tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414907798559897750.post1113079939226256462..comments2023-06-20T03:15:39.212-04:00Comments on Cartwheels & Windmills: music monday: my beef with barbershopCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11753603934212387119noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414907798559897750.post-51920592334221360192011-01-18T11:43:34.202-05:002011-01-18T11:43:34.202-05:00Hello CW...
I am an avid barbershop harmony singe...Hello CW...<br /><br />I am an avid barbershop harmony singer near Boston who stumbled upon your posting and felt compelled to respond. <br /><br />First, this is very enlightening to barbershoppers everywhere. We do not often know why our guests do not return, so I am sharing this with many in hopes that we can get better at telling our story.<br /><br />Second, I hope that you will be willing to tell the ladies that you sang with about your experience. You are exactly the kind of member that they want and need, and they should know what they need to provide you, and women like you to make it more comfortable to belong to their great organization. <br /><br />Third, from my perspective, while this group may not be the best match for you, it seems like it will give you an outlet to be musical again, it a way that is much more portable than classiscal singing, and with an organization that is as much a sorority as it is a musical ensemble. You may be surprised by the friendship that you gain with women 2-3 times beyond your age. The music seems to level the age playing field. When practicing harmony, it all goes away. <br /><br />Next, I believe that as a musician (and you sound way more talented than I) that you will find the art form challenging and rewarding as you dive into it. Yes, the lead is the melody, but it more complex arrangements, the melody moves from part to part. It is the easiest to sing, but the hardest to sing well. Yes, women have basses (singing like men) and men have tenors (singing like women). I cant explain it in music theory terms, but there is something about the spread of the chord that makes the sound exciting. <br /><br />You should sing the part where you feel comfortable and able to express the music as it moves you. If the women do not let you do that, then it is the wrong group. I would rather have you in my group singing with vibrato than not at all. With the talent that you have, you will eventually hear how your voices fits with the ensemble sound, and make the adjustments that you feel to be necessary. <br /><br />I love the Music Man clip. We pride ourselves on converting non singers into singers, so that clip represents us more than you know. However, we are able to challenge singers at all levels. In fact, the Buffalo Bills, the quartet in that movie were amateurs like me when they started. They just honed their craft in a way to get themselves on tv shows and movies. <br /><br />Here are some other samples that you may enjoy of groups performing at various levels <br /><br />These are friends of mine (Snapshot!) and the lead is a Navy man(I think submariner too?)..so I thought it would be fun to share with you. <br />They representing our area in the International Collegiate Championship. <br /><br />This is the group (from Sweden) that one. As you listen, keep in mind that English is NOT their primary language<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3AtSYIcB8c<br /><br /><br />Here are my friends from Sweet Adeline's in Boston demonstrating how I think that the bass can be effective without being overly masculine<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_TthDFF-f4<br />sorry for the lag<br /><br />Here is one of the top women's choruses, again being very musical, and very feminine<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36LV1LC0KuQ&feature=related<br /><br />And finally, one of my favorite male quartet performances ever, Crossroads, performing Lucky Old Sun<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7mGjSZpdpk<br /><br />So I hope that you see that it can be a lot of different things, and it will take some time for you to dive in and decide which way to take it. <br />And I hope that you DO dive it. It will be great to have you as part of the barbershop harmony family. <br /><br />Stay Tuned!<br />Michael Klein<br />Barbershop Harmony Society<br />Lowell, MA Chapter<br />www.gentlemensongsters.orgSongsterMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05602576698777800962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414907798559897750.post-49446741737960022662011-01-18T11:02:47.886-05:002011-01-18T11:02:47.886-05:00Nah, I just sent them a "thanks but no thanks...Nah, I just sent them a "thanks but no thanks" email. Not quite my style.Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11753603934212387119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414907798559897750.post-31051110283466171592011-01-17T22:51:48.197-05:002011-01-17T22:51:48.197-05:00I haven't listened to the Music Man in years! ...I haven't listened to the Music Man in years! That was great! Great post too.<br /><br />So are you going to stick with the Barber Shop Girls?Teganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09620532301646778131noreply@blogger.com