Choir nerds!

sasquatch_223 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:28:39 -0500

There are threads for the band geeks and the orch dorks. So I guess we're the choir nerds? I'm in my school choir as well as the "teen" division of a children's choir. I sing alto at school and everything (not at the same time, though!) in my other choir. We're doing some pretty fun pieces at school this year and I'm looking forward to going on our trip next May (it's a local trip this year, to a music festival. We're apparently going to Disneyland next year, though). In my other choir, we have some challenging stuff that is honestly a bit scary. We're singing an SSAA arrangement of Bach's Orchestral Suite No.3 in D Major a cappella. Feel free to share anything :) What part you sing, what songs you're singing, balancing choir with school and NaNo, SIGHT-SINGING TIPS (*hint* I want some!), etc. Choir people unite!

Re: Choir nerds!

someenchantedsunset — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:50:14 -0500

Hiya! I'm Sunset! I'm a soprano 2, section leader of my school choir, and a senior member of my church youth choir. We're a freshman choir, so our music isn't too challenging. We just have a lot. Six songs for one concert... We don't travel or compete... Sadly. However, we do sight sing a lot, and I would love to offer some help! Just field me some specific questions. I'm one of those people who push myself very hard. I sing and practice harmonizing CONSTANTLY. I am determined to get a part in my school musical, as well as make it into chamber choir next year. I get called an overachiever a lot. Other things about me... I play piano and write music... That's something I guess. And my Nano novel this year is VERY music-centric. Welp, that's me in a nutshell!

Re: Choir nerds!

I am Here — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:11:13 -0500

I have been in choir since... Third grade, officially. But as I am in college, I had to pick between Wind Ensemble and my bass clarinet, and choir. I picked WE. :/ I love it, but I horribly miss singing. There's always church, I suppose. And any other random time I choose to sing, which happens a lot to be honest. I sang Alto 2 all the way through high school, and alto in my junior preofessional choir 7-8th grade, and alto in elementary school. I've sang anything from traditional hymns, to pieces in Latin, Spanish, Russian, French, Italian, German, and a few other languages. My high school was very heavy on the music dept, but our athletics were bad. I was a music person. ^__^ I play clarinet, bass clarinet, piano, handbells, chimes, and kazoo. Because I know people who can't play kazoo. *headdesk* I write music, and I love writing descants to songs, especially hymns. Well, I gotta go to class. Byess.

Re: Choir nerds!

Only.A.Memory — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:34:11 -0500

Choir nerds unite! :D I sing Soprano I, but I'm not one of those terribly shrieky sopranos, considering I really can't hit anything above a high C... working on that though... But anyways, I'm in my school's Chamber group, our show choir, and I made Honors last year, but not this year. I went from being 9 out of 81 to being 34 out of 62, God only knows what I did in there to make that kind of a drop. xD But I'm hoping to get randomly selected for districts like I did last year--seriously one of the best experiences of my life! Yayyyyyy choir! Oh yeah, and I played Rapunzel in our school's production of Into the Woods last year. This year it's Seussical, and I'm quietly hoping for Gertrude McFuzz, but we'll see how that goes. :/

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glitterandspots — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:57:12 -0500

I'm an alto but I'm supposed to be a soprano II... :L There really isn't much balancing of choir and writing to be had down my end, though. We did Regionals in June and Nationals (I'm in two of the top eighteen secondary school choirs in New Zealand! Yay! :D) in August and we only have like three more performances left.. Before August we were practicing eight times a week (seven during school time and once in the weekends) but now it's a miserable two (one for each choir) and I miss it.. D:

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silvertouch — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:31:54 -0500

...nearly all of my friends are in choir. I have never had room in my school schedule for it but next year I finally will! (Even though my middle school's choir director lovingly referred to me as "our liaison to the outside world," and my high school's director seems to think I'm in her ensemble regardless. I spend more time in the choir room than in regular classes.) I sing tenor (on most days...sometimes I can slip down into a baritone but it's terribly hard) and have an annoyingly short head voice that my falsetto compensates for...except my falsetto is the most annoying sound in existence. At least to me. Le sigh.

Re: Choir nerds!

sasquatch_223 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:17:21 -0500

That must be fun (having all your friends in choir)... hardly any of mine are D: (In fact, a friend recently transferred out of my choir class into a physics class. PHYSICS, I tell you!) I'm sure your falsetto isn't the most annoying sound in existence :) I have trouble flipping between registers too; I can sing very low and decently high, but my chest voice and head voice have very different timbres. I try to mix a bit of the other into each, but I can't stop something like a G3 from sounding much warmer and darker than, say, a G4.

