Are you still at Rock Choir I hear you say?
Yes, like everything else we are doing it a different way
Zoom has become the popular thing
and that's great as it allows us to sing

It was a bit funny at first
I think some of us feared the worst
It's good to be able to see everyone on screen
Happy, smiley and looking so keen

I can sing like a diva and really out loud
because singing alone is different to singing in a crowd
We sometimes dress up to add to the fun
and Zoom can make us look like we are holidaying in the sun

We'll all be together again soon one day
and with all this practice we'll sound fabulous I say
Corona you can't make this thing go sour
because we are mighty and called
​ROCK CHOIR!!

I bet you're thinking what has happened to Rock Choir, well we are resting for the Easter break. Yes only two more weeks and we will be back for a new term and to start some new songs.

We start back with one I have personally been waiting for. It was bound to come around sooner or later, well we are a choir so surely we must be singing something from The Greatest Showman. I loved this film and all of the music too, how can you not? Let's face it you would have to have been on a different planet not to know anything about this movie.

'This Is Me' will be our first song to learn and I think most of us won't need our lyrics as I am sure all of us Rockies have had a diva moment at one point, can't be just me. It is a very emotional, empowering song which says I don't care what you think of me, suck it up buttercup as this is who I am .......this is me!!!

I can't wait, so excited, to get back singing again and to sing this song. I wasn't too sure about our other offerings though. Oh I've said that a million times before haven't I? I can think that I don't like a song and then when we learn the Rock Choir arrangement I end up liking it better than the original so I am not making any judgement at all.

The other two songs are 'Mandy' by Barry Manilow and Stevie Wonder's 'Don't You Worry Bout a Thing'. Out of all the Stevie Wonder songs this was the one I least expected to do really but we'll see, I won't worry, bout a thing. I do love the song Mandy but another one I wasn't expecting and another I'm not sure of again but I know Rock Choir are gonna prove me wrong and I'll be saying that I love em'.

We also have to bear in mind too that some of the Rock Choir members request these songs and we must respect that, they probably have a deep meaning for others and we all have different tastes. I suppose it is hard to please everyone with every song. I often wonder what I would do if my wedding song popped up? I'm no longer married but I like my song, would I bunk off for a couple of weeks or would I hold it together and sing it? I'll let you know it it ever appears. 

Ha got you thinking now haven't I? Some will know it, those that attended the wedding. Oh ya can't beat a bit of Bazza, no I didn't have one of his songs but he is great though. I'm going to just shut up and get on with it after all I could sing the alphabet and be happy and actually we do sometimes in warm up. 

Thank you for being here my lovelies and reading my posts. I will return tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now......you all take care.

We are back at Rock Choir again and what a song to start our new term off with. It's only 'Dreams' by The Cranberries. Just such a fabulous song and when listening to the original you cannot help but fall in love with the pure vocal tones from lead singer Dolores O' Riordan.

It is so sad that Dolores died just over a year ago now but it is nice that we can all keep her memory very much alive by playing her music and singing her songs. I hope we are doing Dreams justice and that people will enjoy our Rock Choir version when we get to perform it.

Even on the first week of learning it is sounding really good and it isn't so tricky to learn so a nice easy time we are having this term. The songs this year so far have been featuring less moves with them so I think someone, or quite a few people may have sent feedback to the old Rock Choir HQ asking to tone the dance moves down slightly. 

It is a bit tricky when you have to think about lyrics, harmony parts and then which way you're going to sway or when to clap in the right places. Oh my head can get a bit muddled. It's a bit like trying to rub you're stomach and pat your head at the same time, remember doing that as kids? I had trouble with that so imagine which way I am swaying in the middle of a Rock Choir performance. 

It does all come together eventually even with the more complex songs, we all end up thinking that it is never going to work out and then 'ping', yes just like the sound of a Disney magic wand 'ping' ( I'll do it again because I like that) it all works out and we end up loving it, even the moves. Rockies never admit to it but they love it really. I feel a pantomime moment coming on there - 'oh no we don't'.

