tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88808055032575811332024-02-07T15:55:23.841-08:00The Tottenham Community Choir blog<p>We are a friendly inclusive choir for the whole community in Tottenham, London, England, offering real opportunities to sing and make friends.<br>
New members from all backgrounds and ages can join at any session.<br>
Please go to the official website<a href="http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com"> http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com</a> for more information, or email <a href="mailto:chair@tottenhamcommunitychoir.com">chair@tottenhamcommunitychoir.com</a>.</p>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-54573841189136588292012-06-16T10:10:00.000-07:002012-06-16T10:10:54.493-07:00Food, glorious food!<br />
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<b style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Next Sunday 24th June sees the start of a new weekly local market in Haringey. We were lucky enough to get a moment with organiser Jessica for a quick chat about what the market will be and how she is bringing a touch of Suriname to North London...</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You’re from Suriname originally; it’s a country I know very
little about so can you tell me a bit about it? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just returned from holiday in
Suriname so I’m even more excited than ever about it. Suriname is a virtually
unknown country in South America, between French and British Guyana. Believe it
or not, we were once a British colony! Suriname has a beautiful interior,
beautiful nature and Surinamese people are very warm and kind and they’re
suckers for food! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original inhabitants were
natives, then came the slaves, and after that the immigrants from China, India
and Java. Later on the Jews, Lebanese, Turks, Brazilians and Africans came to
Suriname, so Surinamese people are very mixed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’ve got all these different
cultures and religions living side by side and we have got, in my humble opinion,
the best food ever! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">People are slowly but surely
discovering Suriname, especially Americans because there are quite a lot of
Surinamese people living in the States. In Holland we are well known, and the
Dutch are also very fond of our food.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How has it influenced your cooking?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I come from a very mixed
background. My father’s family is part Jewish, Dutch and English and it all
started when a Dutch plantation owner had children with his slave and gave
these kids his name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mother’s family is from
India. This interesting mix of cultures and the fact that I was born in Suriname,
and lived in Amsterdam for a while too, has very much influenced my cooking. I
make a Surinamese roti one day and a Javanese Surinamese bami (noodles) the
next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Most of the time I cook
Surinamese dishes at home, but I also make English pies or spaghetti. Never a
dull moment in my kitchen!</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What is your favourite thing about living in Haringey?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Haringey is very diverse. I love
the fact that there are so many cultures in one place, a bit like Suriname. I
also love the fact that I can buy loads of ingredients for my exotic Surinamese
dishes right here in Haringey. </span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What inspired you to organise a local market on Green Lanes?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">The market will be off Green Lanes
at </span><a href="http://www.northharringayprimaryschool.org.uk/"><span style="color: magenta;">North Harringay Primary School</span></a><span style="color: purple;">, Falkland Road Hornsey, N8 0NU. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However much I love Green Lanes,
I had the feeling that something was missing. I love going to markets, buying
local produce and food, and I wondered why there wasn’t a market here. I know
that Harringay-ites love food, I saw that at the Food Festival last year, so
that couldn’t be the reason why there wasn’t a market. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">I wanted to organise a market
for locals, where they could meet each other once every week, have a chat, a
coffee and delicious food. A place for them to shop, eat local and buy local.
