When we meet
We meet on Wednesday evenings at Sharrow Old School (see below) from 7.30 -9.30pm, with a tea-break for 15 minutes (tea and biscuits provided – 20p contribution) We meet during school term-times, for a total of 36 sessions a year.
Our term dates: 2021/2022:
Autumn term – September 8th – December 8th (half term October 27th)
Spring term – January 5th – March 30th (half term February 16th)
Summer Term – April 20th – July 6th (half term June 1st)
BOS venue
We meet at the Old Junior School in Sharrow, which is fully accessible. The address is: South View Road, Sharrow, Sheffield S7 1DB. Parking is available via Vincent Road.
For a map showing the location, clink the link below: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/S7+1DB/data=!4m2!2m1!4b1 .
Typical evening format
Covid-19 notes: Currently we are positioned in a horseshoe shape, with seats 1m apart. There is no requirement to wear a mask, but please do so if it makes you feel more comfortable.
Warm-up: We start at 7.30pm with a fairly gentle physical and voice warm-up which is designed to help everyone arrive, relax and ease into singing gradually. We would really appreciate it if you would arrive on time. However, if that is impossible then please come in quietly.
Singing: All the songs we sing are learned by ear so you don’t need to be able to read music, although sometimes women who do will look at a copy of the music when it’s available. Some women keep a song book with their own song words/parts in. If you want help learning your part to a particular song the Musical Director often sends out parts recordings by e-mail; these are also available on the website (click here)
Announcements: Before tea there’s a short announcement slot for anything relating to BOS choir business. We try to keep it short so that we can maximise catching up with each other during the break. If there is more detailed information that relates to your announcement, you can email it out first to save time in this slot. There is also a notice-board where information is posted up, and a table with publicity about forthcoming events.
Break: We have a tea-break for 10-15 minutes at about 8.30pm – we put 20p into a jar each week to cover the cost of tea and biscuits. Let the tea monitor know if there’s something you’d like to drink that’s not in the box. Currently (thanks, Covid-19) we’re still encouraging people to chat outside, but this is not mandatory.
Close: The evening finishes at 9.30pm and everyone helps to clear away.
Communicating with each other between meetings
We have a Yahoo group for BOS members so that we can communicate with each other about BOS choir business, performances, choir social events and send out recordings of parts for songs we are learning. You will be asked for your details and someone will explain how this works when you join.
For feedback about BOS, we have a book which enables all of us to give feedback, both positive and negative. Please also feel free to email or speak to members of the Steering Group about anything on your mind.
Events/Gigs
We do occasional gigs/busking sessions through the term. We decide if we want to do them as a group and find out if there are enough women able to sing. There’s usually a sign-up sheet for each event.
How BOS makes decisions
There is a steering group which meets approximately once per month (usually on Zoom) and makes our day-to-day decisions. It consists of several elected officers: chair; secretary; treasurer; membership secretary; social secretary; gig co-ordinator; IT co-ordinator and a “member without portfolio”. However, any BoS member is entitled to attend Steering Group meetings or to propose agenda items. We have an AGM in July when officers are elected and other decisions are made.
Fees
There are three bands of fees, for low, medium and high income, currently £4, £5.50 and £7 per session, and you choose the band that you think you fit into. A term is usually 12 weeks. The Steering Group is open to negotiating special arrangements with members who have difficulty paying fees. Please discuss with one of us before you make the final decision to join.
There are three ways to pay. You can either pay by cheque for the whole term, you can set up a standing order which spreads 3 terms fees over 12 months, or you can pay by making a BACs transfer.
Whilst you are deciding if you want to come regularly, you can pay weekly for each session for the first 3 weeks of your first term. By the 4th week you have to decide if you want to join. If you do, you pay for the rest of the term in one go and then at the beginning of subsequent terms. If there is anything else you want to know about fees you can ask our Treasurer.
Attendance
Regular attendance is important, so we ask members to contact Kate, our Musical Director, if they can’t attend. It is possible to hold your place if you need to take a break for a term or more; please see our Membership Policy.
Joining BOS
If you have any questions, concerns, special personal circumstances or needs, please contact a member of the steering group to discuss it beforehand so that we can identify whether and how these can be met. We aim to be as flexible and inclusive as possible.
We usually ask new women to start at the beginning of the September term so that they start together and we can all focus on learning / re-learning songs together and getting to know each other for a while. However, due to the effects of Covid-19, we have relaxed that system in the current year.
You’re very welcome to contact our membership secretary, Anna, on 07981009957 or mrshappyanna@gmail.com if there’s anything else you want to know.