So we will be carrying on with our new song and recapping the other new ones because I suppose some of them may feature at our performance at the Edinburgh Fringe later this year. Woo get us!! Yes in August we will be performing in the beautiful city of Edinburgh at The Fringe Festival, keep having to pinch myself to see if it's real. We are not sure of the songs which we are to perform yet but I'm sure they will be great, so exciting!!!

See, it's a great experience this Rock Choir lark isn't it? Recording at Abbey Road Studios, performing at big mega festivals.....fancy it? If you do, just pop over to www.rockchoir.com and find your local session where you can also get a free taster session. Come and join us, you know you want to, there's no audition, it's very relaxed and most of all it's FUN!! So what are you waiting for? 

Thank you for reading today. I will return tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now you take care. 

Well we have come to another half term at Rock Choir and just completed this great 80's classic by Toto 'Africa'. I have to say it sounds fantastic and it is so lovely to sing. 

This song was released in 1982, a great year for 80's music....oh I remember it well. I became quite familiar with Toto as my brother had the album Toto IV which is the album this song is taken from. Yes it was repeated a lot and when singing Africa in the past I always 'guessed it rained down in Africa' instead of 'blessed the rains down in Africa'. See one of the many good things about Rock Choir is that you get to settle any misheard lyrics. 

I can't actually believe that this song didn't make it to number one in the UK charts, it only peaked at number three. Maybe there was too much Duran Duran and Yazoo overpowering the class sound of Toto. It is one of those songs though that is timeless and still heard a lot in these present times, in fact I heard it on the radio only the other day so still going strong. I can't wait to perform this song with Rock Choir, I think it will be a favourite to show off.

We also perfected Katy Perry's 'Roar' which I wrote about back in January at the start of term. I wasn't sure about it but I did end up really enjoy singing it. It is really empowering and so I did grow to love it again, that's what happens again with Rock Choir, you get and song and 'oooooh no not sure' and then you end up re kindling the love with a new arrangement.

So a week off and then we start 'Dreams' by The Cranberries. I loved Dolores O' Riordan and it was so sad to hear of her tragic passing just last year. I think this will a nice tribute to her, I hope we do it some justice.

Enjoy your week, I will be back with Teapot Tuesday tomorrow so please join me then, but for now......

Take care. 

I woke up this morning singing Roar by Katy Perry. I know a bit random for an ear worm but no my fellow brewsters, not random at all, there's a new term about to start at Rock Choir and this is our first song.

Roar is now six years old, hard to believe eh? Only seems like yesterday when it topped the charts and I have to admit I really loved it when it was released. I'm not so sure now though, think I may have burnt my wild roar'ness out and not sure about singing it with choir either. 

Oh but I've experienced this before when I've thought 'oh not sure it's a good Rock Choir song' and then it turns out to be my favourite song to sing ever. So let's all wait and see and not judge too much yet. It is a fun song, strong, powerful and when I do listen to it I feel I can go out and 'smash it', well not do any damage of course but that's what everyone seems to be saying these days. 

Now this photo is taken from the video for the song and I do a bit of floristry so this is floral heaven for me. I know there is a solo part in the arrangement for Rock Choir so when it comes to a performance just give me a call and I will flower you up big time. 

I've missed Rock Choir so much over Christmas, we have exhausted all the festive songs now and I enjoyed the performances we did but it's now time for a new year, my third year in fact. It's going to be busy and I'm sure we'll have a lot of laughs as usual. So here's to a new term and come on everyone let me here you ROAR!!!

If you fancy singing this song and would like to try Rock Choir you can take a free taster at your local session. You don't have to audition, just come along, it certainly makes me feel good, I have made lots of new lovely friends and if I'm still going after three years then it must be good. Go on give it a go!! Just go to www.rockchoir.com and search for your local session.

Thank you so much for reading, I will be back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now you all take care. 

This is me all ready to go out and sing with Rock Choir this weekend. We performed a flash mob in the centre of Derby at the Market Place and then we walked up the road to Derby Cathedral and sang outside there too.

It was a bit cold but what you can't see in this picture is the layers underneath my jacket. You have to go prepared for all weathers when you're a Rockie especially with the outdoor performances We certainly Don't Stop Believin' and Can't Stop The Feeling of wanting to sing.....ha ha see what I did there?