Harringay Market supports local traders, businesses and local farmers.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How long has it taken for the market to go from an idea to a
reality? How did you go about making it
happen? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">I first pitched the idea to Hugh
Flouch from local community website </span><a href="http://www.harringayonline.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">Harringay Online</span></a><span style="color: purple;">. That was at the beginning
of March. After that it all went so fast! I must honestly say that Harringay
Online has been a big help. It made me able to ask locals for their opinion, to
see whether they were interested in attending the market, what they thought of
the name ‘Harringay Market’ etc. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">After that we were on </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/HarringayMarket" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">FaceBook</span></a><span style="color: purple;">,
</span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/HarringayMarket" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">Twitter</span></a><span style="color: purple;"> and we launched a </span><a href="http://harringaymarket.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">website</span></a><span style="color: purple;">, and that has helped too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m oversubscribed at the
moment, everyone seems to want a stall. It still surprises me when I see that
my inbox is full of emails from people who’d like a stall, most of them heard
about Harringay Market through word of mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">It’s been hard work, I’m even
waking up in the middle of the night with new ideas for the market. I eat, sleep
and dream Harringay Market, but in the end I believe it’s all worth it and I
look forward to realise the market after months of dreaming about it.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Going back to cooking, what’s your favourite dish to make? Can you give me a Surinamese recipe to try at
home?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">That’s a difficult question, I
can’t make up my mind. I love soto ayam,
that’s Indonesian for chicken soup. It’s a well known dish in Suriname, we call
it saoto. I make saoto quite a lot, it
never gets boring. I’ve written the recipe on my blog </span><a href="http://www.foxycooks.co.uk/"><span style="color: magenta;">www.foxycooks.co.uk</span></a><span style="color: purple;">. The link is </span><a href="http://www.foxycooks.co.uk/2012/01/12/soto-ayam-chicken-soup/"><span style="color: magenta;">http://www.foxycooks.co.uk/2012/01/12/soto-ayam-chicken-soup/</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love to have it with a few
spoons of rice, a boiled egg and loads of hot sambal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Thanks for talking to us Jessica, I'm sure Harringay Market is going to be a great addition to our community - see you there!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"><i>Harringay Market takes place every Sunday 11am - 3pm at North Harringay Primary School. See the website </i></span></b></span><b><span style="color: magenta;">
</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://harringaymarket.co.uk/"><b><span style="color: magenta;">http://harringaymarket.co.uk/</span></b></a> <span style="color: purple;"><b><i>for details of traders and latest news.</i></b></span><b><span style="color: purple;"><i><br /></i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><br /></span></div>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-49515116141460280272012-05-06T09:37:00.000-07:002012-05-06T09:37:03.486-07:00Free cakes for kids in Haringey<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Our friend Christine Hatt is giving kids in Haringey their just desserts....</i></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI4Dh5O8q46cuRfzzJ9HrWX5vUW4TIv84Qav4Dteyz9tE6Xa_nlOHMhfSJVJUgXhMBBS4hb7fQKcq4WgX8aqNPcUmFy49UmFEBP9Tl3V3JP46nE3WQgtUlxAQaFNUWcicXVbKRWFjiog/s1600/Cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI4Dh5O8q46cuRfzzJ9HrWX5vUW4TIv84Qav4Dteyz9tE6Xa_nlOHMhfSJVJUgXhMBBS4hb7fQKcq4WgX8aqNPcUmFy49UmFEBP9Tl3V3JP46nE3WQgtUlxAQaFNUWcicXVbKRWFjiog/s200/Cakes.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Tottenham Community Choir members
are no strangers to the pleasure of eating home-made cake, as the lengthy
queues for refreshments during rehearsal breaks show. A not-for-profit
community group just launched in Haringey seeks to bring that pleasure to needy
children across the borough by providing personalized, home-baked birthday or
other celebration cakes. The group is a branch of Free Cakes for Kids UK, a
network whose origins lie in the United States, where a Georgia foster carer
launched the equivalent American organization in 2007. The first UK group was
established in Oxford in 2008, and the service is now provided in over 40 areas
here, where more than 400 cakes have been baked.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea behind Free Cakes
for Kids is simple. There are many children who would love to have a birthday
cake made especially for them, but whose family circumstances make this
difficult. Many Tottenham children, for example, live in temporary
accommodation where there is no access to proper cooking facilities. Some
children are young carers trying to juggle caring responsibilities with
schoolwork and do not have the time to make cakes for themselves or their
siblings. Some families simply cannot afford to make a special cake, or are
caught up in a crisis (for example bereavement or redundancy) that leaves them
with neither the inclination nor the energy to bake. In such difficult
situations, the small gesture of providing a tailor-made cake can make a huge
difference to a child, giving pleasure on their birthday and happy memories for
the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each Free Cakes for Kids
group has a co-ordinator whose role is to recruit bakers and bring in referrals
for suitable children and families, for example from food banks and refugee
organizations. As the Haringey co-ordinator (and former TCC member), I would be
delighted to hear from anyone interested in baking for the group or supporting
it in any other way, for example by delivering cakes or helping with
fundraising. Competent home bakers are welcome – there is no need to be a
professional cook. However, all Free Cakes for Kids bakers are required to sign
