Answers to common questions about us...
How do you learn your music (i.e., Should I be able to read music?)
Can I look online for more information about groups like yours, before visiting?
What is a Rehearsal like?
Some people arrive early for socializing and setting up the room for the chorus rehearsal.
The rehearsal begins with exercises for focus and preparation. In these "warm-ups", the director reinforces healthy vocal techniques and gets our minds "in the zone" to have the most productive rehearsal possible.
We sing through repertoire to keep it fresh, work on learning new music and have sectional rehearsals for the four sections to meet and review trouble areas. Typically we choose two or three songs each week to take 15 minutes or so each, for fine-tuning.
In the remaining time we enjoy fun activities throughout the night, involving octetting, quartetting, and watching videos of recent performances by other groups like us. We occassionally bring in coaches - experts in the field of singing and performing a cappella music - from all over the country. Guest groups drop by from time-to-time, too, to entertain us.
Of course, no meeting would be complete without "The Afterglow" - once we've broken down the room and cleaned up for the night, a group of us convenes for some refreshing beverage, food and (believe it or not) more singing.
How do you learn your music (i.e., Should I be able to read music?)
As a singing organization, we maintain a simple expectation - learn 100% of your notes and words. To this end, the chapter provides as much support as possible for its members, regardless of their musical background and abilities. In fact, the majority of our members rely solely upon learning tracks.
When we introduce a new song to the chorus, we provide the sheet music and a part-predominant learning track - typically on a CD to listen to at your home or in your car. Your part is isolated, audible from one speaker, while the other three parts emit from the other speaker. This way, you can listen to just your part, then sing along with the other three parts when you've learned your part well enough.
What part should I sing?
The basics: Have you sever sung a harmony part before? If no, just start with Lead (it's the melody - the familiar tune of the song). Perhaps a harmony part will one day catch your ear. If you do enjoy singing harmony, the Tenor sings high harmonies above the Lead while the Bass sings low harmonies beneath the Lead (you do not need a remarkably low voice to sing Bass effectively). Give one of those parts a shot. We reserve the Baritone part for those who enjoy being challenged by very tricky, not-making-much-sense harmony parts. If you can read music and/or believe you have a good ear for harmony - have at it.
Specifically, the parts we sing are named similarly to choral voice parts, however the definitions aren't necessarily the same. The four voice parts, as we define them, are as follows:
Lead: The Lead sings the melody - the recognizable tune of the song. Leads should have a good sense of "pitch" and be able to maintain it. Leads should be capable also of emoting - telling the story - as he sings. If you like the attention of singing the familiar melody and connecting with an audience, you'll enjoy singing Lead.
If you care to get technical, as far as range, Leads should sing comfortably from a D (below middle-C) up to an F#.
Bass: Basses lay down the low foundation of our sound, beneath the other three parts. If you enjoy singing low, Bass is for you.
Unlike choral bass, no basso profundo is necessary here. Basses in our style of music generally sing down to a low F, comfortably, and as high as middle-C.
Tenor: Harmonizing above the Leads are the Tenors. Full-voice Tenors are a rarity; most Tenors use their falsetto. If you like singing the high harmonies with The Beach Boys, Frankie Valli, and 50's doo-wop, you'll enjoy singing Tenor.
Tenors typically live between Bb and high Bb (like we said - falsetto needed).
Baritone: And finally - the Baritones. A strange breed, though admittedly without whom we could not ring chords the way we love to. There is no rhyme or reason to the Baritone harmony part in our arrangements, as, literally, he sings "whatever note was leftover to complete the chord". If you have a great ear for harmony and a bit of vocal agility (not to mention thick skin, haha), Baritone is the part for you.
The vocal range of a Baritone is similar to a Lead's, though Baritones sing lower in their register more often.
Can I look online for more information about groups like yours,
before visiting?
Absolutely. Visit Barbershop.org for a wealth of information about what the BHS is all about. As a local chapter, we have our own, unique approach to the experience, but we are heavily influenced by the BHS and its attributes.
Can I just drop by?
Of course; please do! We welcome all visitors, to join us on the risers or simply to observe.