We did actually sing Can't Stop The Feeling, yes it's a new one but we managed to get all those lyrics wrapped around our tongues and I think they came out in the right order and sounded ok. Funnily enough I worried about that song the most as it has so many lyrics to remember but it was actually All I Want For Christmas that was the one I felt a bit stuck with.

When I'm having my moment with Mariah in the kitchen while listening on the radio I could just fuddle through but now I've got to really remember if I want snow or not and whether I've sent my list to the North Pole for St Nick......oh heck. I sing bass in choir so at least I don't have to go full on Mariah, I can stay low....phew. My hat goes off to the sopranos on some of the songs we sing, I would need lemon and honey on a constant drip to prevent with my vocal pipes from bursting.

Not only did we do those two performances on Saturday but we were back in Derby at Markeaton Craft Village for more on the Sunday. It didn't seem so cold on this day and the rain stayed away which was nice. In fact the sun shone quite a bit and I truly believe that may have been due to us, ya welcome Derby folk! A lovely lunchtime singing session and I really enjoyed it. There is something about singing Christmas songs, I feel I may be getting into the mood now. It always takes me a while.

So what did we sing over the weekend, well I'll tell you......

First Noel/Silent Night
Merry Christmas Everyone
Hallelujah
Footloose
Can't Stop The Feeling and....
All I Want For Christmas

Great eh? I do smile when singing Silent Night as I have to remember not to sing sleep in heavenly peas instead of peace, I mean I've never heard of heavenly peas and definitely never thought of the garden variety being particularly heavenly but hey it makes me smile. I also have to smile at Jennie our choir leader who does everything to mouth and mime the lyrics to us so we remember. You would never beat this girl at a game of charades let me tell you. I bet she suggests a game at Christmas and everyone goes 'nooooooo' ya too good, not a chance........oh go on then......it's a film, one word.........two syllables........FOOTLOOSE!!!

There is one thing for sure Rock Choir is so much fun so keep an eye out around your area for your local choir and go and support them if you can. You may be shopping and not notice them if they are in flash mob disguise so be aware.........there may just be a Rock Choir singing somewhere.

Thanks for reading today, please come back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now you take care.

If you did catch last weeks Proms in the Park and caught Rock Choir performing you will have heard Caroline Redman Lusher and the Rock Choir Vocal Group's rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah'. Oh and us lot singing along too in the crowd but you can also buy the single now on all of those fancy music download things so please go and purchase it.

It really is a lovely arrangement and has been a delight to sing as a choir even recording it ourselves earlier this year at Abbey Road Studios. Yes had to mention it again ha ha. 

Since Rock Choir's performance last weekend and our flash mob we have all received a lovely email from Caroline herself and from Anthony Cherry the Producer of Proms in the Park. They were both amazed by our presence and how quickly we whipped our tops off to reveal those fabulous Rock Choir t-shirts. We were the talk of the Proms apparently and there was even a 'same time next year hint' well we'll see!! Watch this space, well watch Hyde Park's space.

So we are about to start a new Rock Choir term with the fast and furious song 'Footloose' which I can't wait for.....bring it on. For now though go and download that single and keep coming back for more Rock Choir news. 

Thank you so much for reading, I will return tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday....take care!!

Oh wow what a weekend!! I have never been to Proms in the Park before and I can say we had a really fun day. We had been planning for months with Rock Choir a secret flash mob to coincide with the main performance involving Caroline Redman Lusher (the creator of Rock Choir) and the Rock Choir leaders. 

It was so good to be able to unleash the t-shirts and get dancing.....'Dancing in the Street' to be exact, that was the opening song and the one we flash mobbed Hyde Park with. It was so exciting to able to play a part in the day, I was going to say a small part but there were about 10,000 of us Rockies there in full voice. It was hard to believe that from the first secret email from Caroline telling us all about the plans for Hyde Park that we were there putting all those plans into action. I think it went quite well as well. The atmosphere was amazing.

