The Old Songs

You have heard the old adage: You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. A variation on that theme goes like this: You can lead a person to knowledge, but you can’t make him (or her) think. That is an important realization as far as barbershop music, or anything else for that matter, is concerned.

We all seem to want a better sounding singing voice, section, and chorus. All of our chapter educators – directors, assistant directors, sound specialists, and choreographers – can impart all of their training and knowledge to you, the listener. But all of that knowledge falls silent unless you, the listener, put it into practice.

Think back to the last time you sang. Did you do anything differently from what you have been doing before? Were you conscious of trying something differently? Be honest now. You probably are like the rest of us who must answer “No” to that question.

A realization

So here’s the deal. Your quartet, your section, your chorus will not get any better unless you make a conscious decision that you want to improve. Then you must make a conscious effort to do the things that will make you better. (Did I emphasize the important word enough?)

It really all comes down to you, after all. You must do something differently when you sing. You must be the one who tries supporting your tone with proper breathing techniques. You must be the one who stands tall with an open chest. You must be the one who consciously tries to change what you have been doing on an unconscious level up until now.

If each “you” in your chapter makes this effort, then the improved results that you want to hear will happen. You and you alone hold the power.

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