Sincere congrats to Jim Olson, our Barbershopper of the year, and to all the Sparkplug award winners as well. I know there are others who deserve recognition for their efforts on behalf of the chorus and I want to assure them that those efforts are appreciated and will eventually be recognized.
We now have a promotional display window in the hall of the civic center. It's the last one on the South wall just East of the escalator. Thanks to John and Del for putting together an attractive display for us. I hope you'll all stop and see it soon. If you have any suggestions or constructive criticisms, please let me know. We can change it as often as we like.
Radio ads for Singing Valentines will be starting next Wednesday. It wouldn't hurt anything to start suggesting our services to friends, relatives, business associates, even (heaven forbid) total strangers. After all, most of our customers are total strangers.
This months giggle:
I was always taught to respect my elders. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to find one.
At the January Board meeting, your Board finalized plans for the Installation Banquet to be held on January 13 at the Meadowbrook Grill.
We also discussed items to be displayed in the window at the Civic Center. Ideas included a large photo of the Chorus from the group Johnny Sundby took at one of the caroling performances, our Chapter Charter, show programs, other photos of our performances, parts of uniforms, music.
Martin Pfeiffer is home after his heart surgery and reportedly doing well.
Preparations will begin soon for Singing Valentines, and a budget of $1400 was approved.
The 2007 Harmony Happening in the Hills will be the third weekend in August, instead of the fourth weekend, and the clinician will be Rick Spencer, the BHS Director of Music Services. Rick is Jim Debussman's boss, and Jim highly recommended him. The change of date is necessary because that's the only time Rick is available; the Society HQ move to Nashville will take place the second half of August. Hopefully, our Society CEO, Ed Watson, will be able to escape the moving for a few days and return as well.
The RMD Harmony College will take place February 2-4 in Estes Park Colorado, and the Board approved a budget limit of $2000. This amount will cover all or most of the costs for the registration, food and lodging for Chapter members who attend. Fuel expenses will be the responsibility of the travelers.
Dr. Gary Welsh has asked the Chorus to again perform at the "Is There a Doctor in the House?" affair on March 31 at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn.
Before the Board adjourned to enter into the planning session, we each expressed our deep gratitude to Larry Putnam for his years of superb service as our Chapter Treasurer. His hard work has been evident, and Jim Gogolin literally and figuratively has some very big shoes to fill!!
The next Board meeting will be February 6 at the Coldwell Banker Training Center, convening at 7PM.
The January 13 festivities began with a highly social "Social Hour". After numerous requests to do so, everyone except Chuck found a place to sit (full house). Students from Clayton's Central High School Singers presented several creative selections. This turned out to be quite amazing since only six singers showed up, but those six were awesome. Our own Black Hills Blend quartet entertained us while the delicious offerings from the kitchen found their way to the many tables.
This banquet was special in a number of ways:
Oh, by the way --- this article began with the comment (full house). Meadowbrook Grill and Bar indeed had a full house with our party. When told to expect 65 people for the banquet, Manager Sandy's words were, "Wow! Don't let any more in". The attendance at this banquet displayed a renewed interest in chapter activities. It appears that we have outgrown our party place. Nice problem. Start thinking about bigger and better things for next year.
Now, I know that August, and Harmony Happening, seem a long way off. After all, we have our show to get ready. And before that, it's singing valentines. Oh, and then there's performances throughout the summer, possibly including filling in for a couple of church choirs. But it is time to think about what will be happening at Harmony Happening this year.
During our planning session for the new board, we decided to try something a little different to make Harmony Happening bigger and better. Never fear, we aren't going to a weeklong camp while we prepare for the concert at Mt. Rushmore. We are, however going to try to add something on Friday which could involve some help from many of you.
Friday will become a whole day adventure, hopefully, for the young people in the area. It would be a Youth in Harmony session. Middle school and high school boys (and possibly some girls) would work with several clinicians learning about the barbershop style, and working together on two or three songs. We will be trying to line up a quartet to help out with getting the youth enthused about our unique style of music.