Re: Choir nerds!

sasquatch_223 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:23:26 -0500

I think my main concern with sight-singing is speed. (Actually, I kind of have this same problem for all the instruments I play.) I can't sight-sing (or -read) up to tempo. I turn something that's supposed to be Allegretto into something that's Andante (or even Largo, if it's tricky) :P. The most obvious solution would be practice, practice, practice, but I'm wondering if there's something else I could be doing to help.

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someenchantedsunset — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:02:31 -0500

Hmm... I understand and have the same trouble. It's something we haven't focused on much. Wish I could be a better help :/

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ussauklet — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:42:55 -0500

I'm a base. Most of the time I can also do baritone, and any tenor parts that don't go over the top of the staff. I can't do falsetto, but one time I was able to squeal the soprano solo from Tuba Mirum. I'm not sure if I'm really a choir nerd, though, since I can only barely read music. On the other hand, I do sing Madrigals. Mostly I learn by ear.

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ColumbiaPhoenix — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:02:14 -0500

Tenor over here! Trying to extend my range. Right now I'm really pushing for an A above Middle C (I never learned the numbers) I can hit higher on rare occasions. I guess the strangest thing I'm doing with my voice is trying to develop both a belt tenor and a dramatic/lyrical operatic tenor. Not sure how it will turn out, but I really want to succeed in both. I did district choir last year, waiting on results for this year. Hopefully I will succeed in a Musical Theatre career. My problem is I don't have dance experience so I am limited to non dancing shows (which all my favorites are generally minimal dancing) My dream role is Phantom. Anyway enough rambling. I don't think singing and writing should conflict to much. I might have to lock up my keyboard and all my music books to suppress any unwanted urges.

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Lieder Madchen — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:07:56 -0500

I'm a choir nerd! I am a soprano in a German choir in Oregon, which I have been a member of for nearly two years. (Long story involving my sister's mother-in-law, the military and a European adventure when I was 13.) I don't speak German and I am the only teenager there, so it is certainly a different sort of experience. (Especially when we go sing and party out of state and I am the only one not drinking.) I don't know why, but I love singing in foreign languages. I took some singing lessons once and my instructor was shocked when I learned an Italian aria after two lessons. Most of her students wanted to learn Disney movie tunes or contemporary American songs. In choir we sing all kind of songs, old folk songs, Schubert and Beethoven, love songs, opera, and, of course, drinking songs. My dad almost burst into laughter when we sang "Au du Lieber Augustin" in a concert at a church. We are all quite crazy. :) I can sing really high, but I am not so good in switching registers or singing anything very low. Also, though I can sight-read, I can only sing a song after hearing it. I have been driving my family nuts for years by singing along with Charlotte Church and other high-pitched artists. I think they are very happy that recently my tastes have become a little more diverse.

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.the.blue.dinosaur. — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:19:41 -0500

I've been in choir for... seven years now! I'm an Alto I this year (Soprano I last year and also in the musical now, but Alto by choice) though I switch pretty regularly over parts. I love singing in other languages, too, because I think it's easier to learn how to pronounce things when you don't already have ideas of how in your head. We're singing a Japanese song this year, and it's fairly simple pitch-wise, but murder with the rhythm. I love it, though. I really like singing the lower and higher ends. I'm bad at Soprano II, just because I tend to latch onto the lowest or highest note, especially in sight-reading. We're doing a musical this year (Sweet Charity!) and I'm in the chorus, and there's one girl who does a part higher than everyone else, and I stand next to her. Of course. But enough complaining. I love Choir, I never want to give it up. :)

Re: Choir nerds!

I am Here — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:55:18 -0500

Instead of reading notes while you're sight-singing (or -reading), read intervals. It's harder to get used to, but it's so much faster. So instead of reading it as C to G, read it do to so. (It also helps if you know solfeg backwards and forwards and up and down and jumpy.) It's tricky to get used to, and takes awhile, but when you're given music to sight read/sing and it's marked at 120, reading intervals saves so much time. And your general knowledge and speed of theory gets so much deeper and faster. :D It's really great. The director of the professional children's choir I was in in 8th grade gave us this technique and he swears by it. ^___^ I hope it helps. Don't give up on it early, though. It takes a very large amount of practice to get good at, but it's proved truly irreplaceable for me, in singing and playing an instrument.

Re: Choir nerds!

