Friday
Coach Schwarzkopf
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March 14, 2006 after another break for Valentine's Day Quartet performances and out-of-towners back to rehearsal Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in Cascade Mi.
We were coached by Music Judge Raymond Schwarzkopf. Here's excerpt's from CHORUS NOTES Editor, & Chorus Manager : John Trestrail (Lead)...
(1) Every vowel sung is a slight modification of the shape of the "O" vowel.
(2) Make a circle by touching the tip of your thumb with the tip of your 2nd finger. This is the size of your vocal megaphone. Singing within this space will stop over articulation. Singing is within this space. Everything from there on up (eyes) is "Broadway"!
(3) When emoting a song's lyrical story, when you are seeing something show it with your eyes, when you are hearing something show it with your ears, and when you are thinking something show it with your mind. This helps to tell the story to the audience.
(4) Barbershop is three parts revolving around the "melody"! It is not necessarily three parts revolving around the Leads! The ownership of the melody changes in the song and is given and taken back by various parts. Always know with whom you are dueting. For those who are not musicians, the ownership of the melody should be pointed out by those in the know when the song is first presented. Everyone should be able to sing the melody, so that they know how their part properly is to revolve around it.
(5) Directors should not "mouth" the lyrics when they are directing. And their hand movements should be not overdone. Follow their hands.
HANDING OFF THE MELODY
Although the leads often have the melody they don't always. Here the coach has us standing in a circle listening for when which parts need to back off to hand off the melody.
MUSIC MEN
Some of our members are playing the quartet in the musical Music Man at the Civic Theater in Grand Rapids, MI. demonstrating to the chorus.
2006 1st Guest Night
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January 13, 2006. First rehearsal after our holiday season break at the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in Cascade Mi. We started out the year with a Guest Night, although nearly any night is great for guests who want to sing, for info in your area, www.youcansingtoo.com . With Valentine's Day a month away where young lovers can hire quartets from the chorus to serenade them at work, school, etc. we sang the standards, Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Heart Of My Heart as a chorus with our guests.
PICKUP QUARTETS
Then impromtu pickup quartets formed of guests and members to try them out in front of the chorus.
WARM RECEPTION
It's always wonderful seeing guests stretch their wings for the first time.
A WILD TREAT
Our very own 2004 Pioneer District (Michigan/Windsor) champs, Wildcard sang to the chorus. From the left tenor Peter Westers, next one of our co-directors lead Dave Miller, bass James Masalskis and then our other co-director baritone Curt Struyk.
