Singing for Pleasure in Deal

We’ve all belted out a banger from time to time, whether it’s a power ballad in the shower or a love song in the car we’ve all sung for pleasure. Natasha, though, takes singing for pleasure to a whole new level and has actually built a community out of the act!

 

Natasha is the definition of a ‘local lass’ born in Archery Square, Walmer and grew up here, she travelled a bit but returned to raise her children in the place she calls ‘home’. Natasha sings Deal’s praises labelling it “a thriving community” which she credits to “all the quirky characters, houses, pubs, varied history and because of the rejuvenating effect of living by the sea”.

 

Singing for Pleasure, the community choir group, restarted for the first time since the pandemic took hold of our lives on November 2nd. CommunityAd took the opportunity to ask Natasha a few questions.

 

How long have you been running the Singing for Pleasure group? What was the motivation behind starting it?

I’ve been running Singing for Pleasure since 2009! I started it purely by chance as James Tillet phoned me up one morning asking if I could have a go at running a ‘choral group’ at the Astor Theatre as the session leader had dropped out! I had always sung in choirs growing up but certainly had no experience in running them!

From there I gradually realised that the people attending enjoyed learning and singing folk songs from around the world as much as I did and so it became the perfect excuse for me to me spend time learning beautiful songs and get paid for singing and teaching them. Singing for Pleasure has turned into something that I’m intrinsically motivated to run as I get as much fun and benefit from leading it as the people attending!

 

It is proven that singing is good for you, the perfect antidote for these times no doubt, what makes singing as a choir so uplifting?

I think singing as a choir is so uplifting as it’s much easier to lose one’s inhibitions when singing in a group as the choir itself becomes one voice and the critical self-evaporates! In a choir it is therefore easier to experience the full therapeutic benefit of singing as one allows the breath to become longer and the harmonic resonances to relax and open the body and mind. Not to mention the fun, laugher, friendships and stories that are evoked from singing the songs and meeting regularly as a group.

 

Why should readers consider coming along and joining the group?

Readers should come and try out Singing for Pleasure as it’s an ideal way of breaking up the day whether you’re retired or working, and learning the songs sets a fun, stimulating and rewarding challenge to have alongside whatever else is going on in your life. Singing for Pleasure provides a good injection of laughter and connection with others into your day too!

 

Any Christmas-themed dates that we should be making a note of?

In the past Singing for Pleasure have sung to support different community events such as carols at The Rose, outside the Black Pig and Kingsdown Xmas Fayre. This year there are a few dates pencilled in but as we are just getting back to singing, they are yet to be confirmed, but when they are set, I will post them on my Singing for Pleasure Facebook page.

Singing for Pleasure is a chance to sing beautiful folk songs from around the world. Songs are easy and rewarding to learn, manageable for everyone and have an uplifting and energising effect on body and mind! No singing experience is necessary and no need to read music!

We also sing songs about Deal’s local working history and enjoy the stories that arise from exploring hop picking, coal mining, fishing and smuggling songs.

Tuesdays 2-3pm and Thursdays 7-8pm at St Andrew’s Church, Deal

Wednesdays 2-3pm at the Walmer Parish Hall, Walmer

Thursdays 11-12 noon at St Mary’s Art Centre, Sandwich

Sessions cost £5 each and run term time only. No need to book, just turn up! For more info, please contact Natasha on: 07912 184808 or [email protected], or visit her website.

 

So, to start singing for pleasure with other locals find the group on Facebook @communitychoirdeal.

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