IT'S AS easy as ABC, according to the saying, but the Absolute Beginners Class (ABC), set up by the Tyndale Choral Society, is no walk in the park. In fact it is a tough challenge to learn how to sing in a choir and read sheet music.

The Gazette is following the progress of one student, Miriam Yagud, who has had a passion for singing for many years but no formal training.

She was excited about starting the class in December and is now halfway through the course, which was started by the Tyndale Choral Society to find new members for their choir, based in Dursley.

I think I am definitely improving, said Miriam, 51, of Dursley.

It is so enjoyable but very, very hard work because I had never read sheet music before. Learning to read music is almost like learning another language or learning codes, it is hard to read and sing at the same time. It is really exhausting because you need lots of concentration and intense effort.

The classes have been social as well, some of us go down the pub after practice, which has been nice for me because I only moved to the area a year ago so I am meeting new people.

Beth Diaz, singing teacher at the ABC class, agreed that Miriam and the group have made big improvements.

Miriam is doing really well and she is very enthusiastic. The group look really happy when they sing and they are starting to sound really good, almost like a proper choir.

The ABC class finishes in March and all the students will sing in the Tyndale summer performance. Miriam has already expressed an interest in joining the Tyndale Choir as a regular member.

Julia O’Connor-Beach, a member of the Tyndale Choir, added: From the Tyndale point of view we are absolutely bowled over by the interest and enthusiasm for the course.

We are very excited by the experiment and we look forward to seeing how many people will join the choir.