The Old Songs

Do you have dropped members? Are there inactive barbershoppers in your area no longer affiliated with any chapter? Wouldn’t you love to help rekindle their love of barbershop, and at the same time enjoy the thrill of singing with them again? The chapter with which I am affiliated, the Denver MountainAires, recently devised a non-recruitment event for the holidays that, hopefully, will pay great dividends. Yes, I said a “non” recruitment event. You can try this in your chapter. Here is how it is scheduled to work.

Continue reading: How NOT to recruit new members - just yet »

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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.

Continue reading: Learning music »

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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.

Continue reading: The power of one »

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or, How I got my ictus back

It was eleven years since I was at Harmony College, now Harmony University, in St. Joseph, MO. A lot has changed, while a lot remains the same. Gone are the beanies (thank goodness) for first-time participants, replaced by colored ribbons on their badges.

Continue reading: Harmony University / Directors College »

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In this final discussion about ACE IT, I conclude my observations on how to make every song come alive for you, the singer, as well as for your audience. After all, isn’t that one of the many joys of singing barbershop?

Continue reading: ACE IT - part five »

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