Golden Voices at Band on the Wall
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Singing is medicine. Singing is a place to find community. Singing is for everyone, whether you think you’re “good” or not. Band on the Wall curates a range of spaces for people to come together and enjoy making music in the most natural way available to most people, by using their voices. Golden Voices is the venue’s singing group for the more experienced among us, with membership being exclusively open to over 50’s.
The choir learns all their music by ear, so there’s no need to be able to read music. They work through tunes at a steady pace, with an inclusive attitude to how different people learn. However, this by no means limits the opportunities to add harmonies and varied textures, making full use of the glorious experience of singing as a choir. The group’s repertoire isn’t limited by genre or style. They’re known for singing a wide variety of uplifting, joyful and heartfelt songs.
The group also regularly perform in relaxed and sociable sharings of the songs they’ve been working on. Having goals to aim for and gigs to prepare gives the group a nice sense of momentum to their sessions. Performing in this kind of way does wonderful things for each individual’s sense of self worth and confidence.
Socially, Golden Voices is an incredibly friendly space. The group regularly plan outings and activities outside of singing, as well as meeting weekly to make music together. Singing can do amazing things for your mental health as it gives a sense of belonging to a communal happening. It can also really improve your breathing, posture and physical health in ways that you wouldn’t expect. It also is a great way of socialising in a nonverbal way. Sometimes ten minutes of singing together can do the social leg work of three hours talking.
Sessions run weekly on Wednesday mornings between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. Refreshments are provided and anyone can join at any time, there’s no need to commit to all the sessions. You can sign up via the learning area of the Band on the Wall website.