Then on Saturday they will be joining us for our rehearsals and training sessions. Until you have experienced the enthusiasm of young people as they experience the ringing of chords, many for the very first time, you won't believe the amount of energy you can get from them.
On Saturday evening they will have the opportunity to sing their prepared songs at Mt Rushmore, along with singing in the large chorus. This could be the largest chorus on the risers in a long time.
We will need to find sponsors for the young people attending so that they can afford to stay at a motel, or in someone's home. We will also have some added expenses that need to be covered by willing people or businesses wanting to further the musical education of those attending.
Oh, and by the way, our clinician for the Saturday event will be Rick Spencer, Director of Music and Education. This will be another weekend not to be missed. Harmony Happening 2007 - save the date!
As we move ahead with this new venture, I will be asking some of you to help out in some way. Most jobs will be small and easily managed, but some will be bigger. Don't shy away from helping our youth enjoy this passionate hobby as much as you do.
On January 13th barbershoppers from all over the area met at the Meadowbrook Grill to celebrate the installation of new officers for 2007. But foremost on most minds was who the Barbershopper Of The Year (BOTY) would be. Who would be chosen?
After several Spark Plug Awards were given out to well deserving men, and narrowing the field down considerably, the big announcement came from last year's recipient, Steve Ferley. (At least we knew it wouldn't be Steve since he was presenting the award, not that he wasn't deserving.)
Proudly we honored our BOTY for 2006. It is none other than Jim Olsen. As most of you know, Jim was the force behind last year's annual show. Glutton for punishment that he is, he also agreed to be the chairman again this year.
What many of you don't know is that Jim also took the time and effort to get our papers of incorporation filed with the state. It was Jim who made sure all the "T"s were crossed and the "I"s were dotted so that the Secretary of State would accept our paperwork and incorporate our chapter.
Jim is a stalwart in the chapter, having served as President and Immediate Past President within the past few years. He has served as MC for the afterglow at Harmony Happening, and has been willing to sing both lead and baritone in the chorus.
Congratulations Jim! (And thanks!)
Congratulations go out to John Cook, Donald Richmond, Wyman Schmidt, and our own Al Pitts for entering and singing in the Buffalo Bills-Era Quartet Contest.
The quartet, now known as Wild Blue Yonder, but formerly know as the Metronomes (or metro-gnomes) got back together for the last Harmony Happening in August. They liked what they heard, had a lot of fun doing it, and decided to go to the Mid-Winter Convention in Albuquerque to compete.
We will look forward to hearing great stories about this contest and the great times they had there. Thanks, Al, for representing the Shrine of Democracy Chorus. We're proud of you!
(From Jack Martin via the internet.):
There were about 250 folks in the audience for the prelims. The room they gave us for the contest had about 200 seats, so there was a standing room only situation. Looked impressive, regardless of the numbers.
There was one quartet named "Wild Blue Yonder" that was made up of 4 men who were in the Air Force together back in the early 50's and actually competed against the Orphans back in 1954. (They were not the Air 4's.) No they did not win but added a quality of singing popular back in the earlier years. I thought they exhibited a quality similar to that of the Schmitt Brothers in their prime time.
A bass has deep quality; a bari partakes of the quality of the tenor and bass; a lead . . . leads and that beautiful tenor is the part of the song sung in harmony.
We should always try not to oversing our part, whether it be bass, bari, lead, or tenor. Remember, "good close harmony" is just what it says . . . not too loud, too soft, and every word sung precisely and correctly. We must all blend together, whether in the chorus or a quartet.
The better we sing, the more the audience appreciates it and we in return get that thundering ovation!
Remember that first contest when you attended and listened to the quartets? The good ones had you trying to figure out what part each man was singing as their voices and words blended so wonderfully into four-part harmony. Our chorus can sound just as good if we all practice the art that our Directors work into our weekly practices. One beautifully blended sound, with great dynamics, great clarity, and great faces!
