ISLAND CITY CHORUS

GREATER MONTREAL CHAPTER

SPEBSQSA Inc.

The Little Chorus that could!

MINI PITCH

Date: November 11, 2002 Remembrance Day

Peter Evans has been busy organising the CarolCade for 2002. The following tentative schedule has been worked out.

Jeffery Mance has rocks in his box. If you want to be one of the migrating rockers, you need to get a singing guest to a rehearsal by tonight.

Will you get to move from the desert to the oasis? Don't take your rock anywhere, and you only get to move it if your guest cometh.

Chocolate Bars or Chocolate Covered Almonds are here to be picked up and sold. People really enjoy the Hershey's quality, so they are easy to sell.

The Cheese Sale for Christmas has started. If your company gives Christmas presents, the cheese boxes are a great gift. Pick up an order form and catalogue.

A percentage of ALL the sales you make will be accumulated in your account and can be applied to the Fall Forward, costumes, etc.

Last issue, I wrote about how to avoid vocal injury while singing. Here are things you can do every day, outside of rehearsals, to keep your voice in top shape.

• Exercise your voice for five or ten minutes every morning, before you start work. Sing a single-octave scale in the shower, for example. This way, you can limber up your vocal folds before your job can irritate them, especially if you talk a lot during the day. Everyone knows the need to warm up before singing, but few realize that warming up before a day of talking can also improve your voice and protect the vocal folds. The neighbors will love you!
• Keep the noise in your workplace to a minimum. This will avoid overuse problems from shouting over noise. Try not to talk on the phone or to co-workers over the noise of computer printers, typewriters, copiers, etc.
• Keep singing and talking in the car to a minimum. Trying to out-shout auto noise can lead to overuse problems. Keep the ventilation fan off or on low. If you practice with a barbershop tape in the car, keep the volume low and try to sing softly.
• Try to use good posture while talking at work, just as you would when singing. With good air support, you can dramatically improve the efficiency of your voice and avoid overuse problems.
• Stay in good physical shape; exercise regularly. If your stomach and chest muscles are strong, your air support will be good.
• Avoid cigarette smoke. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for singers, but "second-hand smoke" can also make you hoarse.

Rudi Flaig is fighting hard. He appreciates the phone calls he has received, the kind thoughts and the prayers as well.

The Steering Committee and Committee Chairmen will be meeting with John Schneider on Thursday to review progress. The FAM Trip is coming up on Friday, and the winning choruses all know who they are. We have received some information on those that will be attending the FAM trip, and will be making contact with them.

We already have a group of volunteers for the 25 chorus hosts (or hostesses.), and Jerry Silverberg working match people up to meet with the Chorus Managers during the FAM Trip, which will take place November 15 and 16.

At the same time we are collecting the names and preferences of as many other volunteers as possible.

Do you have friends, relatives, co-workers or acquaintances who would be interested in seeing what goes on at the International Convention? Volunteers do not have to be members of the Society.

Many people have offered their assistance in a general way, and will be available where needed.

Email requests have been sent to the Northeastern District and will be sent to the Ontario District as well.

A total of about 400 volunteer days are required.

Registrants (before January 1, 2003) will pay $100.00 US. Use the web link to register.

http://www.spebsqsa.org/montreal/registration.htm

Here is our current and future repertoire list: Songs in bold are to be learned or re-learned.

Practice is something we do at home, every day, between rehearsals!

Rehearsal is where we reinforce what we have been practising every day!