We were also able to sing along with the rest of the Rock Choir set including songs such as 'Walking on Broken Glass', 'Hallelujah', 'Mr Blue Sky', 'Don't Stop Me Now'. Caroline and the Rock Choir Leaders looked absolutely fantastic in their glamorous attire and sounded so good, not just at the beginning but through out the evening, providing backing vocals to some of the main acts. 


Picnics were devoured and wine drank, flags were waved and friends were made from Rock Choirs everywhere, what a great experience and one I won't forget. This event is so well organised from the moment you come in to when you leave, everything is there for you to enjoy and yes even the toilets are good and I've experienced some dreadful festival toilets. 

Artists on the day included The Wandering Hearts, Albert Hammond, Lisa Stansfield, Matt Goss, Joseph Calleja, Josh Groban, saxophonist Jess Gillam and headliner Gladys Knight. We were also treated to a performance by the cast of Bat Out of Hell which is showing at the Dominion Theatre in London. I know!!! What a great line up eh? The finale of the Last Night of the Proms classics such as 'Land of Hope and Glory', 'Rule Britannia' and 'Jerusalem' just gave me goosebumps especially with everyone joining in with The National Anthem and 'Auld Lang Syne'....made us feel all patriotic. There was a lot of love in that park as the day came to a end. 

Well done to Michael Ball who just kept the whole event flowing and was so entertaining.....he is a big a fan of Rock Choir too, our honorary member now. If you would like a little look at the Rock Choir performance with added flash mob you can catch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T620OcMBOME

The music continued to the next day with Radio 2's Festival in a Day including Lenny Kravitz, Rita Ora, The Band of Love, All Saints, The Shires,  Boyzone, Manic Street Preachers and headlining this event was the fabulous Kylie Minogue. I pressed my red button and watched the whole lot with the rest of Hyde Park again.

The highlight of the day has to go to Kylie.....did you see them? Kylie and Jason (Donovan) reunited for 'Especially For You'. Oh I nearly burst with excitement I think it was all a bit last minute as far as I've seen. He popped over on his bike to come and give her some support and next minute he was there in front of thousands of screaming people. Awww it was fantastic though, I've been waiting along time for that moment. She was also joined by Rick Astley later on as well, I was in 80's heaven. Great show again, it must be quite good to go to both events, bit exhausting and maybe a bit expensive but doable.

If us Rockies have taken over social media, bear with us as when we have an experience like this then we certainly want the world to know, it's because we love what we do. I hope you enjoyed Proms in the Park if you listened on Radio 2, let me know what your favourite moment was if there was one. If you've never been I can recommend it.....maybe see you there next year?

Thank you for reading today, please join me again for Teapot Tuesday but for now......

Take care.

I bet you thought it was an earthquake eh Nottingham? Well no it was actually Rock Choir Live in concert at The Albert Hall Conference Centre and what a concert!!

This was the scene we were greeted with when we first walked into the Main Hall, yes confronted with a huge big organ (so many jokes, so little time), our stage for the evening. The Derbyshire Choirs performed on Saturday (14th) and the Nottinghamshire Rockies performed last night (15th). Two years ago we all performed on one night at The Royal Concert Hall but this was so much better, a little less hectic shall we say.

We were not just randomly chucked into our places here, oh no there was a plan. Time was taken to get us all in our harmony parts and in a position we could all see our choir leader and be seen by our audience. That's important, we need to show off our beautiful singing faces and show off our moves we've worked so hard to perfect. After all this was done there was a chance to soundcheck a few songs, get the levels right you know.....oh get me - I am not just a gal talking about tea, I'm now a performer (who loves tea).

Next came the rehearsal of everyone coming off stage and then everyone leading back onto the stage. We had this fabulous walking on routine, singing as we go which just worked with perfection (well done Jennie). What a way to enter.....this was just getting so exciting beyond belief. An hour to go until we needed to get back into position so now was airtime to eat our tea and then get into our Rock Choir uniform ready for the big show.

Now I'm not going to tell you that we had a bit of a panic before we lined up because that would be daft, no one in the audience knew so why mention it, well I fear if I don't tell you my friend Lesley will. When we rehearsed this line up thing we got used to the person in front of us and who was behind but then when everyone changed into their uniform they all looked the same. So there was a bit of a ka'fuffle about where in the line me and Lesley were, well after a dash panic up and down the stairs we settled in the right place but for a moment I had visions of having to sit on someones knee, completely ruining the logistics of all this carefully choreographed routine because I had got in the wrong line up. Phew it was ok in the end........we laugh now.

