Workplace singing is the latest way to develop yourself, improve your presentation and expand your professional network. Susam Digby, of Singing Works, reckons

Workplace singing is the latest way to develop yourself, improve your presentation and expand your professional network. Susam Digby, of Singing Works, reckons corporate singing workshops are starting to replace outdoor courses such as rock climbing and onenteering as the new way of team building in Britain. ‘There’s a growing demand for singing workshops from companies,’ says Mrs.Digby, who has organised them for top up firms such as BP, and law firms, including Lovells and Freshfields. Mrs.Digby takes groups of up 30 staff and encourages them to sing together – regardless of experience or skill. From a tentative, embarrassed start, she has them singing cimplex, seven-part songs within just a couple of hours.

‘It’s a great way to break down barners and help people work in teams’ says Marco Compagnoni, a partner at Lovells , who took part in a workshop involving the firm’s partners from all over the world. He adds, At the start, we were totally hopeless at it, and some people were very resistant, making jokes and trying to opt out. But within 20 minutes., everyone had joined in. By the end event the most scepticak told me they had learned something about themselves. Singing improves concentration and listening powers – and it makes you feel good. Indeed, Lovells is so convinced of the benefits that it plans to put on more workshops for its staff.

Richard Bradley, Chairman of the National Association of Choirs, says many companies have choirs and choral societies, and they have a beneficial effect on employees. ‘Singing promotes good posture and deep breathing, and it’s good for people with stressful jobs because it’s relaxing,;he says. ‘It can even boost your career prospects.’ Most choir members are over 40, so joining could mean rubbing shouders with older, more senior staff and it can do your carrer no harm to have friends in high places. ‘Choral singing can also develop your business skill. It makes you a more outward – looking person because it gets you out of your usual working group.’ He adds.

Employers have found that encoraging choir membership can help retain staff. A spokesman for John Lewis Partnership, which has two choirs and an orchestra, says,”we know that members of the choirs are more likely to stay with the company.’

1.
What do we learn about singing workshops for companies in the first paragraph?
They are easier to organise than outdoor courses.
They are becoming more popular than outdoor courses.
They are more effective than outdoor courses.

2.
What does the writer say about Mrs.Digby’s workshops in the first paragraph?
Participants make progress very quickly.
Some participants do be better than others.
They work best with large groups.




3.
What does Marco Compagnoni say about the workshop he took part in?
Some people changed their attitude during it.
Some people left before it finished.
Some people become excellent singers as a result of it.

4.
As a result of the workshop, Lovells has decided tha
All its staff should take part in singing workshops.
Singing workshops will replace other activies the company organises.
Singing workshops have advantages for the company.

5.
Richard Bradley claims that one benefit of joining a company choirs is that you can
Improve your relationship with your line manager
Discuss work matters in an informal situation
Meet people with influence in the company

6.
What do we learn about John Lewis Partnership in the final paragraph?
Its choir contain some of its best staff.
It believes that having choirs affects staff turnover.
Some people wish to join company because of its choir.