U3A Singing Group: July 2011 16 people canvassed. 13 responded.
1. Do you find that 90 minutes is about the right length for the class?
Response percentage / Response countYes, just right. / 92.3 / 12
I would prefer it to be longer. / 7.7 / 1
I would prefer it to be shorter. / 0 / 0
2. Do you value the warm up activities?
Response percentage / Response countI enjoy them enormously. / 69.2 / 9
I appreciate that they get us started, but am not that keen. / 30.8 / 4
I don't like them much. / 0 / 0
I'd rather we didn't do them. / 0 / 0
3. Do you find the arrangements, in a private sitting room, satisfactory?
Response percentage / Response countI really value being in a private house. / 15.4 / 2
I find the arrangements entirely satisfactory. / 92.3 / 12
I find the arrangements unsatisfactory. / 0 / 0
I find the chairs uncomfortable. / 0 / 0
I would prefer to be in a public space. / 0 / 0
4. How do you rate the competence of the teacher?
Response percentage / Response countI find him perfectly competent to do the job he is doing. / 100 / 13
I worry about some aspects of his competence. / 0 / 0
I find him generally incompetent. / 0 / 0
5. The teacher aims to be informal in his approach. Does this work for you?
Response percentage / Response countI like the informality of the classes. / 100 / 13
I would prefer a more formal approach with "serious teaching". / 0 / 0
6. Some songs are taught by rote, others use staff notation to support the teaching. For the second category do you find it helpful to have the music?
Response percentage / Response countI can read music and appreciate having it to read. / 30.8 / 4
I can't read music fluently but I appreciate being able to follow it. It helps. / 69.2 / 9
I try to learn by rote as I don't find the written music helps at all. / 0 / 0
7. How would you rate the following songs?
I really liked it. / It was OK. / I didn't enjoy it much. / I can't remember doing it!Allelu / 9 / 0 / 1 / 2
Baby sardine / 10 / 3 / 0 / 0
Come and sing together / 7 / 3 / 0 / 2
Cossack lullaby / 1 / 4 / 0 / 7
Da pacem Domine / 12 / 1 / 0 / 0
Deep blue sea / 10 / 3 / 0 / 0
Ding dong bell / 7 / 5 / 0 / 1
Dirty old town / 9 / 2 / 2 / 0
Frere Jaques / 1 / 8 / 3 / 0
Hear the lively song of the frogs / 2 / 2 / 0 / 9
My bonny lies over the ocean / 3 / 6 / 2 / 2
My Lord, what a morning (!) / 5 / 3 / 0 / 5
Odunde / 8 / 4 / 0 / 1
Rocka ma soul / 11 / 1 / 1 / 0
Shalom / 9 / 3 / 0 / 1
Soldier, soldier won't you marry me? / 10 / 2 / 1 / 0
Sumer is i-cumen in / 7 / 3 / 1 / 1
Sweetly the swan sings / 6 / 7 / 0 / 0
This old hammer / 7 / 4 / 2 / 0
Ubi caritas / 11 / 1 / 0 / 1
Vive l'amour / 9 / 4 / 0 / 0
When I grow up / 3 / 4 / 2 / 4
Windmill in old Amsterdam / 8 / 3 / 2 / 0
Zum gali gali / 10 / 3 / 0 / 0
8. Any other comments? They'd be most welcome.
I love the singing sessions. I would like to sing some songs from musicals, such as Oklahoma, Carousel (not The Sound of Music!). What are we going to sing for the Christmas performances?I enjoy it when I can really belt out a song: when I'm struggling with a part I get disheartened - I'm never sure whether I'm singing the right notes and suspect everyone else knows I'm not!
You can see that I’m a satisfied and delighted customer
A really nice group and experience. The piano helps often. I wonder what we would do if more joined ? A big choir would be nice but space is sometimes tight for exercise now. But really its great as it is, jolly , informal, rewarding.
Maybe a bit more use of the piano to go over the parts when learning a new song - I find it fixes the notes more firmly than just hearing you sing it (this is NOT a denigration of your voice!!)
I enjoy and appreciate the variety of songs we are taught.
perhaps some work on tonal quality of scale notes. Ubi caritas sounds beautiful so more like this please if possible
Look forward to the sessions each week. Thank you both for all your efforts!
How about some of the songs from the shows?
I enjoy both the variety of music and of process - learning some by ear and some with music. I enjoyed listening to the Taize CD hear what could be done with Ubi Caritas. Thanks to John for his teaching skill and thorough presentation
I expect we will sound like a "Choir" by Christmas!
I would enjoy to sing a few "Songs from the Shows". Perhaps nearer Christmas to harmonise to some well known carols ie Coventry Carol. I really appreciate you inviting us all into your house. Wednesday mornings is one of the highlights of the week.
Wednesday is my favourite morning! I really enjoy the singing and the friendly atmosphere. Long may it continue.