the organization’s hygiene and confidentiality policies, and must also be
willing to buy their own ingredients and equipment. Once they have signed up,
bakers are always free to turn down a referral if they do not feel able to make
the type of cake requested, or if they simply do not have the time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please contact me with
comments, queries or offers of help via <a href="mailto:haringeyfreecakesforkids@yahoo.co.uk">haringeyfreecakesforkids@yahoo.co.uk</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to know more about the Free Cakes for Kids UK network in
general, you can access the organisation’s website at <a href="http://www.freecakesforkids.org.uk/">www.freecakesforkids.org.uk</a>. </span>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-59849405882185957852012-05-04T06:26:00.002-07:002012-05-04T06:26:16.180-07:00We're on You Tube!<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We've now got a You Tube channel!</b></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three videos from this week's rehearsal are now uploaded for your viewing pleasure!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">N'kosi Sikelele Africa <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vige12A8-CQ&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vige12A8-CQ&feature=plcp</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gloria <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO9I-KnPF9w&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO9I-KnPF9w&feature=plcp</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beautiful Day I'll Be There Medley <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9QBt3qCDaQ&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9QBt3qCDaQ&feature=plcp</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-18268849979464609832012-05-02T17:02:00.001-07:002012-05-02T17:02:52.064-07:00Dates for your diaries...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of great events coming up, including....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This <b>Bank Holiday Monday 7th May</b> we are pleased to be performing at <a href="http://www.youthspace.haringey.gov.uk/home/activities4u.htm" target="_blank">All Together Now</a>, a free sport and music festival in Bruce Castle Park organised by Tottenham Hotspur Tennis Club. There will loads of fun sporting activities for everyone and music from local acts. We're singing at 2pm! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On <b>Sunday 3rd June </b>we are holding a <a href="http://www.thebiglunch.com/" target="_blank">Big Lunch</a> with food from all different parts of our community and music from the choir and other musicians from the community. The Big Lunch will be from 1 - 4pm at Downhills School.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have some more exciting events lined up over the summer but we can't say too much yet! More info asap!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Saturday 22nd September</b> sees the choir performing at the newly refurbished <a href="http://www.haringey.gov.uk/index/community_and_leisure/greenspaces/parks_and_open_spaces_parks_facilities/lordshiprec.htm" target="_blank">Shell Theatre in Lordship Rec</a>, as part of the 2012 Festival. We are really proud to have been asked to take part in the festival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Winter Concert will be held on <b>Sunday 11th November</b>,<b> </b>once again at the fabulous Gladesmore School. Keep your eyes peeled for more info and details of tickets!</span><br />
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<br />Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-22160436349242830602012-04-16T08:40:00.000-07:002012-04-16T08:45:06.991-07:00So you think you can’t sing…? but you really want to…..?<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Choir member Lynda J tells us about her singing journey....</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take it from one who spent 40 years not singing (because I was ‘tone-deaf’, ‘couldn’t hold a tune’) that it is 99% certain that you can. I am not tone deaf and I can hold a tune …… and it does make me feel good! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what changed and what have I learned along the path from non-singer to singer? In this blog, I will pass on my thoughts and invite others with similar stories to share their experience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My first good singing experience (aged about 40) was at a fortnight of workshops run by the inspirational teacher/folk-singer, Frankie Armstrong. Frankie’s view is that singing is just one part of using our voices to speak, to call and to sing – “if you can talk, you can sing”. She builds confidence through exercises to speak rhythmically and call (as if your cows had wandered away across the fields), and to chant rhythmically to support an activity (as in hauling in nets) using our full-bodied voice rather than our pretty performance voices. She says there is no such thing as a wrong note, only interesting harmonies! </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Frankie, I learned that women’s voices can be strong and loud and don’t have to be gentle a high. Also, that how you stand, and most importantly, breathe is absolutely key to making a ‘good’ sound. So singing I discovered is not just a given – there is technique that helps! </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a great start – although I was still very, very scared! But I really wanted to sing so I took an enormous leap and joined a women’s choir – very quietly and hoping no-one would notice me at the back – let alone hear me! I was still terrified of ruining the sound and making horrible noises …. but I hung on.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From this choir, I learned more about women’s voices and solidarity in singing but also – shock – singing is hard work! It is hard physical work – breathing takes effort! More important, few people just pick up a tune and sing it well – it takes time to learn and to practise. I had unthinkingly imagined that everyone but me just sang perfectly with no effort at all. Not true – there is of course a range from those with incredible musicality and great voices to those who can follow a tune and sing along – most important of all, with hard work and technique, everyone can get better! </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I started to have individual singing lessons with a wonderful teacher and indie rock singer, Gena Dry. Gena knew just how frightening it is to sing on your own in front of even one other person – she was very empathetic, creative, supportive and funny - her approach was very different from Frankie’s and based on releasing the emotional blocks to singing. Her exercises including singing notes as loud as possible before quietening down and thinking about the feelings to be conveyed in a song – communicate the emotion and the notes will look after themselves!