ISLAND CITY CHORUS
GREATER MONTREAL CHAPTER
SPEBSQSA Inc
MINI PITCH
Date: April 10, 2000 Wow, MOST IMPROVED CHORUS!!
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COMING UP - ROB'S REQUIRED EVENTS Wednesday, April 19, 2000 South Shore Interchapter Nightß NEW May 19, 2000 Keep it open for a technical/Dress rehearsal May 20, 2000 Beginning to See The Light featuring PLATINUM, Salle Claude Champagne Tickets $18 Sunday, June 11, 2000 Sing-out, Place des Artsß NEW September 22-24, 2000 Fall Forward - A retreat for the whole chorus October 27-29, 2000 Northeast District Contest, Montréal - That's US! |
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COMING UP - OPTIONAL, BUT FUN and EDUCATIONAL EVENTS Saturday, April 15, 2000 Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowlathon, 4:00 pm April 28 - 30, 2000 Spring District Convention & Prelims & HOD Meeting Peabody, MA July 2 - 9, 2000 International Convention Kansas City, Missouri September 1-3, 2000 Bolton Landing Barbershop Quartet Festival, Bolton Landing, NY |
It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
CHAPTER NEWS
Second by one point and Most Improved Chorus!
Everyone, take a deep breath. We are officially back and the preparation for District began with the evaluations. What a thrill for all of us. We looked smart, sang well and felt that we did what we came to do. The preparation time was worth it, in my opinion. The best part is that we haven't been a "two song" chorus. We have been adding songs and having fun every week. Let's keep doing that, and working just as hard. Can you imagine where we can end up? How about on the International Stage? It is a stretch goal, because the others in our District aren't going to stop improving either, but….Key of Eh? place third and qualify for District!
After not being sure that the quartet was going to be able to compete in February, it was an emotional high to get on the contest stage and sing well enough to earn the right to sing in the District competition here in Montreal. The members of Key of Eh? sure appreciate the support they received from the members of the chorus.Did we look sharp, or what?
A huge "'atta' boy!" to Alan Kenley for getting the new chorus outfits on our backs by contest. He was almost having fits the last few days and I don't think he relaxed until we were all dressed and looked like successful singers. Great job, Alan.Thanks also go to Fred Tabah for getting the measurements and shoe sizes all down, correctly.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters Bowlathon 2000
will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2000. Our Presentation Coach, Stacy Hugman-Frenette is organizing the event and would like as many teams as possible to participate. She is suggesting that we go to Le Manoir afterwards for dinner.If you are interested and would like further details, ask Stacy when she visits us, or ask Richard who will pass along your request for information.
Bring in the money for your tickets and advertising for
our Annual Show/Concert. Our show for 2000, "Beginning to See the Light," will be on Saturday, May 20 in Salle Claude Champagne at Université de Montréal and will feature PLATINUM, the 1999 Silver Medallist Quartet and the 1998 Harmony, Inc. International Champion quartet, Blue Champagne. This will be Blue Champagne's final performance. More than half the tickets are gone!If you have paid by post-dated cheque and have money to cover most or all of it, you can give in the money and give a new cheque for the balance. The Afterglow is confirmed for Le Buffet Dynastie de Chine and it will cost $14.00, not $12.00 as previously announced. This will be a fun part of the show, where we can unwind, and listen to the show quartets.
Advertising
is an important part of the program, so ask your dentist, barber, mechanic, suppliers… We need to sell $8,000 worth of ads. Let's do it! Besides, if we don't, the costume deposit will have to be that much larger.Here is current repertoire list:
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Overture |
I’ll Walk With God |
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Harmony |
Sweet Georgia Brown |
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Didn’t We |
Love Me and the World Is Mine |
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Basin Street Blues |
I’m Beginning To See The Light |
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I Only Have Eyes For You |
Your Singing Mechanism
by Dr. Chris Wethered, Speech Pathologist[This was originally printed in five separate parts in the Boise Valley Idaho Chapter, Valley Vibes. This will be a continuing series until all parts have been included. It just happens to be very appropriate to our situation-- Ed. If you are internet saavy here is the URL http://www.evg.org/~boise/ValleyVibesArticle.shtml?file=vvr-1998-09-2.txt]
In order to continue receiving the "Most Improved Chorus" award, we need to continue improving.. The series of articles that follow present information on how our singing mechanism operates. These articles are intended to provide the chorus with a common vocabulary and an understanding of what we should all be doing to produce the same quality sounds.
While you may have heard some of these things before, it is only through understanding them, that we can gain more refined control over our singing mechanism. It is time for all members to revisit and practice these vocal techniques. We can all stand to review the how our singing mechanism operates. By hearing the information again, from a different perspective, we can bring these skills under our consistent control.
The following articles are organised around five sets of singing skills. Each provides information on the operation of your lungs, vocal cords and vocal tract:
1. Increase Lung Volume
increase usable lung capacity
hold notes longer
take fewer breaths
2. Breathe Silently
breathe silently (constriction free breathing)
employ staggered breathing within sections
breathe invisibly (no gasp, breath reset or shoulder movement)
3. Control Your Sound
develop better support for singing
develop more control over your vocal folds
ring chords more consistently
(matching vowels, consonant combinations and word pronunciation)
4. Convey the Message of the Song
choose appropriate volumes for your interpretation
investigate the spectrum of bright to breathy sounds
5.Enrich Your Sound
employ your resonance chambers to enrich your vocal quality
You will have to practice the skills and techniques as an individual chorus member.
As a chorus we will have to incorporate them into rehearsals and specific song interpretations. It is only through using these skills of good singing, that they will become automatic singing habits.
Part 1 of this series will appear next week!
Practice is something we do at home, every day, between rehearsals!
Rehearsal is where we reinforce what we have been practising every day!
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Steven Wheaton, President |
Murray Phillips, Editor of the Mini Pitch |