The Chorister and The Racing Car!
A fun, informative chorister vocal health guide has just been published. Written by Anita Morrison specifically for children, and with its own supporting website, it aims to help these young singers take responsibility for looking after their voices.
Anita, singing teacher to the choristers at the London Oratory Schola also teaches others at a number of other foundations including Westminster Cathedral, Temple Church, St George’s Windsor Castle and Cardinal Vaughan Schola. She has taught choristers for over 25 years and uses the analogy of looking after a high performance racing car in her teaching.
Chorister mum Karen Fardell, a talented artist, drew some great illustrations based on the Westminster Cathedral choristers as a gift to staff when her son left the choir. The two have collaborated to produce The Chorister and The Racing Car, aimed at Year 4 pupils upwards. The content, grounded in sound vocal technique, will also engage and inform Year 8 students and beyond.
The book is divided into three sections:
- Under the bonnet – how the voice works
- General maintenance – vocal health
- Ready, steady, go! – warm up, rehearse, perform
Anita has also produced a set of A3 posters which will be ideal for dormitories, classrooms, rehearsal rooms or vestries.
The Chorister and The Racing Car has received a very warm welcome including a 5 star review on Amazon. “This book is wonderful. Useful tips for choristers written in an approachable way with lovely illustrations. Would highly recommend to anyone who teaches choristers. Buy it!”
Visit the website www.thechoristerandtheracingcar.co.uk to order your copy and find out lots more about vocal health for choristers. “I think it’s superb. Easy to understand without any hint of being patronising. Fun, engaging, well-judged level of technical chat. Glorious.” Oliver Hancock, Sub-Organist at Portsmouth Cathedral and Director of Music elect of St Mary’s Church, Warwick.