JOIN A LOCAL PUB CHOIR
A Teddington pub has set up its own choir offering informal drop-in sessions and anyone can take part.
The Pub Choir is a relaxed singing event at The Anglers pub where participants learn three to four songs over the course of an evening, with no auditions or pressure to perform.
Sessions cost £8 and take place every two weeks in pubs in Teddington and Twickenham, on Monday and Thursday evenings.
Carl Speck, the teacher, singer and pianist behind The Pub Choir, said: “There are a lot of people who think they can’t sing, but they love singing all the same – just without the pressure.
“That’s why we keep it informal – if you want to take a break, grab a drink at the bar, or skip a song, no problem.”
At The Anglers in Teddington, where The Pub Choir is regularly held, the first session in January featured a mix of classics including The Pointer Sisters’ I’m so Excited and Johnny Nash’s I Can See Clearly Now.
Two regular participants said they had been attending for years, and rarely missed a session.
Speck, a former school teacher who also gives music lessons to children, believes the commitment of a traditional weekly choir can be too rigid for many working people with busy schedules.
He added: “I think it’s a nice excuse to meet up with a friend, grab a drink, and have fun singing some songs. There’s something lovely about being submerged in a load of voices, you just don’t care as much and people quickly relax.”