Nightingaleprincess1 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:17:29 -0500

Hey peoples! I'm the lead first soprano for my Home-school choir. We're celebrating our 10th year this year so we're redoing songs we've done in the past decade. Coolest thing, I've been in the choir since it's inception 10 years ago! :)

Re: Choir nerds!

sasquatch_223 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:23:45 -0500

I already do that :D I can only think of notes in terms of their relationships to each other; I don't have perfect pitch so if someone plays an A and tells me to sing a D, I don't think "sing D," I think "perfect fourth up."

Re: Choir nerds!

I am Here — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:27:30 -0500

I hardly ever read notes anymore. Just the first in a song or after a lot of rests. It's made reading so much faster, especially after you've been doing it for six years. :)

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natyluna — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:23:50 -0500

I'm an Alto (2!) :). I sing the lowest parts for everything, but my voice isn't that low (I'm actually a mezzo). Chorus and singing are my favorite things to do ever :). I've only been in school choruses, unfortunately (we have an awesome chorus teacher and audition choruses though ^_^), but I'm trying out for Districts this year and want to do choruses outside of school. I just started voice lessons, which makes me really happy :). I'm also in an a cappella group (the kind where you sing backgound for pop songs with solos!) and it's the most awesome experience in the world. Everyone should try out for a cappella (assuming you can sing :P).

Re: Choir nerds!

allieb3 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:36:08 -0500

Yaayyy I love Choir Nerds! hahahah. (: Anyways, I'd like to think I'm a Mezzo-Soprano, but I'm usually stuck singing Soprano 1 unfortunately. I'm in two choirs, a jazz choir, and a broadway show choir, and I'm Soprano 1 in both. I love them a lot though! For the next concert we're singing "Baby it's Cold Outside" in show choir, and i'm super pumped. (; And then Santa Baby in my Jazz Choir. Then a bunch of classical pieces who I doubt any of you really know. But anyways, I would love to be in an a cappella group more than anything! I just think they sound sooooo amazing. -Allie. (:

Re: Choir nerds!

DonaNobisPacem — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:37:08 -0500

I'm in a fairly basic high school choir. We have soppies, basses, baritones, tenor 1s, tenor 2s, and altos. I'm a soppie, currently in only normal choir, although I hope to be in the woman's group. I would've auditioned for vocal jazz, but I have plenty of time, seeing as I'm also a freshman.

Re: Choir nerds!

silvertouch — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:57:43 -0500

Someone remind me why I didn't audition for the a cappella group. I mean, everyone in it is totally expletive-worthy but it looks so fun. Oh, the tragedy.

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kidincrutches — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:29:39 -0500

Hi kids! :D I am a loud-and-proud Alto 2 who is regularly switched by the director to Alto 1 and once to Soprano 2. My voice is still recovering from that. It's great. -_- I'm in the mixed chorale at my school, so I can say with utmost accuracy that I /can/ sing tenor when I want to. I have tenor friends to back me up on this. I've been in school choirs since fifth grade, so... four years now. It's a bit weird, thinking back to a time when I wasn't in choir. I've made the middle school/junior high Region choirs twice, and this year I made one of the high school Region choirs as well. Never have made a jazz/show ensemble though, so working on that. Hopefully I'll be performing a duet with one of my bass friends soon. It'll be great as long as it doesn't interfere with NaNo. And then it would suck.

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DonPasquale — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:35:51 -0500

Pleasure to meet y'all. I'm Sissy, a choir nerd through-and-through. I sing mainly jazz, classical, and gospel. I'm a soprano 1 in my school choir and my church choir (where I'm proudly the only member under the age of 40). I've been my Regional choir for the past couple years and this year I'm going for All-State. I've attempted alto at many points during my career, all have ended in embarrassing failure. I made my main character a jazz singer. Because I just had to. Because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing... I also couldn't resist naming my username after an opera (it's usually Ariodante, another opera, but I decided to switch things up)

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maddieloveslove — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:25:15 -0500

I did choir in 4th and 5th grade, and now I'm a HS Freshman taking Vocals I. : ) We have our first concert on Tuesday, I'm one of 7 altos in my class but there's more since there are 2 more classes she teaches. ^^ I'm also doing a Veteran's Day concert in November, but it's early in the morning and it won't be too long. Just two songs. We're a group of 6...out of the 20 that signed up. I love the songs we're doing for Tuesday's concert. All of the classes are doing a 12-part canon, a Phantom of the Opera Medley, and Bohemian Rhapsody. My class is also doing a Lion King medley, Barbara Allen, and an Alleluia canon on our own and our girls are doing A Whole New World. The guys (along with her other 2 classes because we have 4 guys in my class) are doing Stand by Me. It's pretty great :3

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Willowcloud — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:45:06 -0500

I got dragged into Choir this year at my school, but I'm really enjoying it...if only people would stop talking and sing more. No one takes it seriously, sadly. I'm singing alto, though I wish I was singing soprano. Soprano section is on the large side, so I couldn't switch over. Not only do I like the sound of soprano, I can't hit some of the alto notes. I really can't go anywhere near low. I can get Middle C, though it hurts a little, but anything below it I can't get / hurts too much I just don't sing it.

