Testimonials

Harry: “I want to thank you for igniting my singing ability and motivating me to attend rehearsals regularly.”

(Harry is a Glee Club member who had not sung in church all his life until recently, and his wife is now thrilled that he sings with confidence.)

Feedback after the Hilda Ross Glee Club entertained at the Edmund Hillary Retirement Village Auckland

Our concert at Edmund Hillary was a most enjoyable time. The opportunity to show how the Glee Club has given us a chance to improve and develop our singing and performance skills, along with the way to show how beneficial music can be especially at our age! We love to sing together, and the well-being, & happiness that it engenders was evident on our trip home & we sang most of the way. Thanks to Dr Julie’s direction I fell we have improved and benefited in most aspects of our lives – the fun & camaraderie is a bonus. The Edmund Hillary people remarked on the obvious enjoyment we seemed to project.

My opinion on Singing of Glee Club 4th October at Edmond Hillary Village is: I thought we sang with great gusto & put a lot of feeling into the singing. May have been because our numbers were down (15 out of nearly 30 singers made the trip) or the size of the venue in which we sang. All in all I reckon it was a good performance

Our performance? Brilliant, everyone singing their hearts out. I am sorry the men’s item was cut because they sang so well during our combine pieces. Each one of the girls introducing the coming items spoke very well. I enjoyed Hazels impromptu comments on ‘Ill wind’ (Mozart’s Horn concerto in Eb, with words by Flanders and Swann, Hazel didn’t like it), she echoed my own feelings too. Good on you Hazel. The trip up and back was enjoyed by all in our little van. Everyone agreed that it was a memorable day out. We all arrived home happy chappies. So glad to have Julie as our tutor and song leader. Audrey

I felt that we rose to the occasion and sang out well. We need more male voices to round out the sound. The selection was well received by the audience, with many singing along.

I felt that we acquitted ourselves well on Monday at Edmund Hilary. 
Moira


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“Julie – You are spectacular! Your energy, ability to connect and your joy are contagious. Thank you so very much for your fine work with our students” Jenny Ferrier-Kerr

“I really enjoyed working with you Julie. You were always cheerful, positive and willing. I valued your warmth and heart especially when I got bogged in detail. Best love and wishes for the future” Clare Henderson

“Thank you so much for all the fun and enjoyment you have given to our Glee Club all this time, and because of you, we have given to others.” Val Ferguson

Julie is the Musical Director and conductor for Hamilton Chorale. She works very hard on vocal training and at extending the musical knowledge of choir members. She also places emphasis on the enjoyment and the health benefits of laughter and singing, for all age groups but particularly so with older people. Her studies on Gerontology have greatly added to Julie’s skills as a choir leader. 
Rell Sumner, 
Choir President

March 17th 2011

Julie Hi

I would like to thank you for last week’s choir practice. When I arrived I was just so tired, I had had a hectic week with long hours and, at my age (72 years) I was really exhausted. When I arrived home just after 6.00 pm I did not want to go out again. But, if everyone thought that way, there would be no one there and also, I really enjoy singing.

I did not think I would be able to concentrate properly. When I returned to my car after choir practice, I felt on a high! I could have gone on “singing all night”! Thank you, you encourage us and teach us and make choir practice fun! You have given this choir a really lovely “tone” so that people find us easy to listen to and want to hear more. You have such a variety of songs and atmospheres that it is never boring, as can be when some choir sing the same thing for the whole concert.

When I returned home, I did not need a pill to take away my headache, as the headache had gone. The heavy feeling of tiredness over my eyes had gone and I felt invigorated and full of energy.

You have the ability to explain in simple language, and demonstrate music and sound, so that we can learn to sing correctly and beautifully. It is so much fun to have you, Julie! The time goes so quickly. We leave singing and humming as we go.
Julie – thank you

Yvonne G King

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I can vouch for the fact that singing does improve our health and wellbeing.

Most people in the senior age group have a disability of some sort. Personally I have had two chronic pain conditions for 50 plus years, and lost some lung capacity after surgery for cancer. In our Glee Club we hve a lady who is 98% blind, and another who is also legally blind. One uses braille and the other learns the words from CDs provided by our tutor Julie. Another member has Parkinsons, and say that singing helps her speech.

The voice and breathing exercises are a particular help for ex-smokers and asthmatics.

The exercises are noisy and fun. I feel like a child again, with the freedom to make faces and loud strange sounds. With Julie’s humorous guidance we find that we can reach the high notes.

You don’t need to be able to read music and the odd “croak’ is lost among the other voices.

I find that I remember the words more easily when sung than when spoken.

Julie says that ‘if you can talk you can sing’ and it is so true, and with Julie’s patient humorous tuition we have many laughs with a sense of achievement at the end. I may have started our practice on a painful “downer” of a day but finish on a high, wishing that it was a daily event.

I wish Julie every success in extending her work in this field. Many people can gain from her expertise. Not only the singers, but the audience who come to enjoy our efforts and realise that they too could sing along and reap the benefits.

Pauline Dixon: Glee Club Librarian

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I have know Julie Jackson-Gough since 2008. Her commitment to music is incredible. I only know of her abilities on piano, singing, conducting, and recording. Going to one of her classes is very rewarding. I can go feeling ‘ho why do I have to’ and come home again feeling wonderful. As we are all 60 – 90 we are not always feeling so great. I now look forward each week to our practice, as we know we shall have a laugh, which is very good for breathing and posture. I hope we continue to have her, and in the future she may be able to get more work in this field.

Hannah Wheeler Hilda Ross Glee Club member

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Singing in the Glee Club has been very beneficial for me. I have a chronic lung condition, which has always put me off singing in choirs. However Julie’s encouragement and tuition in deep breathing exercises has enabled me to control my breathing in order to sing. Indeed I have also had the courage to join two other choirs! Another plus is the opportunity to get to know others in the village with similar interests, and the light-hearted 3/4hr at choir seems all too short. Laughter fills the lungs with oxygen (just as singing does) and we do a lot of both and can’t wait for the next week’s session.

Elizabeth Carlisle associate accompanist. Hilda Ross Glee Club

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6/6/11

Dear Julie
I write to extend our thanks for your enthusiasm, and encouragement in the establishment of our Senior Singers group 18 months ago. From the time of your visit in 2009 the group has grown “like a mushroom”, from 8 – 12, to 35 dedicated members (including 4 basses and 3 tenors).

You will be pleased to hear the choir received the Award for Arts and Culture in the Waipa/Trustpower Community Services awards recently, together with a framed certificate and a generous cheque, which has been a lifeline, financially.

There have been great reports of health benefits, particularly of course respiratory problems & memory/concentration enhancement.

We appreciate your participation in the founding of a most enjoyable musical & social activity for older people in our community.

Sincere Regards
Glenys Waterhouse F.T.C.L.
Director
Regards also from Helen Lloyd (piano)