</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Gena, I learned that singing is very emotional! This is double edged – don’t we love being moved to tears or experiencing the joy of singing but many of us are held back by strong emotions. Mainly fear – getting it wrong, being put back in our place, being too loud – our whole self can be tied up with a wrong note so we are terrified to try. Much of this goes back to childhood – how many people (like me) were told not to sing at a very young age or were told off for being too noisy. Gena taught me to stretch myself, get out of my comfort zone and make a lot of noise – I was amazed to discover that I have a very loud voice! She also helped me find the joy in singing and the power of expressing emotions through using my voice. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gena also helped me explore my own voice to understand my range and where I am most comfortable singing – again, something I had never thought of and have found that my range is much higher than I would have expected. Women particularly, tend to go for the mid-range ‘alto’ as it seems safest but it is worth trying out the lower and higher ranges – you might be surprised! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, where am I now? I joined TCC in September 2011 – and have enjoyed every minute. I wouldn't call myself a great singer but I know I can sing and I know I can get better and more confident the more I work at it. I know the world is not divided into those who magically sing perfectly and those who can’t. I know that technique and work are important and I know that it is mainly fear that holds me back. I know that I love singing … and it really does make me feel good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you think you can’t but you want to – take the first step – join us (or a choir near you) and ask for help – you will find TCC very welcoming, great fun and very supportive. I look forward to meeting you on a Tuesday night. And everyone - don’t forget to give us your stories of learning to sing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Lynda J </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With enormous gratitude to all the people (too numerous to mention here) who have helped me find my voice and especially a great debt to, and very fond memories of, Gena Dry (1964-2010).</span></div>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-61855707667075983432012-04-07T01:10:00.000-07:002012-04-07T01:10:57.605-07:00Leaving thoughts from a choir memberOur guest blogger this week is Sarah Moore, an alto who has been with us and brightened our rehearsals since she blubbed all the way through our performance at the Green lanes Food festival last year. She is emigrating to Australia in a few short weeks, and last week she left the choir. Those of us who have come to know her will miss her. A lot.<br />
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She has published her thoughts on leaving on her own blog at <a href="http://madamerrr.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/fat-lady-sang.html" target="_blank" title="Sarah's blog - opens in a new window">http://madamerrr.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/fat-lady-sang.html</a> (I didn't want to duplicate her post here because Google doesn't like the same text on multiple pages).<br />
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See if you can read it without a tear in your eye. I couldn't. It made me sad, and proud.<br />
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Jerry<br />
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(PS for more thoughts on the choir, see Stuart Waterman's blog at <a href="http://www.stuartwaterman.com/tottenham-community-choir-faqs/" target="_blank" title="Stuart's blog - opens in a new window">http://www.stuartwaterman.com/tottenham-community-choir-faqs/</a>)Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-69185134807749079932012-03-12T09:32:00.002-07:002012-03-12T09:38:56.295-07:00Guest Post: The South London Choir<span style="color: purple;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Grab your passports Tottenhamites, we're heading to South London for the first in a series of guest posts...</span></i> </span><br />
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The South London Choir is a community choir - it's a non-auditioning, groovy choir that sings anything from Mozart to Abba, as well as original compositions.<br />
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Our choir is run by the fabulous MJ Paranzino, an inspired and innovative performer and musical director of 3 commmunity choirs - she is also a professional vocal coach, session musician and successful singer/songwriter. <a href="http://www.mjparanzino.co.uk/">http://www.mjparanzino.co.uk/</a> MJ also holds vocal workshops, private vocal coaching and corporate team building workshops along with her community choirs.<br />
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Choir members meet every Tuesday evening in Ravenstone School in Balham between 7.30pm - 9.30pm, and there's always a visit to the pub after the last rehearsal in the month.<br />
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At present we're working on our concert, 'Vocal Gymnastics", part of the Brighton Festival Fringe - every year MJ gives new composers a chance to write a new choral piece for over 200 adult voices, and to hear their music performed for the first time.<br />
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The choir also sang at HMP Wandsworth recently, as part of our community outreach programme, which went really well. We have a Songs of Praise Special coming up on 25th March with Mavis Staples - we're part of the congregation, along with our sister choirs, The West London Choir and The Brighton City Singers Choir, also directed by MJ.<br />
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The choir is an amazing place to meet new people, and to have fun while singing. Anyone is welcome to come along whatever their singing ability and everyone is always so friendly. We average at 100+ members a week.