Re: Choir nerds!

maddieloveslove — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:05:54 -0500

You sound almost like a Soprano 2. And that's about exactly how I am, although I can hit all our notes and I definitely took it by choice :3 But yeah, nobody here will shut up and sing and our Sopranos outnumber us by like 5 or 6.

Re: Choir nerds!

kidincrutches — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:16:29 -0500

In my experience, school choirs have an insanely large Soprano section and smaller, weaker Alto sections. Your director might just need more people on the Alto part. I know at my school we have no less than three girls in the Alto section who sang soprano last year, and two more who've been moved for our next concert. But if it's hurting that very very not good for your voice and you should tell your director. :/

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AnOctopusGarden — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:40:29 -0500

Second sopranos represent! How many people are in show choir here? We just had our first show choir performance of the year today, and I had lots of fun making some interesting facials. :)

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bluepurplegelpen — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:50:42 -0500

I did choir all through elementary, middle, and high school. I was in my schools top show choir for the past two years, which was blast! I sang everything from Soprano I & II to Alto I & II to Tenor I (singing tenor- not so fun. but there weren't enough guys in my choir for the parts to be balanced). I prefer singing Alto I, though. This year I'm in my university's Handbell Choir, which is part of the choral union (it's not a vocal choir, but it's still considered a "choir" according to my school). For the holiday concert I do get to sing with the full choir, which I'm really looking forward to- I miss singing on a daily basis! If anyone hasn't heard of handbells, it's a group of people (ours is made up of 14 "ringers") who play bells throughout 3-5 octaves. I play bass, specifically C4, C#4, and D4 (I also get to play A3 in one song- that's low A and it sounds so cool!). It's my first year in handbells and it's super fun!

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bluepurplegelpen — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:52:11 -0500

I was in show choir for three years in high school- so much fun! Aren't facials the best? :P I'm in college now and I we don't have a show choir here- I miss doing choreography so much!

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bloodxredxroses — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:32:37 -0500

Choir!!! I've been in chorus since fourth grade when I decided to join the school choir never mind the fact I had incredible stage fright, was so quiet that my teachers yelled at me to talk, and had no idea if I could sing or not. Turns out I could. Also turns out I love it. I was a Soprano for the first two years, and then I got shuttled to the Altos. In seventh grade I was a Soprano II in the Bach FEstival Youth Choir where I lived, and then I got moved to a flip between Soprano II and Alto I in the same choir. Then I left to join a choir that was basically an off-shoot of the Royal School of Church Music and was a flip flop between Soprano II and Alto I again. And in my new school's choir, I'm a Soprano. *gasps for air* I also was a Soprano I and then a Soprano II for the SDACDA 2008 and 2010 children's honors choir. And I took voice lessons for a couple of years. So yeah. I love chorus :D

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AnOctopusGarden — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:52:20 -0500

Oh man I don't even wanna think about graduating. I'm gonna miss it something bad. :(

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AnOctopusGarden — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:53:07 -0500

Soprano II forever. REPRESENT.

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goodythreeshoes — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:28:44 -0500

I'm Adelaide, I'm an alto, and we're currently doing The Messiah!

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uncreativecarly — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:40:47 -0500

God bless this thread. My name is Carly. I'm an alto but I am pretty versatile and like to think I have a good range. I sing in a classical choir and an a cappella group. Any other a cappella kids out there?

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Joel Gibson — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:37:07 -0500

Joel Gibson, Tenor 2, Bass 1 hailing from Fairbanks Alaska! Cool story, yesterday, I convinced my choir teacher to do NaNoWriMo!

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Kaserl — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:44:27 -0500

Alto in the non-audition women's choir. We actually sing fairly complicated pieces, and we do four concerts a year. Then again, my middle school choir was pathetic..... My favorite song from the last concert was Lost Rose by Eleanor Daley or Can You Hear by Jim something. And my choir teacher couldn't care less about what's politically correct... Even in the last concert, an audition choir sang Battle Hymn of the Republic. Yeah, blatently religious. She didn't care.

