Blog
Singing Through The Menopause
In recent years there has been much more recognition of the impact of the menopause on women. The terms ‘hot flushes’ and ‘brain fog’ have become part of everyday language and are talked about much more openly than was once the case. In the past, many women suffered in silence, while those who spoke up often had their symptoms misdiagnosed, misunderstood or dismissed.
Have Your New Year Resolutions Lost Their Sparkle Already?
If you find you are already struggling with your New Year’s resolutions, you will not be alone! After the over-indulgences of the festive season (no matter our good intentions, we all tend to find ourselves eating more and exercising less!) the New Year has come to be viewed as a time for starting better habits and taking up new activities. While we may start these ventures with positive intentions, our resolve can quickly be weakened when we realize that some things prove to be less appealing in the cold light of day. Getting up early to go out for a jog may have the shine taken off it, after the umpteenth time you have returned soaked and wind-blown on cold January mornings!
Thank You For The Music
“Mother says I was a dancer before I could walk. She says I began to sing long before I could talk.”
Don’t Panic! How Learning To Sing Helped Me Deal With Panic Attacks
Breathing is something we take for granted. It comes as part of the package of being alive along with a beating heart and a functioning brain. We may feel that our brains work better some days than others, but our bodies keep breathing in and out without us having to give any thought to the process. The latter however is not the case for anyone who has had the misfortune to experience panic attacks. For those, the whole experience of breathing suddenly becomes a much less automatic response.
No Hairbrushes Required!
Written by Dynamic Meladies member LizI’ve never been one to parade in front of a mirror with a hairbrush microphone, doing a Kate Bush. But I always did like singing, after a fashion. Sadly, my own fashion, which was just a few notes in the middle and a squeak for anything high, and pot luck for the words. But that was ok, I only sang in the car.
Shut Up and Sing!
In March 2003 Natalie Maines from The Chicks, then known as the Dixie Chicks, famously criticised President George W Bush’s actions in Iraq from the stage during a concert in London. In response, the band were ‘cancelled’ and Natalie herself was subjected to death threats. In their song “Not Ready to Make Nice” (probably the classiest and most blistering “Sorry-not-sorry” takedown of keyboard warriors you’re ever likely to hear), the band details how Natalie was warned to “Shut up and sing”, or risk being killed mid- performance.
Black History Month - Sensational Women of Music!
In celebration of Black History Month, let’s take a look at some of the remarkable women of colour who have made their mark on music history.
Let The Music Play - Support Your Local Venues and Musicians!
This blog was originally posted in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, but its themes of the downgrading of the arts and the threat to the survival of grassroots music venues remains equally relevant today.
“Ode To Billy Joe”, The Twin Peaks Of Songs
February is Storytelling Month and, in honour of this, we are taking a look at the art of storytelling in song. “Ode to Billy Joe” was released as a single by Bobbie Gentry in 1967, and it is a spine-tingling example of mystery storytelling at its very best.
September Song
After all the lovely sunshine we’ve had over the last few months, September might feel like a little bit of a let-down. Officially, September is an autumn month, so it heralds the end of summer and, already, we are starting to see the nights draw in. It doesn’t seem so long ago that we were leaving our Wednesday evening Singing Sessions after 9.00pm and driving home in beautiful sunshine. Now the street lights are on and the evening air is cooler.
Strawberry Teas Forever
Opening our first outdoor performance with a song that includes the lines “Not a cloud in the sky, Got the sun in my eyes” (Top of The World) was always going to be a risk. This is Glasgow after all! Fortunately for us, however, the sun was indeed in our eyes (hence the dark glasses!) and we avoided the thunder, lightning and torrential rain that hit other parts of Glasgow during the afternoon.
The Big Gig At Big Mouth!
Written by Dynamic Meladies member, LizWhose idea was it? The idea that we would like to do a performance, so that we could brush up on songs we had learned previously, and not let them just fade away, and so that we had a target to aim for. Worry that it might have been mine, Val’s and Jo’s. But others agreed.
Reflections On Singing With Dynamic Meladies
Written by Dynamic Meladies member Joanne.As 2016 draws to a close I want to share something with you, I discovered in Spring of 2016 the most amazing group of ladies who sing for fun- it’s called Dynamic Meladies, run by the lovely Sheena and Karen.
Dynamic Meladies Performance 8th October 2016 – A Cat’s Eye View
Mummy is a little bit stressed.
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