Andrew Hopwood - Vocal coach and Singing Teacher

Well the end of week one back good to see all my students. Tomorrow I have a little of Verdi Requiem to sing for Gloucester Choral Society. Then home and do some work on music for the Thames Head Singers for there appearance with Tenors unlimited on the 30th January at Stroud Sub rooms

For anybody with a New Years resolution to improve their singing or start singing. Looking for a bit of coaching for an audition. Yes even decide to try it as part of a retirement plan I have a couple of space on a Friday morning.

Well after a bit of a break over Christmas it’s been back to music well and truly over the last few days. Thinking about students and there way forward.
Final touches to the program for Thames Head Singers for April 9th and there spring concert. Then a job that started with an email and continued with me up a ladder putting up Christmas lights around the garden. It will conclude in Strou Sub rooms on January 30th blwith THS backing Tenors Unlimited. So from J S Bach in December to The Greatest showman and ELO in January. Now there’s variety!

Last rehearsal tonight for Thames Head Singers concert at Minchinhampton Church on Saturday 19th December at 7:30. I am looking forward to this concert when our friends from the Capriol Chamber Orchestra join us for J S Bach’s Magnificat in D. Tickets are selling well but there will be plenty available on the door for those who wish to make a last minute decision in these worrying times.

Thames Head Singers will be performing J.S.Bach Magnificat in D on December 18th at Holy Trinity Church Minchinhampton 7:30pm. We will have the pleasure of being accompanied at the concert by the Capriol Orchestra. See the THS web site for ticket details. I hope to see you there

A hard working and productive rehearsal last night for THS at our first rehearsal back after half term.

Well half term or not work continues with preparation for Thames Head Singers Christmas concert on 18 December at 7:30 in Minchampton Church. I have collected the orchestra scores from the library. Sent out the rehearsal schedule for the next half term to the choir and Jon Trims Away in a manger. I have also paid a visit up to Minchinhampton Church to look at how we lay the church out for choir and Orchestra. Now for some time with the score.

Well THames Head Singers have their last rehearsal before half term and the Bach Magnificat is going very well. We will ready for December 18th at Minchampton Church when the Capriol Orchestra will join us for the evening of Bach and Carols.

Great first rehearsal back with Thames Head Singers. Working at 3 movements of J.S.Bach Magnificat in D. Well done the THS

Thought for the day.
Try the breathing then move to humming. Lightly closed lips so they might fizz a little and get that sound vibrating around the bridge of the nose. Next hum and open to an Ah vowel.

Great evening with Thames Head Singers last night as we started a new year by having the AGM and social before really start the work on J S Bach Magnificat in D to perform on December 18th in Minchinhampton

Sorry folks we have people working in the garden using noise machinery so things are not conducive to making a video. However, I hope by Thursday or Friday this week to put a bit more out on breathing for you as I have had a request in on that subject.
See you all soo

Sorry folks I forgot this . Note the pencil brackets over the vocal line semi quavers giving clue to the pattern

Enjoying the bank holiday before getting back into the swing of things.
Tuesday 31st August breath exercise and vocal warm up! Any body got any WD40 for voices😁

Well THS has found an in out venue for tonight’s rehearsal. We can six inside and the rest of the choir outside! But still able to see me and hear .😁😁😁

Well the first wee back face to face teaching went well and was a real joy. All my students worked really well and life for us all was so much easier. With my home piano being tuned as I write I am hopeful of another good week!

Well here I go again back to on line lessons with my iPad. It appears the batteries have had a little top up and are ready to teach.

Well nearly at half term and still standing. This on lIne teaching is fun but tiring I find. I really do feel ready for the break next week
Hope all my students enjoy a week away and a big thanks to all who have been able to stick with their lessons during this lock down

Well back to it this morning with on line teaching around the world. I thought it was going to be hard to get into gear but time has flown by and all good lessons I felt. From Nymphs and Shepherds to the girl from ipanema!

A Big Thankyou to all my private students for sticking to their lessons this week and having their lessons on the various media platforms

The end of another day round the world. Thailand was very nice this morning

Really getting into this on line teaching. Just completed a lesson in Thailand and now back in England and no jet lag brilliant!

Well this on line teaching is going well. I will hopefully be try a rehearsal with a few of Thames Head singers soon

Here we are on Saturday 21st December and starting days preparations for tonight’s Concert Thomas Saves Christmas. 7 PM at Rodborough Parish Church

He’s teaching Verdi again.

This will be interesting week. Caught the bug now got tickly cough and voice down to low F octave below bass clef! Rachmaninov anyone?

Having a quiet week away from singing once Friday (tomorrow) is past but, that means more time to work on the model railway and progress it11

Having had an interesting Easter mostly without a kitchen as it is being revamped it is strangely restful to be back teaching! I have had an excellent set of ABRSM results at college and my private students are all doing well. Tuesday night with Thames Head Singers went well as we make preparations for our visit to Coventry Cathedral on June 2nd. Also Thanks to all the people who supported the Rossini concert it is good to know you enjoyed it so much.

Preparing for what was a great concert with Thames Head Singers and friends from Opera Sulis

Some rehearsal shots from yesterday. With Susan Coates, Anne Braley, Phillip Borge, Ashley Bremner under the baton of Andrew Hopwood with Julian Elloway on piano.

Petite Messe off to a great start in Rehearsals. Looking forward to starting a new pupil off next week. The Gentleman has never sung before but the voice is in all the right places already. A natural singer just need to enhance what he already has.

Start of a new term and THS working on the Rossini Messe Solennelle for April 6th at Minchampton. I have a Mozart requiem to sing on March 8th at Pitt Ville Pump Rooms and a student who came to there frist lesson after serious illness, to find that singing lessons with me, particularly breathing exercises explained exactly to her what the medics were trying to get her to do while in hospital 😀

An excellent Christmas Concert last night given by Thames Head Singers at St Laurences Stroud infront a good sized audience. If you were here thanks for coming and supporting. Happy Christmas to you All