FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you have not been to one of Sing Happy’s Come & Sing workshops you might not know what to expect. Here are some questions we’ve been asked before. We hope they help.
Q1. Is there an audition and will I have to sing solo?
A. There are no auditions. Workshops are open to anybody who loves to sing. No experience is necessary and you will not be asked to sing solo because all songs are sung in harmony with others. The work is all about the joy of singing together with like-minded people.
Q2. You say "no experience necessary". Do you really mean that? I have absolutely no experience of singing except to myself!
A. Yes, we really mean it! Some people come with some singing experience, but many don't. If you've ever sung along to a song on the radio or sung in the shower you've got all the experience you need.
Q3. Do I need to have a 'good' voice? What happens if I sound really awful? I don't want to ruin it for others.
A. All voices are welcome. The great thing about singing together as a group is that we can have a real mix of different voices and no individual ever need stand out. As long as you are prepared to have a go, listen well and remember you're part of a group, not on your own, it will be fine.
Q4. My friends and family tell me that I'm tone deaf. I don't think I can hold a tune. Will that be a problem?
A. Almost nobody is tone deaf. Like any physical activity it takes a while to be able to control the necessary muscles to become accurate. It's the same with singing. It might take a while to be able to hold a tune accurately, but remember you are never alone in group singing!
Q5. Do I need to be able to read music or understand music theory?
A. You don’t need to be able to read music for our workshops, although if you do that is helpful as you can encourage others. We don't use any unnecessary musical jargon or assume people have prior musical training of any sort.
Q6. Will I have to buy music for the workshops or have my own scores?
You don’t need to have your own music as we will provide hired copies for each workshop. This way everyone will be singing from the same version! Having said that, it is helpful to know if you do have your own copy of the music so that we have an idea of how many copies to hire for the day. Just let us know when you book your place online via the booking form on this website, for which there is a link at the bottom of every page.
Q7. What kind of music will we be singing?
We vary the music, but it is all for 3 (SAB) or 4-part (SATB) voices. This could be anything from opera and music from musicals to sacred choruses from oratorios, a cappella music, songs and anthems.
Q8. How will I manage with foreign words? I don't speak any languages.
A. Don’t worry, we don't expect you to be fluent in a foreign languages! Pieces are chosen from standard repertoire and will usually be in Latin, Italian, French or German for example. You will be taught how to pronounce the words phonetically. It’s also fun and fulfilling to learn to sing in another language.
Q9. What happens in a typical workshop?
A. We always begin with some physical and vocal exercises to prepare for singing. These will help you to sing without effort and extend your singing abilities. In our afternoon workshops we will learn some music and then reprise what we've learnt at the end of the day to sing to family and friends who are invited to attend for the last half an hour of the afternoon, so that you, and they, can hear how good you sound!
Q10. I can't stand up for very long at a time without needing to sit down, is this a problem?
A. We encourage people to stand as much as possible as it's much easier than trying to sing sitting down (and it keeps the energy up!). There will always be chairs available so people can sit down if and when they need to. You can participate fully in our workshops even if you need to sit down the whole time.
Q11. What if I've paid in advance for a workshop, but find that I can't attend after all? And what happens if I’ve paid for a workshop and you have to cancel it?
A. You can either request a refund or use the payment for attendance at a future workshop. The same applies if we have to cancel. We can keep your payment and use it towards a future workshop if you wish to attend further events. If not, we will refund you.
Q12. What if I have a question that isn't covered here?
A. Do feel free to ask any questions when you are at a workshop, no matter how 'daft' or elementary they may seem. You can also ask via the contact us page.