ASSOCIATION OF IRISH CHOIRS Enhancing Life through Choral Music
About Us
Frequently Asked Questions
I’d like to join a choir. How can I find one that suits me?
How do I find out about a choir near me?
How do I know what type of voice I have?
How do I know what type of choir I should join?
Can I join a choir if I cannot read music?
Will I have to spend lots of money on buying sheet music?
Are choirs good places to go if you want to sing, but don't want to work too hard at it?
It all sounds like hard work? Will I have any time to get to know other choir members?
I want to find a choir to sing at an event, can you recommend one?
What type of choir do you require?
What type of music would you like?
Are you prepared to pay a fee to the choir? Is it a charitable event?
Our choir would like to make contact with another choir to arrange an exchange and joint concerts. How can we arrange this?
What should we pay our Conductor? Accompanists?
I’d like to join a choir. How can I find one that suits me?
If you have always nurtured a desire to sing in a choir, and are keen to make contact with other choral enthusiasts and music-lovers in your area, there are many ways in which you can become chorally active in Ireland.
How do I find out about a choir near me?
Click on the map in the right column or the members directory section of this website and you will find choirs all over Ireland listed by county.
Contact details for each choir correspondent are listed, and we would suggest that you contact the correspondent in order to find out about rehearsal times, rehearsal venue and whether or not the choir has places available for new singers.
The range of different choirs may seem confusing to the inexperienced choral singer. If you need further information on any of our member choirs we will be pleased to help you in any way we can.
How do I know what type of voice I have?
If you do not already know what type of voice you have, a choral director will be able to help you to decide. S/he will ask you to sing through some scales to find the top of your register (the range of notes you can reach) and at the bottom of your register, and this will indicate which type of voice you have.
In choral music, voices tend to fall into four main divisions across the range of the human voice; soprano (high female), alto (lower female), tenor (higher male) and bass (lower male). There may be further divisions within those categories depending on the complexity of the musical arrangement, but for the purpose of choral singing you will fall into one of the four listed voice parts. Through regular singing your voice will become more flexible and your range may stretch slightly.
How do I know what type of choir I should join?
You will get the best sense of a choir's atmosphere by attending a rehearsal or two at the beginning of the season. If you ask the correspondent what kind of music the choir sings and what kinds of activities the choir engages in outside of rehearsal time, you will get a sense of the choir's aims and objectives.
Can I join a choir if I cannot read music?
Although it is certainly an advantage, it is not necessary to be able to read music to sing in a choir. Almost all of the choirs in Ireland are amateur, filled with singers who faithfully attend rehearsals throughout the changing seasons out of a deep love of music, and many are unable to sight-read music.
However, you will develop a familiarity with the contours of the score through practise, and it will certainly enhance your confidence and enjoyment. Choir directors can help by providing line-tapes (usually a home-made recording of your part, so that you can learn by repetition), and by spending some rehearsal time on learing notes.
Will I have to spend lots of money on buying sheet music?
No. Many choirs maintain a music library, comprised of all past repertoire. Often choir members will be asked to contribute a fee towards the running of the choir and the purchase of vocal scores, and this will vary from choir to choir.
Are choirs good places to go if you want to sing, but don't want to work too hard at it?
Choral singing is a team sport: it is important to remember that your contribution is as important as that of every other singer in the ensemble. In the vast majority of choirs, individual members are responsible for the care of their own scores, for turning up on time for rehearsal every single week, for undertaking whatever practice is required of them between rehearsals, and for performing to the best of their ability at concerts and other events in the interests of the larger group.
Anybody who sings in a choir will tell you that participating fully can bring huge rewards, both in the sense of wellbeing and joy evoked by singing, and in the pride of participation to the best of your ability.<
It all sounds like hard work? Will I have any time to get to know other choir members?
There is a vital social side to every choir's activities. A choir's social programme may range from tea and biscuits during the break in the rehearsal room, to a regular rousing sing-song in the local pub, to elaborately planned trips abroad to choral festivals and participating in exchanges with overseas choirs wishing to tour Ireland.
Through participation in a choir there will be many opportunities to sing wonderful music, travel and to make new friends with a shared interest...and the rehearsals can be great fun too!
For any further information please contact us at E: info@cnc.ie or tel 021 4312296.
I want to find a choir to sing at an event, can you recommend one?
You will need to give some thought to the following questions:
What type of choir do you require?
The range is extensive: from children’s choirs, to adult mixed, male voice, female voice, gospel etc.
What type of music would you like?
Classical, popular, jazz, religious, gospel.
Are you prepared to pay a fee to the choir? Is it a charitable event?
Many choirs find it hard to make ends meet, so a contribution to the choir is always welcome – it can help the choir pay for an accompanist or venue costs for a concerts, or to pay for music purchases. If the event is for charity, the choir may be happy to perform for free.
Your first port of call should be to browse the members’ profiles here on the AOIC website. In their information, each choir gives information on the type of repertoire they sing and may give an indication of the age range of members. All choirs are grouped geographically, so that should hep your search.
You can also contact choirs through the choral Ireland e-group
Our choir would like to make contact with another choir to arrange an exchange and joint concerts. How can we arrange this?
Your first port of call should be to browse the members’ profiles on the AOIC website. In their information, each choir gives information on the type of repertoire they sing and may give an indication of the age range of members. All choirs are grouped geographically, so that should hep your search.
What should we pay our Conductor? Accompanists?
Download our Conductor Accompanist Document
