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With all those tantalizing promises of the greatest week ever, your mind has been made up for weeks. Now, you can do something about it. Sign up today!
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 CONTEST SEASON UNDERWAY - BE ADVISED, BE WISE
With a whole new world of social media, modes of communication continue to expand. Our ability to reach out to anyone quickly is becoming easier and easier.
The Contest & Judging (C&J) community recognizes that there are always questions bubbling up about rules concerning contests. To that end, there are a variety of services available to answer your questions vs asking on Facebook about the latest rumor you heard.
The most frequent question is "Is this arrangement contestable?". There are a couple of services available that will help you.
- Tom Moore maintains a website Contest Songs Database (also accessible through the BHS website) that has every song sung in contest for the last 10 years and more. It is easy to use. If the song has been sung and it doesn't look like there was any sort of reduction based upon the scores, and your arrangement sounds barbershop to your ear, then it is likely fine. Warning: there are no arrangers tied to the song listings.
- However, if you're still concerned you can send it to the Chart Contestability Committee via Don Gray at dongray@cinci.rr.com. You'll need to send them a copy to review the chart.
- The latest set of rules is always maintained at our website
Finally, if you have a question about judging itself (possible rule changes, interpretations, questions, etc.), you can follow the Ask A Judge thread on the barbershophq.com blog, where you can engage in a dialogue with judges as well as others who want to join in on the blog. The benefit with this is that the comments stay and can be reviewed by others.
In today's world, there is no reason that you can't get an answer to your question. Don't rely on hearsay or Facebook to make decisions about your questions!
Kevin Keller, C&J Chair, kkbari@charter.net
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SONG OF THE WEEK
Love the song? The track is even better
Not too often do folks hop in their cars, buckle up, and say to themselves, "Tunes. Must have tunes to drive. Ah, there it is: my favorite aerobics workout CD."
Barbershoppers, on the other hand, regularly ease the pain of commuting by listening to their learning tracks. Not just for the brain workout, either; some learning tracks today are perfectly satisfying for leisure listening, because the technology has improved immensely, and the singers are second-to-none. Which brings us to this month's hit. In case you missed it, "All I Do Is Dream of You" is guaranteed to be a sweet number for any ensemble. Masterfully arranged by David Wallace, it uses an easy-going swing and Big Band feel to deliver on this tune from "Singin' in the Rain." Accessible range and fun syncopations make this song, recently revived by Michael Bubl�, a sure hit! The learning track is awesome, recorded by master singer, arranger, and music educator Gary Lewis, a three-time gold medal quartetter (Platinum (2000), Max Q (2007), and college champ The Real Deal (1994)), chorus director, and master track maker. Missed a recent Song of the Week? Find links to past entries at www.barbershophq.com/category/music/song-of-the-week |
FROM THE BLOG
Word on the Strip:
All the fun there is to be had in Las Vegas
Beyond barbershop, there is fun to be had in this world. (No, really!) We've put together a comprehensive list of fun in Las Vegas for you, regardless of where you find your bliss
- THRILL-SEEKERS
- NATURE-LOVERS
- SHOWS & ATTRACTIONS
- SHOPPING & RELAXATION
- FREE ATTRACTIONS
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The Carolina Panthers hosted a news conference on Wednesday for tackle Jordan Gross to address the media following the announcement of his retirement. Many nice things were said, but let's focus on the part that really mattered: Ryan Kalil as part of a barbershop quartet-style act singing "Happy Trails." There's also another view, with better set-up, on the Carolina Panthers website.
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You don't have to be Jack Benny cheap ( kids, watch the video to get this gag) to find the words "Dollar Sale" irresistible. Seriously: luggage tags for a buck. Socks for a buck. Water bottles for a buck. DVDs as low as $4.99.
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NEXT EVENT: TUESDAY, MARCH 11, NOON
Voice Lessons for Barbershoppers
Tuesday, March 11, noon CDT
Steve Scott
Building on the previous session, voice teacher Steve Scott explores a more in-depth approach to the barbershop voice. This lesson will focus on becoming proficient on detecting common vocal faults, how they are produced, and how you as a singer or director can fix it.
Visions of Excellence - Book Review
March 18, noon CDT
Joe Cerutti
Many think the book is geared towards chorus directors, and it is for directors of all levels, but it is also a great resource for all chorus leadership, chorus singers and barbershop fans of all ages. We'll talk a bit about the origin of the book and its predecessor in the choral music genre, "In Quest of Answers" by Carole Glenn. We will reference the ACDA review recently published in the Choral Journal and dissect the variety of the questions asked and the directors interviewed. We'll also leave time for a short Q&A. It is not necessary to have read the book, and the hour session might actually serve as a great introduction to the book for those who love the culture and history of the barbershop chorus.
Click here for details and registration.
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DEPT. OF "I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!"
See it all on the Society calendars
There's barbershop everywhere, and if you're only seeing what's in front of you on Tuesday nights, you're missing oodles of chances to have fun singing.
Sure, you might know about your own District convention this spring -- but what about the next district over, a mere 150 miles? You could be singing and tagging through the night, with no rehearsals in the morning!
Skedaddle on over to the upcoming conventions page for maps and links to all spring prelims throughout the Society
You may be working hard to establish Youth in Harmony activities in your chapter, but did you know there was an HX Camp in your own district this very month?
Get up to date: check out the many calendars of events at www.barbershop.org/calendar, including Chapter Shows, Music Education, Harmony Explosion Camps, District Conventions, Youth Harmony Workshops, and more.
Bonus for Google users: click the Google Calendar button to make these visible in your own calendar feed. Changes and additions will be updated automagically, so you'll always be up to date.
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