Technique
Archived Posts from this Category
The three-step breath
Posted by editor on Sep 24 2007 | Category: Craft, Motivation, Technique
Recently I asked my chorus members this question: “What do you do when you run out of air?” The general consensus answer was: “Take a breath.” Sounds reasonable. And right they are. Well, almost right. I then told them: “Yes, that is a very good start, but it’s not the entire picture. What else do you do when you run out of air, besides taking another breath?”
Vulnerability
Posted by editor on Mar 29 2007 | Category: Performance, Technique
My chapter recently concluded its annual show. By most accounts it was one of our best shows ever, or at least in a while. The audiences for both shows were responsive and appreciative. The guys sang well. We received two standing ovations, and one curtain call. Yet listening to the music that was produced makes it all too clear to me where we need to go from here.
Avoiding musical potholes
Posted by editor on Feb 24 2007 | Category: Music, Performance, Technique
Like our highways and roads, most of the songs that we sing are sprinkled with potholes. These musical pitfalls, unless you know how to avoid them, can cause bumps in your performance. What exactly are musical potholes, and how can we cover them over to make our performances as smooth as possible for our audiences?
Musical potholes
Musical potholes are the little things in a song — note intervals, lyrics, word combinations, consonants — that make understanding the song a challenge to the listener.
Learning music
Posted by editor on Oct 23 2006 | Category: Music, Rehearsal, Technique
As a musical director, one of the most challenging things that I have to deal with is getting the singer off the music. Unlike a community choir, barbershoppers need to commit the music to memory before they perform it. Because I direct a non-competitive chorus, I find myself holding back from setting deadlines, imposing tests, or pushing singers. Yet I know that they would enjoy themselves much more if they memorized the music early. They don’t seem to realize that memorization also deepens their understanding of the music and enhances their ability to entertain the audience.
The power of one
Posted by editor on Sep 19 2006 | Category: Motivation, Performance, Technique
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.
