

Thank you

it's a confidence thing. Even when I'm right in choir, I can very easily be pulled off by people who I imagine sight read better than I (but in reality clearly don't!).

I think the only thing you can do is get her to practice her sightsinging, and give her lots of positive encouragement about how good she is at it.

I find even if I know how something is supposed to go, a strong but inaccurate singer can put me off - also, if the pianist demonstrating something makes a mistake...

This happened frequently when I was teaching my choir section of non-musicians. They would always get influenced by what other sections were singing (especially by those singing the tune!).

As far as I remember, what I did was get one person to hold a note and then I would try to 'influence' them by singing other notes, and later on everyone else in the section tries to influence him/her too. I would then move on to phrases and so on. It is a struggle initially for the 'victim', but they eventually he/she gets used to listening more closely to and hanging on to the actual notes they are singing. It helps if the victim puts a finger in one ear to make it easier to listen to him/herself.

Hope this helps...

Choral singing is a collaborative activity. When first practising a work, it can be chaotic, as inaccuracy from one area can impact others - especially in more complex unaccompanied pieces. As the individuals become more familiar with their lines, and put in their practice, the total accuracy should improve.

Its just a case of sticking to your guns and going with what you think is right.

But that is easier said than done! I know from rehearsals I've attended that, as a strong singer whose trusted by the rest to read the music accurately, if I go wrong so does everyone else. There are ways of correcting yourself by looking at what other people are meant to be singing and playing and trying to pick up a lead from somewhere else.

Try to encourage your pupil to look at the big picture and listen to people ofhter than the singer who keeps putting her off. Again this is not an easy task, but surely the group she is in is not just her and the singer sho keeps getting it wrong. Sometimes latching onto someone singing/playing another part accurately is enough to give you enough confidence to get your bit right.

In our chapel choir I'm the accurate one but not an especially strong singer or with a very loud voice. The way we have got round it whilst learning stuff in the past is for me to sing the part into the ear of our really strong voiced but not as accurate singer, so that she gets it right and others can follow her

That works! And it shows that you ar working as a team too.

Sarah, having listened to your voice, if you apply some of the advice I gave you in your crit, you would "beef-up" your voice considerably. However, as it stands your voice is an ideal choir-voice, it does not stand out and it is perfect as the base for a blend. Maybe your stronger voiced colleague would open hear ear and meld her voice to yours. A chapel choir is no place for prima donna voices to stick out. (speaking as someone with a wopping great thing where I really have to work to blend and match dynamics)

Thanks jod

(I'm trying - I think I need to have the confidence too )

Yes, it's nice that we can work as a team - it's incredibly annoying if those with the strong voices are not willing to admit if they're having trouble with a part!