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Kaserl — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:52:49 -0500

I love Phantom of the Opera. Actually, just get the soundtrack and sing along, because I think that really improved my range.... I'm an alto that can hit most of Christine's notes, except for the super high ones. It really, really helped me! Not to mention the songs sound pretty too.

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asifbymagic — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 07:42:06 -0500

Definitely a soprano right here (often get put onto soprano II but I'm fine wherever). I was in choir all through high school and now that I'm at university I've joined some more. We're doing Mozart's Requiem in one (love love love!) and then some Howells and some undecided pieces in the other. I'm studying music with first study voice as well so I'm pretty much singing all the time!

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let1troll — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:52:37 -0500

I am soprano II section leader as well. :D

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let1troll — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:01:24 -0500

I am a Soprano II section leader in my choir. I can sing first soprano, and my range is pretty killer, but I choose to be a second because there was no leadership in the seconds, and a plethora in the first. I sing in my school's Symphonic Choir. It is an audition only group, and this is my third and final year in the group. D: We are one of the top Choirs in Ohio, and have been for 13-ish years. We sang Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine last year at State Competition, and I sang the solo! :D This year we were chosen to go to the OMEA convention to sing, and we plan to go to the World Choir games, which is being held about 2 hours from where we live. Currently, we are working on the musical The Light in the Piazza. I am Signora Nacarrelli. It is a bear, and I am so nervous that it won't live up to people's standards, but I know that not much that comes from our choir is disappointing. I know, I'm kind of stuck up, but I love my choir and I am proud to be in it!

Re: Choir nerds!

let1troll — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:04:24 -0500

Our choir is an entirely religious choir. We rarely do secular peices. Is this something that your school looks down upon, or do you personally dislike it? I live in a fairly old-fashioned region, so our school sometimes overlooks religious stuff, or even encourage it.

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let1troll — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:05:50 -0500

Our group isn't exclusively a cappella, but we do about 3/4 a cappella songs. :D What are some of the songs that you have done in your a cappella group?

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let1troll — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:06:15 -0500

We did Messiah last Christmas!

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asifbymagic — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:42:32 -0500

CHOIR PRIDE!

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violent-demise-666 — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:44:32 -0500

Hello, I'm Miranda. I sing 1st soprano. Our school has a very small show choir. I've been singing since I was young. I love every moment of singing. Our choir does mostly classic rock, and pop. Though not many people like my music, at least in my school. Nothing I can really do.

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Stazz — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:04:12 -0500

Yay, choir nerds! ^^ I'm Jazz, a proud first soprano with a range through most of the typical female register and even a few notes into tenor. :3 I love singing so much...music and song are one of the constant joys in my life. <3 Right now we're doing a beautiful piece called I Thank You God by Gwyneth Walker -- based off a poem by ee cummings. Quite something to listen to, though the ending is an absolute killer for us firsts. I think my favorite thing about being a choir girl -- well, other than actually being in the class and learning new songs -- is being able to go to concerts and scream very loudly, for quite a long time, and at a very high pitch (since I'm a first). ^_^ I don't usually go to that sort of concert but it does come in handy the once or twice each year I do find myself at one! XD

Re: Choir nerds!

Stazz — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:05:01 -0500

You're in Central Ohio too?! :D *barely refrains from tiggertackling* Hi!

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uncreativecarly — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:43:21 -0500

last concert: "Mean" by Taylor Swift, "Price Tag" by Jessie J, "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz, a mashup of "Kids" by MGMT and "Runaway" by Mat Kearney (oh yeah, my solo!), and "Na Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam. future concerts: "E.T." by Katy Perry and "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele. but we're starting our Christmas music now so those two will probably be in later concerts. what about you?

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uncreativecarly — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:44:01 -0500

wait, OHIO! HI! I'm not in central but still, HI!

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Stazz — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:58:29 -0500

Oh, hi! (Oh!) XD Apparently there are more of us than I would have thought! 8D

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dellafiora3395 — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:21:25 -0500

Hey, I'm Tory. I'm a bit more of a bandie than a choir nerd, but I still love singing <3 I'm an Alto for senior high chorus, Women's Chorus, and Mixed Ensemble. I turn pages for Men's Choir and sing Tenor I. Hahah =] I also was the only sophomore my school sent to District Chorus last year, on Alto I. I didn't do so hot, but I blame it on the fact it was my first PMEA audition and I couldn't breathe >.< This year, I'm heading back on Alto I and am going to work my butt off to make top half, maybe even Regions =]

Re: Choir nerds!