Our concerts are unique as MJ is always keen on audience participation - new members are always confused when we're stopped halfway through a song because the audience aren't joining in enough. The older members soon put their minds at rest that nothing is wrong - it's all part of the charm of the performance.<br />
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One of our favourites is Chatanooga Choo Choo from a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAatX1-YRcU">charity concert</a> we did last year to raise money for the Pakistan flood victims - it emphasises the fun we have while we sing.
Recently we performed a flash mob event in Covent Garden for a Channel 4 programme "The Wedding Proposal" - it was so much fun - you can watch it on our website, along with another flash mob event we did for Citroen, sponsors of the Brighton Festival Fringe 2011. The choir also sings at weddings and other traditional celebrations.
Tuesday nights are always the highlight of the week and it's all about the singing!<br />
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You can find out more about the choir on our website: <a href="http://www.southlondonchoir.co.uk/">http://www.southlondonchoir.co.uk/</a> or find us on Facebook or Twitter (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/slondonchoir">@slondonchoir</a>).<br />
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Thanks Tottenham Community Choir for giving us a guest spot on your blog!Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-71456489468394422662012-03-07T09:30:00.000-08:002012-03-07T09:30:03.947-08:00What we're singing!Fresh from a great performance at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/70162900808/">Unite 2012 </a> which raised an amazing £2000 for Nightingale Cancer Support Centre, in Enfield, we've now started work on a couple of really diverse pieces, Nkosi Sikelele, the South African National anthem, and Vivaldi's Gloria. It's great learning such contrasting pieces!Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-37476926330952101282012-03-06T23:00:00.003-08:002012-03-06T23:02:38.267-08:00Welcome to our new membersWe seem to be getting new members every week now, which is nice :-)<div><br /></div><div>Don't forget to keep an eye on the main <a href="http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com">http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com</a> web site and, if you're a member and don't have a password for the members' area, <a href="mailto:jeremyb@tottenhamcommunitychoir.com">email Jerry</a> to ask for one.</div>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-86677436209265392162012-01-01T11:56:00.000-08:002012-01-01T11:58:01.517-08:00New term starts this Tuesday at 7.30 pmAll welcome (as usual) - would be great to see some new faces, also some old faces if you feel like coming back! http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.comTottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-60173030342975513632011-12-11T01:18:00.001-08:002011-12-11T01:18:48.569-08:00Christmas concert today!<span class="messageBody" ft="{"type":3}">Anybody with a couple of free hours this afternoon could do a lot worse than come to Gladesmore School, South Tottenham, between 4 and 6 for the TCC winter concert featuring Artcha, PanNation, and the Gladesmore choir. See <a href="http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://<wbr><span class="word_break"></span>www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com<wbr><span class="word_break"></span>/</a> for full details.</span>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-82635407669912811882011-12-03T02:16:00.000-08:002011-12-03T04:56:19.918-08:00Winter concert next week!<div class="style1"><br /> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; background-color: rgb(225, 228, 243); color: #3A0075;"><br /> If you haven't already bought a ticket for our winter concert next Sunday (11th December), why not do so now?<br /> </p><br /><br /> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; background-color: rgb(225, 228, 243);"><br /> <span style="color: #3A0075;">It's at <b>Gladesmore School, N15 6EB</b> at <b>4.00 pm</b> in aid of the Downhills Primary School playground fund, and features local Haringey guest artists <a href="http://www.myspace.com/artcha" target="_blank">Artcha</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/PaNation-Steel-Band/134047649939440" target="_blank">PanNation</a>, as well as the school choirs from Gladesmore and Downhills primary schools - why not bring the whole family for an afternoon of musical festive fun?!!!</span><br /> </p><br /> <br /> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; background-color: rgb(225, 228, 243);"><br /> <span style="color: rgb(58, 0, 117)"><strong>Tickets now on sale</strong> online from <a href="http://tccwinterconcert.eventbrite.co.uk/?ebtv=F" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a>, or at our <a href="http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com/pages/whereandwhen.htm">Tuesday rehearsals.