singing – We have fallen into the place where everything is music

GLOW up – 10 years of GLOW! Starting in February

January 29, 2025 by hrtristram, posted in Uncategorized

“𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐲, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞-𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩”

GLOW choir Brighton is back this February – starting Sat 8th!

All voices welcome! Come and get a dose of uplifting vocal harmony and queer community spirit. ❤

This term we are singing Saturdays at St Luke’s, and Wednesdays at The Queery Brighton, plus performing at Trans Pride Brighton 2025 and other excitements!

“𝐀𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐆𝐁𝐓𝐐𝐈𝐀+ 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.”

Songs this term will include Revolution!

Standing in the way of control!

And a wide variety of other songs (GLOW favourites and new offerings) in many moods and genres to soothe the spirit, warm the heart, energise and rejuvenate, connect and express, calm and sweeten, encourage and uplift! And do many good things music can do!

“𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬.”

Memberships and booking:

GLOW Choir now runs on a monthly membership basis, with a variety of options to suit different budgets, schedules and passion for singing!

We still offer a drop in option for those who need this, but encourage regular and semi-regular GLOW members to join a membership if possible. Find 2025 prices and membership options, below. 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞:

Glow Memberships – Spring/ Summer term 2025

New members are very welcome!

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞? We would love to sing with you! Book a drop in place for the date you’d like to attend, using the drop in links at the bottom of the membership page above.

February dates – see the graphic attached!

For all the dates and venues this term including singing at trans pride, follow this link:

GLOW Spring/Summer Term Dates

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐟𝐨𝐫? GLOW choir is for LGBTQIA+ people and allies, and all voices are welcome!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 music, to soothe the spirit, raise the roof, make positive ripples and heal the heart! From around the world and across time and genre.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 𝐍𝐨𝐩𝐞! All voices are welcome and it’s all taught by-ear so you don’t have to be able to read scores.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭? 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐲! Bringing people together in solidarity to enjoy the benefits of singing together. Strength in community. LGBTQIA+ voices. Exciting, empowering, uplifting fun! Silliness, depth, accessibility, inclusion, learning, a space to let go for a bit.

What are people saying about GLOW? (see quotes throughout this post from anonymous survey of choir members):

“𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲”

“𝐈𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐆𝐁𝐓𝐐𝐈𝐀+ 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 less pressured as there are no auditions or expectations of musical ability. Glow is also unique in its emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility for neurodivergent and disabled folks, and its explicit support for trans rights.”

“𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, not only through the joy that singing with others brings but also through the sense of community it offers. I always feel welcome and included at Glow, and I always leave choir sessions feeling uplifted and calm.”

“𝐀𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 and LGBTQIA+ folks can be completely themselves. Hannah-Rose is a warm, affirming and creative choir leader who has worked really hard to develop GLOW in this way.”

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 a membership or book a taster or drop-in session. ❤️
https://getbrightonsinging.com/glow-memberships-spring-term-2025/

About singing – oh yes you can!

November 21, 2024 by hrtristram, posted in Uncategorized

Take a look at my TedX talk on the power of group singing – amongst other things:

Oh yes you can! (*if you want to – you are in charge!)

Throughout time, people have sung and made music for myriad human reasons (see the TedX talk above for examples) and this is our birthright! We don’t have to be supremely impressive, world class musicians who fit the aesthetic standards of the times, to enjoy making music just as we are, today!

Singing and making music are something anyone can do, right away, and may enjoy and benefit from doing. This is your invitation to have a go, if you’re not already – at whatever is calling you!

This could be as immediate as humming or singing heartily along to your favourite tune/song, picking up an instrument and making a sound, singing a lullabye to someone, having a low-pressure sing-along with your dear ones, singing your feelings out loud somewhere this feels do-able, dancing to some great beats or making your nearest surface into a percussion instrument and discovering what rhythms are in your brain today!

As well as being something anyone can do, enjoy and benefit from: music and song also involve skills that can be developed over time with encouragement and focused practice. If we allow ourselves time to develop and/or improve these skills, rather than expecting our own or someone else’s particular idea of ‘perfection’ immediately, it is to our benefit.

Longer term steps to welcome more music into your life could include: joining a welcoming community choir or music group, booking an instrumental or vocal lesson, following online instructionals, doing some close listening, finding friends to make music with informally, or making a regular date with yourself to enjoy some practice time.

If we can approach our voices or musicianship playfully, with curiosity, compassion and somewhat regular showing up, and treat them like dear friends who are allowed to be human – we will have the space to flourish, improve, learn, and grow. The process of practice can itself be beneficial for mental health and brain function, as well as bringing the satisfaction, excitement and empowerment of improving at a craft.

And remember throughout your practice, the reason you wish to do it. And perhaps on a grander scale, the reason that music exists! For example, this could include: to express humanity, to connect us to each other, to help us understand each other, to help us regulate ourselves and each other, to help us find energy or clarity, to help us understand ourselves, to help bring about social change, to make us feel better, to woo, to worship, to heal, to soothe, to energise, to grieve, to learn, to remember, to tell stories, to have a sense of beauty in our bizarre existence… What other reasons can you think of for music?

Keep the reasons that make sense to you in mind, when you’re doing more detailed practice: and this could help you keep perspective when you’re stuck into the detail of a tricky scale, passage, phrase, or finding a dip in motivation.

“Music is life itself.”

Louis Armstrong

Exciting news – supporting trans voices

February 7, 2024 by hrtristram, posted in Uncategorized

Super exciting news!!!

A while ago I applied to a teacher training course on teaching trans voice alteration with Renée Yoxon , a gender affirming voice teacher whose work and ethos I massively rate, and who is all about finding ways to bring more trans joy into the world and sharing specific tools to do that for voice teachers like me, and more importantly, to support and affirm trans and non binary voices.

A small number of people will be on the course in any given year so I feel very very happy and lucky to have received a place, and can’t wait to immerse myself in this content with a super group of people and come away with a much enhanced tool kit for supporting trans and non binary voices, in the years to come.

I just received this news yesterday and my partner will confirm I have been skipping and dancing around the house for queer joy and anticipation of the learning-in-right-direction-and-good-company and all the wonderful tools I will be learning and better equipped to share after the course.

It matters more and more these days, as tides of politic turn and turn about – space for queer joy and trans and non binary affirming practice.

I’m already gently studying Renee’s vocal masculinisation and vocal feminisation courses, in rather limited spare time at present, which I also highly recommend for anyone exploring voice alteration (available on their website).

Happiest of news. Can’t wait.

If this is something that’s of interest to you, feel free to get in touch on hannahrose@getbrightonsinging.com and we can have a conversation about how and when to get started to best support you, around what I can currently offer you and the timeline of my learning this year.

I’ll be undertaking this training this Summer, so will be best positioned to help after that with much enhanced understanding and skills/tools to pass on and share. I am already working in a gender affirming way and do have years of experience of working with trans and non binary voices, individually and in a choir context, so feel free to get in touch sooner if you’d like to.

I have some big life events happening this year so my availability for sessions might be slightly less regular than in other years. I’m also hoping to source funding for some low cost or free sessions for trans and/or non binary people who want private voice coaching but couldn’t afford it, for 2025 realistically, so watch this space (feel free to send advice or links my way about this – new area for me!).

Wishing you all the joys, Hannah-Rose