Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a church choir? No, West Marin Choir is a community chorus not affiliated with a church. We sing a mix of folk, pop, spirituals, and a cappella songs – music that we find heart-opening, inspiring, or just fun. We sing do spirituals and gospel tunes now and then, drawn from a variety of traditions including Christian, Pagan, Hindu, Jewish and others. Will I be required to sing alone? I can carry a tune but I'm not a soloist. Typically, choir members only sing the group choral parts and are not expected to sing solo. Those confident about singing on their own can find opportunities to sing solo verses in selected songs, but there's never any pressure to do so. I'm insecure about my singing voice. Will I feel unwelcome or embarrassed? Everyone is truly welcome in West Marin Choir. Most people find that singing in a group helps them to carry the tune more easily. The choir is a blend of experienced and inexperienced singers, and we all help one another. We provide good rehearsal recordings so that you can spend extra time practicing at home, which can go a long way toward bolstering your confidence. Your ear will improve with practice. Are men allowed? Yes, male singers are very welcome. The choir almost always needs more voices in male keys (tenor, baritone and bass ranges.) Can I pay per class or attend on a drop-in basis? Some introductory sessions are open to drop-ins but in general the choir is a committed series that builds on repertoire from week to week, requiring us to ask singers for a commitment. Is it okay if I can't attend all the rehearsals? Yes, you can miss up to two rehearsals per series. Spending extra time with the website rehearsal recordings will help you stay up to speed. You can also attend a make-up session any week at the other town's chapter, where the same songs are being sung. If you'll be out of town for more than a week, you have the option to double up before or after your trip by attending both the Monday and Tuesday night groups in a given week. You can also double-up anytime you wish to get extra rehearsal time. Is it okay if I can't attend the performance? Attendance at performances is not mandatory. The choir is less focused on being a performing group, and more focused on being a community group that loves singing together. Weekly choir rehearsals are very heart-opening and nourishing, and many singers enjoy them more than the actual performances. That said, it can be satisfying to bring our work out into the community, so we do always schedule some sort of performance at the end of each series. Can I try it out before committing to the whole series? You are welcome to attend the first or second class in a series as a drop-in. We recommend that if you're considering joining, take a moment to check out our videos and songs to see if it feels like a good fit. I don't know how to read music, is that okay? The choir typically doesn't use sheet music, so it's fine if you don't read music. Can I attend the other town's choir chapter? Yes! You can attend either chapter any time as a make-up, or even if you just want to double-up in one week. Can I join after the series has begun? Yes, this is usually okay if it's not more than 2 weeks into the season. Please Contact Us if interested. What is the choir's cancellation policy? Read the choir's cancellation policy here. |