There are a lot of issues related to ensemble that are the province of the singers. They need to have an ensemble attitude, singing with their ears attuned to the others singing their part. Each part should sound like one voice and so each singer has the responsibility to be a blended part of that voice.
It takes a lot of musicality to blend one's voice, contributing, not overpowering or hiding out. Singing word sounds the same as the others in your part is also an element of ensemble musicality.
Barbershop features many situations where two or three parts sing together with the same word sounds while another part sings something different. You have to make this work by concentration and practice.
legato, smooth -- (without breaks between notes; smooth and connected; "a legato passage")
Remember that the words and music of a song are written vertically and unless the singer make a definite effort toward connecting them horizontally, the sounds will come out choppy and detached. In order to make a song flow, the singable sounds of words must be given duration and volume and must be properly connected together. Remember to treat each lyric phrase as one word. This will not only encourage good syllable connecting, but will cause the music to move forward in a more legato fashion.
The show theme has been chosen, the music is here, and the learning tracks are available. What now?
We as a chorus have a lot of music to learn. And then there is the staging, the presentation ideas, and, yes, the dreaded choreography. All goes into making a great show to present to our public.
As we work toward putting our best foot forward, and, as they say on the "boards," breaking a leg, let me make a suggestion for all of us. I would like to propose that everyone who sings with the chorus on the show make the utmost effort to be at every rehearsal possible. In my mind we can't commit to less than making eight out of the last ten rehearsals prior to the show. And, it also means that we need to commit to making all rehearsals the last week.
Of course, rehearsing at home with the learning tracks, our mirrors, learning the moves, and becoming supremely confident in our personal performance, goes without saying.
We can make this one of the best shows ever with some real effort on all of our parts. But it does mean doing a little more than many of us are used to. But ask our audiences who are breathless after our performance, or who give the standing ovation if it is worth it. The answer will be YES!
Join me in making this show special in the lives of our audiences, and also in our own lives. The satisfaction of doing so is exhiliarating and habit forming. Let's make our hobby the best in the world. It will bring in new singers to enjoy it with us.
Q: I am writing you hoping for some help with shoulder breathing.
A: The reasons WHY singers shoulder-breathe are several, but mostly it's either imitation, or just a habit no one has corrected. Here is the approach for correction:
Summary: The abdomen goes in and out ONLY AS NECESSARY with the breathing/speaking/singing process. The sides and back GO OUT AND STAY OUT during the inhale/exhale. Just like a baby. And we know that babies and children have no problem projecting a clear sound.
While reading another chapter's newsletter, I was struck by this idea. As many of you know, costs of printing the newsletters nationwide have risen dramatically, just like everything else. Many chapters now only publish an electronic version, like we do, and distribute it through their websites. Others, charge the members a yearly fee if they want a printed version mailed to them.
The advantage, of course, is that there is a savings to the chapter in printing fees and mailing fees. Most of our membership desires to read it online, for which I and the chapter treasurer are grateful.
The big disadvantage is that most of the time our wives are left out of the loop. With a printed version, they are aware of what occupies our Thursday nights, and why we are so adamant about being away from home that one night a week.
Try this, starting with this issue, if you aren't already doing it. When you go online to read it, print off a copy for yourself. When you're finished reading and digesting it, give it to your wife to read. She'll appreciate it more than you know.
When she is finished, don't throw it away. Recycle it. Just like we do with our Harmonizers, take it to your doctor's office, or dentist's office, or even your parole office. Put it out there for all to read and find out about this great hobby on a local level. Who knows, we might get some new men interested in becoming a part of our great group. Talk to Jim Gogolin and get a few labels to put in the address area so that they know about our meeting, etc.
You might even share them with your church choir director. After all, the singing tips and the vocal production lessons outlined there are good for all kinds of singing, not just barbershop. They also need to know that what we are doing is musically correct and that they can trust their men to the care and feeding of the musical directors we have.