Royal Free Music Society

The home of the music guide which will help you to find what you want if you don't know the proper musical terminology

Those bits in the music which throw you because they are a little bit higher or lower than you thought they were going to be - they are probably the fault of a sharp or a flat, or the key signature that the piece of music is in.

Are the notes on each line in different clefs the same? Nope - that would be far too easy! Click here to find out the differences and to see that there is a reason behind having different clefs rather than just to confuse us poor singers.

"I got rhythm ..... Who could ask for anything more?", or so the song goes - make sure you've got the correct rhythm or you'll look a bit silly - it's all to do with the time signature.

Loud or soft? It is definitely worth knowing before you open your mouth to sing. Have a look here to see how the composers make it easy for us and tell us how loud or soft to sing. Also included is getting louder or softer.

All those expressions telling us how to sing pieces are in Italian or German or whatever. Have a look here rather than having to learn four or five languages.

Although the conductor infront of you has sole responsibility for the speed at which a piece of music is performed you can help them by having a good idea if the piece is speeding up, slowing down or whatever. This section will help you.

Isn't it amazing that, with the massive diversity of music, that they all use the same notes? Have a look here to see about those notes that are used.

Music is choc-a-bloc full of squiggly bits - if you don't know what they are called it can be really difficult to find information on them - have a look here and see if you recognise any. This section will be expanding greatly in the future so keep an eye on it

These are articles written by RFMS members to help the rest of the society improve their singing technique and to get more out of their singing (and to enjoy it!). The links are to web pages but they are often available as PDFs for download for yourself.

How to Breathe by Andy Miller
You don't run your car with no petrol in it so don't try and sing without a good supply of air. This article is written to try and get you to have as much air (singing fuel) in those lungs as you possibly can. It should help you to stop going purple and falling over during concerts!

What Voice am I? by Andy Miller
So many people in amatuer choirs are in the wrong section of the choir - this can lead to straining your voice and ruining it or it could mean that you don't enjoy your singing - this simple test id to try and help you make sure that you are singing the correct voice section for you (you can also do it in the privicy of your own home too!)

Tips for Sight Singing by Andy Miller
We all tremble at the prospect of sight singing - the best advice is to practice, then practice and practice again. This article is to try and help you with some of the "tricks" of the trade. If you have any more then contact the site designer - we can never have too may tips for getting it right!

Getting the Most Out of Rehearsals by Andrew Rochford
This is advice for RFMS members but there is useful information which can be ued by any choir member of any choir or society. We all need as much help as we can.

The Music Guide

	Music Guide Home	The home of the music guide which will help you to find what you want if you don't know the proper musical terminology

	Key signatures, sharps and flats	Those bits in the music which throw you because they are a little bit higher or lower than you thought they were going to be - they are probably the fault of a sharp or a flat, or the key signature that the piece of music is in.

	Clefs	Are the notes on each line in different clefs the same? Nope - that would be far too easy! Click here to find out the differences and to see that there is a reason behind having different clefs rather than just to confuse us poor singers.

	Time signatures	"I got rhythm ..... Who could ask for anything more?", or so the song goes - make sure you've got the correct rhythm or you'll look a bit silly - it's all to do with the time signature.

	Dynamics	Loud or soft? It is definitely worth knowing before you open your mouth to sing. Have a look here to see how the composers make it easy for us and tell us how loud or soft to sing. Also included is getting louder or softer.

	Expressions	All those expressions telling us how to sing pieces are in Italian or German or whatever. Have a look here rather than having to learn four or five languages.

	Tempo	Although the conductor infront of you has sole responsibility for the speed at which a piece of music is performed you can help them by having a good idea if the piece is speeding up, slowing down or whatever. This section will help you.

	Note length and pitch	Isn't it amazing that, with the massive diversity of music, that they all use the same notes? Have a look here to see about those notes that are used.

	The squiggly bits	Music is choc-a-bloc full of squiggly bits - if you don't know what they are called it can be really difficult to find information on them - have a look here and see if you recognise any. This section will be expanding greatly in the future so keep an eye on it

Articles on Music

These are articles written by RFMS members to help the rest of the society improve their singing technique and to get more out of their singing (and to enjoy it!). The links are to web pages but they are often available as PDFs for download for yourself.

How to Breathe by Andy Miller You don't run your car with no petrol in it so don't try and sing without a good supply of air. This article is written to try and get you to have as much air (singing fuel) in those lungs as you possibly can. It should help you to stop going purple and falling over during concerts!

What Voice am I? by Andy Miller So many people in amatuer choirs are in the wrong section of the choir - this can lead to straining your voice and ruining it or it could mean that you don't enjoy your singing - this simple test id to try and help you make sure that you are singing the correct voice section for you (you can also do it in the privicy of your own home too!)

Tips for Sight Singing by Andy Miller We all tremble at the prospect of sight singing - the best advice is to practice, then practice and practice again. This article is to try and help you with some of the "tricks" of the trade. If you have any more then contact the site designer - we can never have too may tips for getting it right!

Getting the Most Out of Rehearsals by Andrew Rochford This is advice for RFMS members but there is useful information which can be ued by any choir member of any choir or society. We all need as much help as we can.