- Ms Kaye is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Mary Carlisle is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Prem Gill is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Nancy Flight is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Justin Everett is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- John Westover is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Nora Etches is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Edward Henderson is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Bharadwaj Chandramouli is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Dean Chatterson is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Marius Scurtescu is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Robert Parkes is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- James Murton is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Susan Doyle is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Vincent Strgar is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Helen Spiegelman is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Subir Guin is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Kimball Finigan is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- Joanne Manley is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
- David Leach is a Tyee Builder. You can be, too.
Remember High School Choir Practice?
New Vancouver group's fun, awkward, nostalgic sounds.
'Victims' and fans of choir.
"All of us are school choir victims," laughs Vancouver musician Coco Culbertson. She's a member of a new band called The Choir Practice.
Even after the memory of algebra has dulled to a useless whisper, most Canadians remember awkward renditions of "Dust in the Wind," accidental public vomiting at the Christmas concert, universally unflattering uniforms.
"It's a product of Canadian public schools. I was only in choir because I had to be. We had to practice every lunch. It was such torture."
But despite an early hatred of school-sanctioned singing, Culbertson went on to hone her musical talents as a bass player driving the beats of The Gay, a Vancouver indie pop outfit. After years of performing with The Gay and touring with AC Newman, Culbertson returned to her home in Strathcona, looking to start a new project.
With a few friends, a piano, and copious amounts of red wine, Culbertson started hosting events at her home. "We'd get together and practice, and basically exercise our voices." The open-door policy of the evenings drew an increasing number of participants, many of them members of Vancouver bands like P:ano, Great Aunt Ida, The Blood Meridian and Love and Mathematics.
"It's coincidental, but everybody in The Choir Practice sang in a choir." The positive, community-oriented environment surrounding The Choir Practice proves Culbertson claim that "people love to sing together," despite the implicit weirdness of obligatory choir membership. "People want to do it more than they want to admit."
For Culbertson, the beauty of The Choir Practice lies in the dignity of its musicians. "Nobody's a prop player, nobody's doing the least amount possible. Everyone is performing with equity." The result is a bright, colourful sound lush with quirky lyrics that subvert the pomp and circumstance of traditional choirs. The earnest "take off your clothes" chorus of "Red Fox" is a lot funnier and far less creepy than the butcher shop absurdity of Kidz Bop Kids, while the cadences of "Failsafe" showcase the group's vocal chemistry.
The Choir Practice returns the moments of your life you thought you'd never get back from after-school glee club rehearsals. Mandatory cuff links, step off!
The Choir Practice releases its self-titled debut album on Mint Records, May 18th.
Related Tyee stories
- The Kids Are Listening to Rock Again
Heavy blues bands, like the Brought Low, are suddenly glamorous. - Eat your words critics!
Elizabeth delivers on early hype. - 'Books' is the best song I've ever heard.
![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
- The Gem of Canadian Science that Harper Killed
- Who Mowed Down the Premier?
- Canada's Economy, Deconstructed (by a 12 year-old)
- Death in Remand: a Tyee Inquiry
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- Bill C-38: the Environmental Destruction Act
- 'A Gut Feeling'
- Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
- Bias in BC's Pesticide Decision? Follow the Bouncing Verbs
- Why Blackberry's Embrace of HTML5 Is Good Karma
- The Gem of Canadian Science that Harper Killed
- Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- The Ethics of Addiction Studies
- Bill C-38: the Environmental Destruction Act
- Alberta Fills Pipes with Corrosive Denial
- Does BC Stand for Ban Clotheslines?
- BC biotech company seeks approval for GM apple
- Bias in BC's Pesticide Decision? Follow the Bouncing Verbs
- What's Behind BC's Doors?
- Death in Remand: Stacked Deck
- Does BC Stand for Ban Clotheslines?
- 'Moonrise Kingdom'
- Tyee Builders Tally: Amazing!
- From Financial Advisor to Occupier
- 'Storage Wars'
- How Our Immune Systems Exaggerate Fear
- Does Simon Fraser University Need a Men's Centre?
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- Why Blackberry's Embrace of HTML5 Is Good Karma
1
Login or register to post comments
stevebailey
5 years ago
bad, inaccurate stereotypes
The story, though informative, begins very badly -- I almost didn't get to the good parts. To hack away at silly stereotypes about school days -- algebra producing "useless whispers" and supposed choir and concert agonies just reveals profound lack of knowledge about what goes on in schools. The schools in which I taught, performed administrative duties, and now visit as I supervise student teachers all had and have great music programs where young people are inspired and where audiences at public performances are blown away by the quality of the music. Don't dismiss teachers and the programs they work hard to create and maintain.