DonaNobisPacem — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:44:55 -0500

The choir I'm in actually has a smaller Soppie section. We have a huge Alto section (which ticks me off, I'm not fond of most of the people in the Alto section). Soppies in our school have almost always been the smaller group, and we get plowed over most of the time. Then again, we also have a huge choir. Sorry about saying Soppies instead of Soprano, it's just what we're always called. Either that or Sops, but I'm not so fond of that.

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Alexi-chan — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:45:37 -0500

Wow. That's cool. My choir is doing the Messiah, and I'm also an alto! XD

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QuiSaitRien — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:54:57 -0500

I'm Heather. I'm a Contralto/Alto 2 in my outside of school choir, and a Tenor in my school choir, because I can hit the notes and we only have one legit tenor. I think my favorite piece I've ever sung was 'Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal,' or maybe 'Gamelan,' (the SSAA and SASA arrangements, respectively) just because the Alto part rocks for both. Although Gamelan is insane. My OOS choir is going to a improv camp in Canada in November (Oh, how my word count will suffer) and then to a choral conductors' convention in March. The convention is a big thing for us - we're the only school-age choir from our state that's been chosen to come.

Re: Choir nerds!

sasquatch_223 — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:36:53 -0500

Ooh; we're doing a piece by Eleanor Daley too! It's called What Sweeter Music, and though it reads like a sight-singing exercise (key/time signature changes every few measures) it's actually quite a beautiful song.

Re: Choir nerds!

Lainylovesyou — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:50:02 -0500

AH! SO ARE WE! Anyways. I'm a soprano I and my instructor wants me to sing "Rejoice Greatly O Daughter of Zion". I'm scared stiff.

Re: Choir nerds!

Lainylovesyou — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:52:13 -0500

I'm a first soprano in my school's chambers choir. :) I'm the section leader and I'm not screechy (except at seven in the morning!)!!! I work really hard on my voice. :) This spring I'm supposed to sing 'Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion" from Handel's Messiah and I feel utterly unworthy! I'm just a Broadway baby. ;)

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Lovely_Livvy — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:54:59 -0500

I love chrous. I was so mad when I couldn't do it last year but now that i can do it this year I'm happy. I'm an Alto and a yeah not sure what else to say

Re: Choir nerds!

Arlecchina — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:38:40 -0500

Whoops, I didn't see this thread so I made one of my own. It's dead anyways. :P I'm a second alto this year, hoping to be a second soprano next year. I'm in Varsity Choir and Patriot Singers, which is our top choir, and I'm also in Class Voice, which is basically weekly voice lessons made into a class period. :)

Re: Choir nerds!

BlackandWhiteKat — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:14:07 -0500

Had the same issue with the gospel choir at my school. Everyone there needed to be impaled on something sharp but it sounded so good. I feel your pain.

Re: Choir nerds!

BlackandWhiteKat — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:20:28 -0500

S'up guys, I'm a soprano II (or Alto depending on which choir) in a school just North of London. I'm in the Senior choir, Senior Chamber choir and the Gospel choir. I love singing and my issues have always been sight-reading based. My notes are fine once I've sung it through a couple of times- it's hitting them on the first try that never really happens... Anyways, Hi.

Re: Choir nerds!

Toirse — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:38:09 -0500

I'm in the school choir as a soprano II at the moment. When I joined I was sorted into Alto I but my range has developed since then and as we have a lot of Altos but just very little Sopranos I was moved. At the moment we are singing some German song about colouring the time, which is complete trash. But the Cantate Domino and the Rutter song make more than up for this ^^ Our next performance will be at the Christmas concert of my school and I am singing a solo (well, half a sentence...).

Re: Choir nerds!

MCat — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:51:44 -0500

I'm soprano 1, in my school choir, and I also just made Jr. All-West (auditioned for Sr. but didn't make it by like, ten points). I adore music... :)

Re: Choir nerds!

mydoctorisbetter — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:22:01 -0500

Hey y'all! I mostly sing Alto, but I have a tendency to hit high notes in my free time, LOL. I'm currently in two choirs at my high school- an advanced concert choir that meets at 7 in the morning every day (7:15 on late-start Wednesdays) and the select women's ensemble. Which is odd because I'm so insecure about my voice, but I guess my choir teacher sees a lot of potential in me.

Re: Choir nerds!

WarriorSeeker — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:36:49 -0500

I love singing! I'm a sophomore, and I can sing anywhere from tenor 2 to bass pretty well, but I usually sing bass because that's where I'm usually needed the most (a bunch of people that only signed up for the class for an "easy A" are in the bass section, so I try to help pick up the slack). I've also tried out for every school musical since 6th grade, and I've been in all but one so far.