Boom the lights went down and off we went. My heart nearly pounding out my chest but once we got going it felt just awesome to be on that stage doing everything we had learnt, practiced and put together. With added extras from choir leaders Jennie and Kat, the solos from the very brave Rockies who stepped up to that challenge and the magnificent poem read out by two of our members it was night to be so proud to be a part of Rock Choir.

We were also joined by two volunteer representatives from The Alzheimer's Society who talked about the charity and how it helps people with the condition. There were also collection buckets there to raise very valuable funds.

I can't tell you how great it felt to take part in this show. To some it may seem no big deal but for me and a lot of others it is. Rock Choir is not just a bunch of people turning up to sing every week, we have become great friends. We socialise together, we help each other out when times are tough and I suppose you could say we have become one big family. To get up on stage and sing these songs for some takes a huge amount courage and confidence and we had a lot of members who were taking part for the first time and guess what? We were all there to help the newbies pop their performance cherries .......as it were.

I would like to thank my fellow members because you mean so much to me. I would like to say a big thank you also to Jennie our choir leader who is just amazing, without her we would never have done this. She gives us confidence but keeps us relaxed to believe we can do great things. Jennie's mum Sue is lovely and her organisation makes us look as good as we did that night. Just don't tell her I lost my place!!! Jennie's dad takes photos for us which we all appreciate when we have all calmed down and able to look back on our time here and also choir leader Kat who gave us beautiful piano accompaniment to some of our songs.

I still need to come down from this experience and will do eventually but I will, like most other Rockies look back on this as just one of the best experiences ever........what World Cup? Who won Wimbledon? Who blooming cares now............we are Rock Choir and definitely ROCKED!!!!

If you would like to join in the fun then why don't you come along for a free taster session in September? Go to www.rockchoir.com for more information and to find your local session. We also have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rockchoirderbyshireandnottinghamshire/ so if you want to see what we actually got up this weekend then do feel free to take a look. Take a look at some of my Music Monday posts as they do feature Rock Choir a lot. I do try to give to an idea of what goes on and a taste of life as a Rockie.

Thanks for reading today, please join me again tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday but for now......

Take care.

I know!!! This is how I feel when our sessions break up for the summer. All is not lost though as we still have our Summer Concert to perform on Saturday, yes this coming Saturday!!! So although our weekly sessions have finished we are now ready for rehearsal this week and onto The Albert Hall, no not that one......the Nottingham one. Blimey give us a break......we've done Abbey Road, lets not get too carried away.

For those who do miss Rock Choir over the summer there are also the Summer of Rock Workshops where Rockies can have a go at singing out a few tunes such as the Guns n' Roses classic 'Sweet Child O' Mine', Tina Turner's 'Simply The Best' and Europe's 'The Final Countdown'. Do do do do do do do do........sorry got carried away there. We can also invite our friends and family too so wake up granny on the sofa and take her to a session near you. For details of your nearest session got to 
www.rockchoirsummer.com

There are also some tickets left for our Rock Choir Live Concert.... for details of those and to be a part of the evening go to:
​www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rock-choir-live-tickets-44324646210

Not so bad eh? There is hope for all of us addicted to Rock Choir and we have some cracking new tunes to look forward to learning in September. No I'm not telling you what they are until later.......keep reading - watch this space. 
If you fancy joining us come along for a free taster in the new term. I don't think the free taster will include the upcoming concert which would be a bit daft and immense pressure. Here you go.......nervous newbie - straight in with fourteen songs you don't know. That's why it's good to start with a new term and new songs, starting fresh with everyone else. It's great, there's no audition and you don't have to have any previous vocal tuition, you just come along and sing for fun.....that's all there is to it.

For details of your nearest session go to www.rockchoir.com

So there we leave it.......I'm sure I'll keep you updated on how the concert goes and anything that pops up in the meantime.......but take care for now. 

Join me tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday.

Bye for now.