</a></span><br /> </p><br /> </div>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-55771230022810075532011-11-13T08:39:00.001-08:002011-11-13T08:40:20.585-08:00Winter concertsJust a quick post to say that we have a major concert and several smaller appearances lined up for the next few weeks - check the main site <a href="http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com">http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com</a> for details.Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-84149321630405302022011-11-02T23:49:00.000-07:002011-11-02T23:53:24.526-07:00The Festive SeasonWe really must try to make an effort (aren't they the same thing?) to update this blog more often, otherwise it looks as if nothing is happening with the choir - and that ain't so. In fact a lot is happening; we have five concerts/performances lined up for between now and Christmas and are hoping to do several more low key appearances over the holidays.<div>Our repertoire is expanding - Prince Igor is coming along nicely and it's going to be a cracker when it's done - and our membership has expanded considerably over the past few weeks. Hello to all the new people, we hope you're enjoying yourselves!</div>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-17388585624856521362011-09-20T00:55:00.000-07:002011-09-20T01:06:32.308-07:00It's all (not really) gone quietNot much on this blog for a while but that doesn't mean there's not much happening with the choir. We're storming on - did a brilliant set and wowed them at the Harringay Food Festival last weekend, had the audience singing along and cheering for an encore!<div>So - if you haven't already - why not come along and sing along? Check the Web site for full details and photos <a href="http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com/">http://www.tottenhamcommunitychoir.com</a></div>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-19406191190648656102011-08-25T09:32:00.000-07:002011-08-25T09:36:15.197-07:00Singing for the community - oh yes<p>Should have posted something on here before but in case you're not aware the choir is hosting, and performing at, a benefit gig for those affected by the recent awful events in Tottenham.</p><p>It's at The Millfield Arts Centre in Edmonton and the bill features an ever increasing number of quality guests, all performing for free to raise as much money as we can. Please come along, and spread the word!</p><p>Tickets: <a href="http://www.millfieldartscentre.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.millfieldartscentre</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span></a><a href="http://www.millfieldartscentre.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.co.uk/</a></p><p>Lineup and further info: <a href="https://tottenhamgig.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>https://tottenhamgig.wordpress</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span>.com/</a></p>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-17544361187741063752011-06-11T00:11:00.000-07:002011-06-11T00:17:23.544-07:00What makes a good wedding?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxihIk5hLRUTlHzn0opUHOzh5dtIiG57xPibpFfCSQIgGtvmWCJUVtvZz9PirQBELQS1E2nLc2bqtu_qsJ2RB4aO8u0OY3yminZJ-wycOPPec58M0ms24W_DSzYZAbnhX6AOGd1DXmdx0/s1600/254870_10150259861826320_679676319_8783155_4507931_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxihIk5hLRUTlHzn0opUHOzh5dtIiG57xPibpFfCSQIgGtvmWCJUVtvZz9PirQBELQS1E2nLc2bqtu_qsJ2RB4aO8u0OY3yminZJ-wycOPPec58M0ms24W_DSzYZAbnhX6AOGd1DXmdx0/s320/254870_10150259861826320_679676319_8783155_4507931_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616857888690900242" /></a><br />The music. <br />When I knew that I was going to get married, but not in a church or synagogue I was worried it would be a 10min job and that I wouldn't have any singing. This was not a good prospect for me as music and singing are so important to me. <br />So thank you thank you wonderful Tottenham Community Choir, for giving up the best part of your Saturday and singing at the wedding. <br />It made it for me and I'm thrilled by the result.<br />Thanks also to the good folks at Woodgreen Civic centre who let it all happen.Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-54129811386364764872011-06-07T01:02:00.000-07:002011-06-07T01:07:55.569-07:00Bak to skool aganeyes folks, it's back to Downhills Primary School this evening for the first choir rehearsal of the half term. See you all there!Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-33975714702711365542011-06-04T04:02:00.000-07:002011-06-04T04:03:21.072-07:00New half term starts this Tuesday (7th June).<div><p class="MsoNormal">Hello all – hope you enjoyed your half term break.