I visited Derby Tuneless Choir and was shocked by what I found

I always have loved it and can usually be found humming away a Spice Girls track or old school Bollywood.

I think my love for singing stems from childhood where I was part of the school choir for successive years.

Fast forward to present day and I have little experience of singing in public, apart from a work-related event last year where I sang on stage as part of the company’s AGM.

I spotted an interesting singing event which I couldn’t help marvel at.

A choir whose only prerequisite is… being a tuneless singer.

I think I’m an average singer who can hold a note - not your Mariah Carey highs but more a chilled Ed Sheeran.

Imagine a place that actively encourages people to ‘sing like no one else is listening’?

That is the ethos of the Derby Tuneless Choir where people who are not expert singers but who love the act of singing, are given a platform and space to warble away at their hearts content.

What is Derby Tuneless Choir?

Tuneless Choir is a nationwide singing movement and Derby Tuneless Choir is a localised version.

The Derby singing group was started by Matt McKenzie on 28 February 2022.

Like all Tuneless Choirs, it welcomes singers of all levels to ‘enjoy the release of endorphins as they sing popular songs in their own unique ways’.

The group is keen to provide ‘confidence-boosting fun’ where pressure and judgement is removed to make for a fun atmosphere.

What I thought of Derby Tuneless Choir

I got chatting to several people in the queue who were waiting to pay and discovered they came to simply have fun whilst enjoying a singalong too.

There was a fun and jovial vibe in the church hall, which I couldn’t help but feel happy about.

One lady who was in her thirties said the only time she sang in public was when she got drunk at karaoke.

Another lady said the organiser always closes the windows and doors of the church hall, where the session is held, which I suspect is to keep noise inside.

As I was expecting an assault on my ears, I very nearly packed cotton balls to plug into my ears and shield them from the raucous din of people singing out of tune.

When Matt started instructing the crowd to sing, I was honestly left speechless.

What I didn’t have on my bingo card was dulcet singing from Derby Tuneless Choir.

The crowd could really could hold a note.

They were good singers - no, they were great singers.

I stayed for a short while and judging from the singing I heard, there was nothing tuneless or bad about it.

Even Matt was suprised as he laughingly joked: “They don’t sound bad, do they?”

This is all fair and well, but what about tuneless singing?

I wanted to revel and enjoy dodgy notes because there is something magical and hilarious about bad singing.

Good singing is excellent too, and listening to the crowd assembled in front me, I couldn’t help my spirit feel lighter.

As I glanced around the church hall, I saw numerous smiles and gleeful faces of people who were mid-song.

After all, it takes something special for people to pack a church hall on a swelteringly hot Monday evening.

There were around 70 attendees on the night and I think one of the reasons Derby Tuneless Choir is so popular, is down to the enthusiasm and joie de vivre of organiser Matt.

He filled the hall with cheer, encouraged laughter with his sharp wit and this is the reason - along with the hope of hearing tuneless singing - that I cannot wait to attend an upcoming session at Derby Tuneless Choir.

How to attend Derby Tuneless Choir

Derby Tuneless Choir sessions are held on Mondays during Derbyshire school term-times at St Nicholas Church, 2 Lawn Avenue, Allestree, Derby DE22 2PE.

Doors open at 7.30pm and sessions run from 7.45pm to 9.15pm with a break for drinks and nibbles.

The regular price is £8 per session where you can pay-as-you-go, or you can book a term in advance for the equivalent of £6 per session.

Newcomers will always pay £10 for their first session which includes registration.

If you are unable to attend in-person, there is a virtual choir you can join.

More information about Derby Tuneless Choir can be found here.