Useful Links

Search for the deservedly famous American choir Young@Heart on YouTube, or copy and paste the following links to see them in action on YouTube: www.youtube.com/results?search_query=young+@+heart&search_type; singing Dylan's "Forever Young" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLHRs4GsffI. Truly inspiring!

Scala & Kolacny Brothers, a choir of sixty-something Belgian women, recreate Radiohead’s beautiful 1993 single - and show us what can be done with quite an an "edgy" (meaning it contains bad language) pop song. Listen at /toolbar/#topic=Indie%20Rock/Pop&url=http%253A%252F%252Ftakingtigermountain.com%252Farchives%252F113. Scroll down the page until you see the white play button.

PS22 Chorus of 2009 is a choir of Staten Island schoolkids singing accoustic versions of pop songs, including Coldplay's Viva la Vida. Watch them enjoying singing together on YouTube.

"London's first homeless choir... founded on the premise that singing makes you feel good; it distracts you from all the nonsense in life and helps you to build up your confidence and abilities."

Watch the trailer for the documentary "Young@Heart", about the famous vocal group from Northampton, Massachusetts, who have earned an international reputation for their unique interpretations of songs by Sonic Youth, the Ramones and the Clash. However, this isn’t a teenage garage band attacking the classic punk-rock songbook – the Young@Heart Chorus consists of 22 senior citizens whose average age is 80. Filmmaker Stephen Walker spent several weeks with the Chorus as they prepared for their annual concert in Northampton, and the resulting poignant and humorous documentary offers a look at their rigorous rehearsal process, the background of several of the members, and their efforts to stay active and think positive, even as their friends succumb to old age.

"We Are Together" is a film about an orphanage in South Africa for AIDS orphans, where they have formed a choir. Lovely singing: “the one thing we can all do at once”

Popular song has a long history. Here you can read song titles and descriptions of Richard Thompson's "1000 Years of Popular Song".

The brilliant Tim Minchin sings about canvas bags on YouTube: "Take your canvas bags when you go to the supermarket..."

Sections on progammes about singing, choirs, competitions, events, learn to sing...

Yet another article on the health benefits of choral singing: "We know it makes us feel good. Now science is discovering how singing can treat illnesses from asthma to Parkinson's – and even prevent colds and flu." "Singing is the best free drug going," says ex-rock drummer Rober Wyatt in "The Independent", 12/01/10

Anne Karpf on "What really brings us together - and offers real health benefits - is a sing-song", Independent on Sunday, 20 December 2009

Describes the many benefits of singing in a choir.

0743 on the Today programme, 31/12/08. Guest editor Jarvis Cocker invites Brian Eno, "the father of ambient music" to explain what he is hoping for in the year ahead. Eno describes singing in harmony as "when you stop being me and start being us".

"Credit-crunched? Then lift up your voice and sing - The City has found an unlikely saviour - choirs." (The Times January 24, 2009)

Singing makes you feel good. Singing with others makes you feel better still. Sing the Nation offers an opportunity to reclaim your voice. Just park your inhibitions by the door. Sing the Nation is a festival to get the UK singing; all kinds of people singing all kinds of music in all kinds of places.

Radio 4 Woman's Hour asks why we sing and whether anyone can sing.

Woman's Hour feature The Choir with No Name, a choir for the homeless and disadvantaged.

An annual event where choirs sing to raise funds for the charity Water Aid.

Face-to-face contact is good for you - and lack of real social interaction is bad for you. Dr Aric Sigman, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and Member of the Institute of Biology,finds that decline in face-to-face contact has negative health effects in Well Connected?: The Biological Implications of 'Social Networking', published in February 2009. See BBC news at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7898510.stm.

"Teaching stroke patients to sing "rewires" their brains, helping them recover their speech, say scientists. By singing, patients use a different area of the brain from the area involved in speech..." BBC News, 21/2/10

If you like Euphonix you might like these too - or if you're looking for something different - or if we can't fit you in. A local choir with no website: Kingston Madrigal Society sing madrigals and other unaccompanied choral music, typically by such composers as Byrd, Dowland, Lassus, etc. Some ability to sight-read is needed. Singing meetings on the first Saturday of every month,7.30pm – 9.30pm in the Vestry Hall, St Luke’s Church, Gibbon Road, Kingston. Please contact Jennifer Alwen, Hon Secretary for more information on 020 8788 3671.

Mary Bourne at Singing it Back offers adult weekly evening groups, daytime singing and one day workshops.

Singing Courses Lunch hour courses in Kingston and evening courses elsewhere: Learn to sing Develop your Voice Perform Solo and Group Singing

Fancy doing something different - fancy singing in a mass choir whilst you ride the escalators of well know shopping centres? If it appeals to you join the The Surbiton Escalator Choral Society - remember SECS is fun There will be a date for quick rehearsal announced in the next couple of weeks. A Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=179902792288&ref=nf http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=surbiton+escalator&init=quick#/group.php?gid=179902792288

Led by Associated NVPN member Hannah Rose Tristram "this choir involves helpful warm-ups and a range of juicy songs from world to gospel to pop." Mondays, 8.00 - 9.30 in the Old Bowling Pavilion, Canbury Gardens, Kingston Upon Thames Phone: 07771511726

If you'd like something a bit more "spiritual" than Euphonix, this might be for you. HeartSong meet on Mondays, 7:45-9:15pm, at St. Richard's Church, Ashburnham Rd, Ham, Surrey, TW10 to sing chants, rounds and songs from Africa, Europe, Taize, Eastern Europe, Gospels, Spirituals. Cost £88/£66 per term.

"...always delighted to hear from prospective members". No audition - just come along to a rehearsal - ability to read music desirable, but by no means essential. Rehearsals from 8-10pm on Wednesdays at St John the Evangelist Church, Springfield Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT1 2SB.

"The Choir has about 120 singers and has retained a reputation for quality music making. It performs with a period-instrument orchestra when singing Bach, Handel and other early repertoire and works with soloists of the highest calibre." Rehearsals on Thursday evenings, 8.00pm - 10.00pm, in the Main Hall at Hollyfield School in Surbiton. If you decide to join, there is a simple voice test - no preparation required, "nothing too terrifying"!

For something completely different, the London Bulgarian Choir led by native Bulgarian singer Dessislava Stefanova. Weekly choir rehearsals in the Sofia Art Gallery, in the basement at the Bulgarian Embassy, 186-188 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5HL, nearest tube South Kensington or Gloucester Road. Rehearsals every Tuesday 7:30 - 9.30pm. Newer people should come at 7.00pm to revise existing repertoire. Cost £5, or £4 concessions.

"Simply singing" groups include ones meeting in Richmond and Claygate. No auditions. World, gospel, pop music. Offer 1 free session. Contact 07985 094322 or catherine@vocalitysinging.co.uk

Find a local choir on the website of "the UK's largest Choral Community".