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are back as usual on Tuesday – can those of you who have copies please bring along Goldfinger, What A Wonderful World and Cantique De Jean Racine.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also, we’ll be having a raffle so if anyone has anything they would like to donate please bring it along.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Finally – we’re going to make an effort to be a bit tighter with start/end/break times this half term so please try to be there at about 7.15 or so, ready to start at 7.30.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">See you Tuesday.</p></div>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-47656713284458052212011-05-30T06:59:00.000-07:002011-05-30T07:00:27.061-07:00Here's to our blushing brideFantastic performance by all at Chloe's wedding last weekend, well done.<br /><br />We're on half term hols this week, back on Tuesday June 7th. Hope to see you all there - and some new faces as well!Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-80802259509246443312011-05-17T08:07:00.001-07:002011-05-17T08:26:14.050-07:00Yes, but *why* does singing make you feel good?10 reasons why singing is good for you…<br /><br />If you love to sing, then you’re already aware that singing is fun, energizing and a great stress reducer. But if you’re one of millions who claim ”can’t sing!” then I suggest that you consider singing as an absolutely free, non-prescription, safe and effective life-enhancing tool. If you’re facing physical, emotional or mental challenges, or if you just want more peace and happiness, here are 10 ways singing can change your life!<br /><br />1. Promotes deep breathing!<br />As you begin to use “full body breathing” with a relaxed, soft belly, you allow the diaphragm to drop down, giving the lungs the freedom to expand more fully. Relaxed abdominals are essential for proper breath support while singing. I like to think of “filling up like a balloon” when I sing. This gives firm, active breath support and allows for deep, full breathing. Singing promotes slow, deep, healthy breathing.<br /><br />2. Oxygenates the blood!<br />As you use full body breathing, you are bringing in a greater volume of air. Oxygen floods the blood system, bathing the cells in life-giving oxygen. You will feel more alive as you breath deeply and fill yourself with energizing, oxygenated air! Singing oxygenates the blood!<br /><br />3. Stimulates brain activity!<br />Singing requires thought. You are memorizing lyrics, melodies and rhythms, as well as connecting words with emotion. Your “singer’s breathing” technique is bringing more oxygen to the brain. Your brain’s neurons are firing furiously as you are integrating the physical, emotional and psychological functions necessary to joyful singing! Singing stimulates brain activity!<br /><br />4. Releases “feel good” endorphins!<br />All this physical, neurological and emotional activity serves to release those “feel- good” hormones called endorphins. So not only is your audience benefiting from your lovely voice, but you are being flooded with happy hormones that give you a sense of peace and well-being. Singing feels fantastic because it releases “feel good” endorphins!<br /><br />5. Reduces stress!<br />When you feel good, your stress level goes down. Endorphins help diminish stress and agitation. By using deep, full body breathing you slow the heart rate and take your mind off of unwanted anxiety. The next time you feel stressed or overwhelmed, take a full body breath, and break out singing! Your stress will fly away as you reap the benefit of joyful singing!<br /><br />6. Builds self-confidence!<br />Speaking in public is still the #1 fear for Americans. Singing ranks right up there for most of us. Singing is a risk-taking behaviour because you’re putting yourself out there in a very exposed way. It dredges up all our insecurities and self-imposed limitations. When you dare to share your voice and music, a fantastic thing happens. It’s like walking through fire. You overcome your fear, and emerge with an incredible sense of accomplishment. You did it! Your self-esteem soars and you feel that you can do anything! Singing builds self-confidence in a BIG way!<br /><br />7. Enhances memory!<br />Singing involves memorization as you learn new melodies, lyrics and complex musical forms. It’s a great way to stimulate the areas of the brain involved with memory, learning and concentration. Use it, or lose it! Singing is a great way to enhance your memory!<br /><br />8. Boosts creativity!<br />As you build your self-esteem and stimulate your artistic soul, you’ll find that all areas of your life are positively affected by the act of singing. Suddenly you’ve opened the floodgates of your creative soul, and you begin thinking outside the box! Your productivity soars! By tapping into your creative reservoir you become more alive and innovative! Singing boosts creativity!<br /><br />9. Creates a powerful speaking voice!