Re: Choir nerds!

AnOctopusGarden — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:20:02 -0500

Okay, so we got our Christmas music last week. And if my director makes us sing another Gloria Alleluia version again I will personally choke her. Honestly, we've sang a different version of that song every year for the last three years. If she makes us sing it again next year, I will be sad. On the plus side, it's actually a pretty version of the song. I like it. But I am so sick of those wooooordsssss.

Re: Choir nerds!

micrOwave — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:48:06 -0500

Hi! I'm Ann :D I sing soprano 2. I used to be a soprano 1, but the soprano 2 section was too small, so I switched. I'm part of the general school choir as well as two audition-entry choirs at school, Chorale (about 60 girls) and Cantori (about 15 girls). Singing is just about my absolute favourite thing to do (especially when your conductor asks the altos and 2nd sopranos to help the tenors out, that's fun :P). I like to think I have a pretty decent range and I love using head voice to bits! At the moment in Chorale we're learning a selection of choruses (and some people are doing solos) from Handel's Messiah in time for Christmas, so that's pretty awesome :) In about July this year we did an awesome a cappella piece called Las Amarillas which was so so so much fun! Since I'm from Australia, we do a lot of Australian contemporary compositions as well which are really lush and nature-inspired. So yeah, I love choir :D

Re: Choir nerds!

Stazz — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:47:26 -0500

We got our Christmas music a while ago -- we're doing Santa Baby (which I loathe with a fiery passion) and Sleigh Ride a la Russe, if I remember correctly. I personally think it would be a better song for Halloween; it sounds quite maniacal nearly consistently. It's hilarious to try and sing for that reason. XD

Re: Choir nerds!

doctor confidence — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:05:47 -0500

Hey! I'm a (second) soprano in my school's Chorale & Show Choir! We just had our first concert of the year (sort of like homecoming) and have two competitions this month. So, NaNoWriMo still isn't taking a backseat - I'm ready for a challenge.

Re: Choir nerds!

mjh2395 — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:30:52 -0500

Woo-hoo choir! I sing Soprano 2 in my school's Varsity Choir. I used to sing first soprano but my voice is steadily going lower and lower...I hope I don't end up an alto (no offense to altos) because I suck at singing harmonies. Melodies are my friend. I'm super pumped because we're working on Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen right now. It's difficult, but I think it's gonna be really cool when it's done!

Re: Choir nerds!

AnOctopusGarden — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:40:34 -0500

Second sopranos in show choir are the best! <3 (not biased at all)

Re: Choir nerds!

franco295 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:37:35 -0500

Hey, everyone! My name's Franklin, I'm sixteen years old, and I'm a tenor one in my high school choir. I've been singing forever - cherub choir from second to fourth grade, fifth grade choir (mandatory class), choir class second semester of eighth grade, and choir class in high school since freshman year (junior now). The class period is called "A Capella Choir" even though we don't always perform A Capella; additionally, I've been in the men's choir since freshman year (all guys are in at first unless they don't want to be) and recently joined jazz choir this year (scatting...it perplexes me still xD). I made All Region Choir freshman year and this year and am hoping for All State (judging is this weekend >_> please wish me luck!). A few other guys from class also formed a separate group the other day in which we'd perform like groups on the show "Sing Off." Oh, and I'm on Choir Leadership Council, a student-driven group that assists our choir director. My goal in life is to be a professional singer, (as if you couldn't already tell from this lengthy word vomit *cough* sorry if that bored you ^^;) so please feel free to share some tips about music! A few of my favorite artists are Flyleaf, Fiona Apple, and Eisley. Unfortunately, I'm a bad listener when it comes to music - I really need to do more of it. For Christmas thus far, A Capella Choir is singing "Sleigh Ride," which I'm honestly not a fan of, "Have You Seen the Baby?," a gospel piece, and "Icy December," a piece we haven't practiced much yet but is pretty. In men's choir, we're planning to perform "Mr. Grinch" (rofl) and a jazzy version of "We Three Kings," which I love. In jazz choir, so far we've got on our list a lovely version of "Deck the Hall," with just one "hall" (odd, I know), and "Oh Christmas Tree," which we haven't practiced yet. I'm probably forgetting a bunch, but I'm too lazy to get my binder and check at the moment. :P And that's about it. This is my first year attempting NaNoWriMo, and it's great to meet y'all. Good luck with everything! :)

Re: Choir nerds!

midnightwolf21 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:00:56 -0500

Hiya! Im a Alto-saprano II- to Saprano I in my chior. Im in the all girls varcity chior and the mixed varcity chior. I mainly sing saprano II. Its so cool to find other people in chior!

