Whatever your group’s form of singing, whether it be barbershop chorus, community choir, world music or folk singing, the voice techniques that we teach can bring out the best in your music by enhancing its essential quality and character.

Building on a singing tradition
In Britain we benefit from a strong and brilliant choral foundation, generally based upon the classical music and cathedral traditions. Largely through the school system, this heritage trains us to sing in specific ways, and thereby brings about those wonderful sounds that only the British can make. But in recent times our desire to also embrace more contemporary repertoires means we need to assimilate different influences, cultures, traditions and even experiences – and for this to work authentically we need to re-work our traditional sound to bring out the essence of these ‘new’ musical forms.

Coaching around the Southwest
The success of Glorious Chorus, which Sandra has coached from the beginning, is due in no small part to the authenticity with which the chorus sings – and this has precipitated many requests for Sandra’s coaching skills from other amateur choirs keen to improve their sound.

Sandra continues to expand her choir coaching around the Southwest, with choirs calling on her expertise to improve their chances in this year’s competitions, or to help create a wonderful, distinctive sound for their next album, for example. She is currently coaching five different choirs, ranging from junior choruses, community choirs to barbershop choruses, as well as three quartets.

Working in tandem
Always respectful of each group's modus operandi, and working in tandem with the conductor or leader, Sandra can help develop the rapport and increase effective communication between conductor and choir by providing a very useful 'outside eye' that can also spot any discrepancies between the concept and production of ideas.

Keys points with which Sandra can assist:
• Increasing breath control
• Increasing vocal tone and resonance, including matching tonal colours throughout the choir
• Increasing vocal energy
• Improving posture
• Opening creative interpretive ideas, including phrasing
• Performance projection
• How to control nerves

Sandra teaches with a full knowledge of the physical and vocal anatomy that is needed to provide a safe technical base (see safe singing practices).
She can blow away many of the myths surrounding vocal work and explain the background and reason for many of the analogies that are used in singing teaching. Giving a thorough, practical and anatomically correct explanation can be amazingly liberating for many singers who find they have misunderstood the ideas of vocal technique and breathing.

Sandra can also help with:
• Improving overall rehearsal structure and strategy
• Improving/updating warm-ups and explaining their true function
• Improving morale within the chorus – increasing individual awareness, motivation and group goal setting

Permanent improvements
Many choral singers have had little training or private tuition, and it is sometimes confusing for them to learn only through metaphor. And, although this can be useful, often the singer has no knowledge of how they have made the changes they have achieved and cannot repeat them at will. Gaining a substantial, physical and vocally experience, backed up by a sound technical understanding, helps maintain the changes – and 'embeds' them into the singer so that he or she can permanently utilise them fully in the chorus.

What we can offer:
We are mindful of the fact that each group or choir is likely to have different coaching needs, as well as different time-scales and resources available – therefore we aim to be a flexible as possible in what we can offer you.

You may find the following services meet your requirements:
• Observation and feedback of your rehearsal practise and level of ability
• A one-off teaching workshop on your rehearsal night or a weekend day
• A 6-week course covering, posture, performance breathing and vocal skills
• A term/semester contract with Sandra coaching weekly or bi-weekly
• A yearly contract where Sandra works with the chorus once a month throughout the year

Please phone to discuss how we can work together to bring out the best in your choral group - 01364 643105.