<br />If you’re a speaker, presenter, teacher, clergy or in any sales related business (aren’t we all??), you will benefit from learning to sing. Your voice is your instrument, no matter what you do in life, and singing gives you the skills to speak in a natural, powerful, confident voice. Everyone benefits from proper singing technique. You’ll discover your “true” voice that will reveal your confident, authentic self. Finding your voice is a joy. Singing creates a powerful speaking voice!<br /><br />10. Makes you feel fantastic!<br />Singing makes you feel self-assured, in control, physically alive and fantastically creative. It feeds your soul as it creates physical well-being. With increased self- confidence you can do anything! Physical, mental and emotional health is a great side effect of singing. There’s no doubt about it, singing makes you feel fantastic!Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-50403258577421133992011-05-13T23:27:00.000-07:002011-05-13T23:37:25.766-07:00TogethernessWhat does community mean? <br />Last week before choir rehearsals began, I was so pleased to be having a chat with someone I hadn’t seen face to face for quite some time. The joy was, fo me, that there was a true sense of pleasure in this conversation and the prospect of many more to come and if it wasn’t for the choir I wouldn’t have a clue who this person was and for that matter who most people are who live so close by. We live in a world where we can connect in so many ways but I don’t know most of the people in my street. Tottenham Community Choir has helped me meet and get to know wonderful people and help make the place I live feel like home. Some don't come to choir anymore but I still feel connected to them. <br />I grew up in a very small town and you knew most people's faces and most names too. Having been a member of the choir I get some sense of that 'small town' walking around Tottenham and strolling in the park I nearly always get a smile from someone I know. <br />Is community knowing people, recognising each other and not feeling alone or isolated?Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-44775447721207658022011-05-11T05:29:00.000-07:002011-05-11T05:50:44.068-07:00Books and Singing go hand in handYou have probably heard me banging on in rehearsal about the Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green, the various events they put on and how supportive of us they have been over the past year. Oh you haven't? Do you not listen when I talk? I am hurt, choir, I am hurt.<br /><br />Anyways, the Big Green Bookshop is run by three lovely guys called Tim, Simon and Mark and is something of an institution in the Wood Green locale - not only do they know their eggs where books are concerned but they also run lots of events like quizzes, readings, comedy nights, writers groups and knitting circles. Something for everyone there. No, well how about story time for your littluns or boardgame Sundays? <br /><br />If you haven't been to visit the bookshop, make a deal with yourself to do it and do it soon. Tea and biscuits are generally on the go and the staff and customers are always up for a natter, book-related or not.<br /><br />It's so important that independent shops like this one are cherished, so do your bit for our community and buy a book from them.<br /><br />I'll cry if you don't.<br /><br />Website: http://www.biggreenbookshop.com<br /><br />Blog: http://woodgreenbookshop.blogspot.com<br /><br />TaraTottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-34722186744550201972011-05-02T13:10:00.000-07:002011-05-02T13:13:23.232-07:00What you'll be missingIt's horrible when you can't make a rehearsal, I get a sense that I've missed out. Life can get in the way of life though, can't it? <br />I look around and some faces really make the choir for me... I miss them. The problem is some faces are so familiar and yet I'm not 100% sure I know the names. <br />Should we have a name amnesty? <br /><br />Which leads me to our wonderful MD, in a very short amount of time he has made a real effort to learn our names and he seems to know us as singers so well. Things feel so great and so positive right now. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every rehearsal of late. <br /><br />Our sound keeps getting better and better; so when I’m not there I’m missing you.Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8880805503257581133.post-78579083310766111822011-04-29T00:05:00.001-07:002011-04-29T00:11:50.042-07:00Singing is good for your heartLook - A Prof says it is<br />Professor Graham Welch, at The University of London says "The health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological."<br />lots more at <a href="http://www.heartsearch.org.uk/hearthealth/singinggood">www.heartsearch.org.uk/hearthealth/singinggood</a>Tottenham Community Choirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07359950050503821479noreply@blogger.com0