Re: Choir nerds!

Kaserl — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:14:16 -0600

Actually, I live in an area that cares about being politically correct. In middle school, our choir wasn't allowed to do any pieces that referenced Christmas. It's a little bit annoying, actually. Even our high school isn't allowed to put up posters or anything about the Christian athlets club, so ignoring the fact that some songs are blatently religious around here is a really big deal, my mom and I agreed that she was really brave to do that. It's a public school, by the way, and I'm not religious at all, so none of it bothers me.

Re: Choir nerds!

Kaserl — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:57:17 -0600

.... I think I may have done that in 6th grade... Best time I've ever had involving instruments. We played part of Carol of the Bells, it was so fun. There were like 15 of us in a school of 76. It was popular.

Re: Choir nerds!

Pen.to.Paper — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:12:10 -0600

Hey y'all! I'm a soprano 2 this year, although I'm an alto 1 at heart. I've been singing within the same organization (outside of school) for 9 years (since I was 7). I'm in Advanced Academy which is the second most experienced group in the choir. There are over 500 girls in the whole organization, but my group is just over 20. We have rehearsals twice a week for 2 1/2 hours after school, and are also required to serve as a teaching assistant for a younger group once a week. I also teach ear training and am a student conductor in training this year. If any of you actually read that block of text, it's clear that I spend a lot of time and energy in choir! We're doing 6 holiday concerts this year, one with the Yale Whiffenpoofs and three with a local orchestra, and one by ourselves. We're doing sooooo much music, I couldn't even list it all. A lot of it is from Victorian England, which is fun (I Was Glad, Jerusalem). Luckily, the concerts don't start until after Nano, or else I would actually die from stress. :P Good luck all!

Re: Choir nerds!

Cross_That_Line — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:40:14 -0600

Helllloooooooo! :) (Yeah, I just found this thread and started dancing in my seat) I sing second soprano, but I can go down to the basement and up to the stratosphere. (alto and first soprano) We're singing Winterlight, Sing We Noel, A Christmas Alleluia and one other song that I sorta kinda forget the name of... lmao. While my school has a show choir, I am part of the amazing Treble Choir :) I wish I was in show choir. :( I am definately trying out for next year though!

Re: Choir nerds!

EmmaMayfield — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:54:33 -0600

My name's Megan! I've had 3 years of choir experience, currently taking off this year due to eye issues.

Re: Choir nerds!

EmmaFaye — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:18:54 -0600

Awesome! Yeah, I sing in a choir. Yeah, I might be called a nerd. So I guess I should post a comment here! I sing in the choir from school. In this choir, there are not only pupils, but also ex-pupils (don't really know how to call them in English), teachers, ex-teachers (same here), family and friends from pupils and teachers. We're like one big family. I started in this choir in the first class of highschool and I absolutly loved it. My friend and I came together to choir, but sadly she stopped - she didn't like it that much. But I went on, made a hell of a lot friends from all ages. Our choir has been through some tough times - three singers died last year, and we sang on their funerals. Still, we're having loads of fun - especially when we're on 'studieweekend' (how we call it in Dutch). This year, we've got two concerts. One, very soon, at Christmas - we're singing (and the orchestra is playing) music from Hans Kox. And at the end of the schoolyear, we're going to sing and play two Greek pieces of music, from Takis Sideris and Andriopoulos. It will be amazing - and we might even go to Greece to perform there! But, of course, it's still 'might', because of the economic crises. I really hope we can go, though!

Re: Choir nerds!

Cross_That_Line — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:17:26 -0600

Eww.. I took last year off cuz I wanted to take Art 1. lmao I should've taken choir.

Re: Choir nerds!

Cross_That_Line — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:18:15 -0600

For an ex-teacher or an ex-student the word is alumni.

Re: Choir nerds!

EmmaFaye — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:04:56 -0600

Okay, thanks! I'll remember that word - it's sounds nice. I actually think we have it in Dutch aswell...

Re: Choir nerds!

EmmaMayfield — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:33:05 -0600

Good Christian songs for an audition for an SSAATTBB choir?? :| Fellow nerds, I need help.

Re: Choir nerds!

Kaserl — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:56:34 -0600

Hey guys! I need someone who likes music to tell my news to.... So.... Yeah. I MADE BEL CANTO! It's the audition women's choir at my school. I'm really happy about that, and that's pretty much all....