Region 11 Marketing Minute

QUARTETS

SHOWMANSHIP

Doing Well

Needs Attention

Need more poise & command of the stage (work timing, build stamina)
Need assistance on timing (entrance, pipe technique, break, exit) - don't wait until applause stops
Work on building stamina - energy wanes about 3/4 of the way thru song
No pitch pipe storage in front of costume or bra. Showman- ship judge felt VERY strongly about this.
Wear RED lipstick & nails (if you do nails) and rosy cheeks needed and eyelashes are a must....the more brown or neutral colors tend to look muddy or dirty on stage. When iin doubt, GO RED!
Many hairstyles too casual and incongruent with costumes. Must have a "respect for the stage".
Shear pants NOT appropriate - at least opaque black stockings. Better, but still not a good idea under stage lights.
Some costumes ill-fitting and too tight (pants in particular)
Need better understanding of characterization
More creativity needed - take more risks
Many had NO choreography -- and you cannot get away with this as you could 20 years ago.

SOUND

Doing Well

Congratulations to regional leaders, coaches & faculty & singers who provided the audience and judges a big variety show with many different performance levels.....more ABOVE C than below!

Needs Attention

ALL should take a pitch - most first lines were out of tune and fragmented
Take time starting the song - set the mood - many were out of control and out of tune to start
Look for and work on bass/lead match
Vowel production needs common approach - vowel shape and same resonance space
Lack of comfort level on stage indicates that some are not performing enough. Do more performing (not harmonizing the wall) and then bring that to the stage.
Vocal performing stamina not high enough
Need to understand role of each part within the quartet. Region could offer class with demo of part responsibility / balance / adjustments (suggested using Shimmer! as demo)
Suggested region offer class in levels: beginner, immediate, advanced vocal techniques

MUSIC

Doing Well

Most quartets had good song choices at the upper levels. (B+ and above) The lower level quartets tend to choose songs that are beyond their current singing capabilities... songs they hear at international, but don't yet have the skills to handle.

Needs Attention

Quartets seemed to be in a hurry to start their songs and this led to many problems
Finding and stay on tonal center - hone in on the tonal center. A rushed start often meant it took all the way to the chorus of the song to get in the groove.
Breath together IN TEMPO - causing loads of sync issues!
Smooth out phrasing and use forward motion - beware of rush, rush HOOOOLLDD, rush, rush HOOOOLLLD phrasing
Work tuning and tonal center and more clean interval singing
Vocal stamina fell of on the tail end of the songs... oh darn!

EXPRESSION

Doing Well

Needs Attention

Synchronization of inner phrases
Keep vowels open and resonant and turn diphthongs as one
Breath management - IMPROPERLY executed sneak breathing causing sync errors
Must take vocal pitch -- lack of makes for sloppy entrances
Smooth out lyric flow - emphasize proper words/chords
Forward motion not always there - lacking urgency
Strengthen embellishments & the barbershop CRAFT
Work toward consistency in word inflection and energy
Emotional communication apparent in very few - very few in touch with artistry portion of this category
Expand dynamics - especially in the soft to medium and medium to loud areas