Our community choir welcomes everyone and aims to be as accessible as possible; the choir comprises a diverse group of people with a range of access needs. There is a guide to access below but please contact us in advance if you would like to discuss this further before joining the choir in person. If you are joining us online, we will provide Zoom training and give you any technical support you need to fully participate in the rehearsals.
We will do our very best to make your choir experience as enjoyable as possible.
Guide Dogs are welcome at the hall. Please let us know in advance if you will be bringing a guide dog to a choir rehearsal.
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Getting to the hall
Entering the building
Getting to the stage
Resources
Communication
Getting to the hall
Public transport – the closest bus stop is on Lothian Road, where Lothian Buses numbers 1, 10, 11, 15, 16, 24, 34, 36, 47 and 124 stop, as well as several buses from other companies. Buses using other stops on Lothian Road include 2, 22 and 35, and the hall is a 5-10 minute walk from interchanges at Shandwick Place, Queensferry Street, Princes Street and Tollcross.
Parking – there’s limited on-street parking around the building and the lane to stage door must not be used without prior agreement. There are car parks at Castle Terrace and Argyle House on King’s Stables Lane. The Parkopedia website is a good resource – click between the street and car park filters to see all options. People who hold a valid blue badge can park for free and spaces are located across from the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Grindlay Street and in Cambridge Street outside the Traverse Theatre. Blue badge holders can also park in pay and display areas with no time limit as well as on some single and double yellow lines (subject to some constraints – please always check before leaving your vehicle for any length of time).
Bikes – bikes can be chained to the railings outside Traverse Theatre or to the bike racks outside the Usher Hall box office entrance.
Taxis – there’s a taxi rank opposite the Usher Hall on Lothian Road. If you are being dropped off by taxi or car ask your driver to take you to stage door via Cambridge Street.
Entering the building
We use the backstage entrance to the Usher Hall, which is wheelchair accessible. The correct door may be tricky to find for those with a visual impairment but we can easily arrange for someone to meet you at the end of the lane and assist as required. If you become a member of the choir we will send you more detailed directions.
Getting to the stage
The backstage corridor is 1 flight of stairs (approx 8-10 steps) lower than the stage, with stairs at each side of the stage. There are 2 accessible toilets on that level. There is lift access to stage level. The choir sits in 1 or 2 rows of freestanding chairs on the flat, with the remainder sitting on chairs on risers and the in-built wooden choir seating. With advance notice we can reserve a seat or wheelchair space in the front few rows so that those who need to remain seated throughout rehearsal will be able to see. Our conductor uses a microphone with PA system so that instructions can be heard from anywhere on the stage.
Resources
We use lyric sheets for those who don’t read music and sheet music for those who do. If you would like large print copies of either lyrics or music, or a Braille copy of the lyrics, please ask and we will prepare these for you. We record our rehearsals and make these available on our members-only website. We also provide audio practice tracks which can be played online or downloaded. If you have a visual or auditory impairment and would need extra support to take part in the choir, we would be happy to discuss this with you.
Communication
Most of our communication with the choir outside of rehearsals is done online, both by email and on our members-only website. If you don’t use the internet, we will ask for your address and phone number so that we can contact you between rehearsals as necessary.
Image by Robert McFadzean