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This week in barbershop...
Celebrate the close of our 75th Anniversary year!
Is there musical life after high school?
Harmony Foundation challenge accepted
Harmony University catalog released!
Tripping the Dwight Fantastic
Meet Joe Barbershopper
Harmony U Online: Be an Effective Chapter President
Job opening: Chief Financial Officer
Job opening: Director of Harmony University
Celebrate the close of our 75th Anniversary year!
Some say it was an accident, some say it was fate. Either way (or perhaps both) the movement we now enjoy as the Barbershop Harmony Society (aka. Society for The Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA)) can be credited to a meeting in Tulsa organized by Owen Clifton Cash on April 11, 1938. 
 
In this age of dictators and government control of everything, about the only privilege guaranteed by the Bill of Rights not in some way supervised and directed, is the art of Barber Shop Quartet singing. 

Without doubt we still have the right of "peaceable assembly" which I am advised by competent legal authority includes quartet singing. The writers of this letter have for a long time thought that something should be done to encourage the enjoyment of this last remaining source of human liberty. Therefore, we have decided to hold a songfest on the Roof Garden of the Tulsa Club on Monday, April 11, at 6:30 p. m. 

 Thus we were born. And what an unbelievable trip it has been ever since!  
  

So on Friday, April 11, 2014, gather with some friends, sing some tags, and celebrate that heritage of close-harmony singing for the pure fun of the chords, for the fellowship, and for the preservation of something true and good and beautiful. 

 

If you come up short a few singers, hit the iTunes store for this collection of 75 Years of Quartet Champions. Crank up the digital Victrola and, as O.C. said, "start right in at the first, sing every song, in numerical order, plow right down the middle, and let the chips fall where they will."

"Carry the Tune" documentary project asks, "Is there musical life after high school?"

 

 

Kickstarter prject Carry The Tune
Paul Trapkus is an orchestra teacher in Longmont, Colorado, who is a true believer in the value of lifelong musical learning. He contacted us recently regarding a documentary film he is attempting to fund on Kickstarter around this premise:

 

An enormous amount of individual work goes into the study of music, and teachers work tirelessly to encourage a lifelong learning of music in their students. Researchers and music educators estimate that only 10-20% of students are actually continuing their musical studies after high school. Many students quit simply because they aren't aware of the many ways to continue.

 

This documentary seeks to reveal those ways of continuing musical study after high school by following college students and adults who have done so. In addition to traditional ensembles, we will explore other examples of avocational music-making, such as jam sessions, a cappella groups, chamber music, and laptop orchestras. We intend to show that it is possible and even profoundly enjoyable to stay involved with music without necessarily majoring in it or making a career out of it. We will also examine the skewed value that our society places on music and how that impacts students' decisions about their futures.

 

Sure sounds like the Barbershop Harmony Society is among the solutions, doesn't it? Interesting that fellow travelers look to us as leaders in this movement, too.

 

For further information, visit Carry the Tune by SCOPA - Kickstarter. (As always, carefully read and understand Kickstarter Basics about accountability.)

 
Las Vegas 2014 logo
 
 
 
LAS VEGAS | JUNE 29-JULY 6
Thursday might be the best day of the week


 

REGISTER NOW FOR THE BIGGEST BARBERSHOP WEEK OF THE YEAR

 

Have you been hesitating because you weren't sure if Harmony U would have what you need? Wonder no longer. 

 

Visit the Courses page and see all Harmony University has to offer. No matter what you need to get the most from your barbershop life, you'll find it at Harmony University.

 

Harmony University Courses Banner
 

 

Need to sing all week without stopping? 

Try these:

  • Harmony University eXtreme Quartetting Brigade
  • Tag Singing 101
  • Repertoire Class

Need to find your true voice? 

Try these:

  • Personal Vocal Instruction
  • Vocal Techniques 
  • Wavebox Singing

Need your brain to catch up with your heart?
Try these:

  • Sight Singing From the Ground Up!
  • Physics of Sound
  • Music Theory I-V

Need to bring your performance to the next level?

Try these:

 

  • Interpretation Demystified
  • Make 'Em Laugh!

See it all -- live it all!

FANTASTIC CHARTS, CAPTAIN! 
Songs from Sir Elton John

Although you may not have a walk-in closet devoted to sunglasses like Sir Elton John does, you'll probably really dig his charts.
 
GoodbyeYellow brick Road
Folks of a certain age (say, 50ish) will immediately recognize this iconic album cover and song. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is the title track of one his early multi-platinum albums, and likely the only chance you'll ever have of singing the phrase "where the dogs of society howl." 

Captain Fantastic penned the pop tunes in the mega-smash of film and Broadway, The Lion King. He scored an Academy Award for writing and a Grammy for singing "Can You Feel The Love Tonight", and arranger June Dale has given us a lovely barbershop setting.

 

The emotional heart of The Lion King is "The Circle Of Life" , a rousing piece with a big sweeping chorus part and feature section for soloist or small ensemble.

 

Check out previous Song of the Week highlights

Visit our blog  RECOGNIZE THE "EVERYDAY HEROES" OF BARBERSHOP  
Meet Joe Barbershopper
 
If you know a member or Associate who does a lot for your chapter or district but doesn't get a lot of widespread recognition, please submit his/her name for the ongoing "Meet Joe (or Jane) Barbershopper" series in The Harmonizer.

 

Nominees should be people who have for an extended period been doing "the little things" that keep the organization running, but primarily under the radar. We're looking to recognize "a lot of small things that add up to big things," as well as significant non-performance accomplishments.

 

Please provide your own contact information along with some details about why that person should receive recognition. Send to the series author, "Montana Jack" Fitzpatrick at [email protected]. The honorees will be interviewed by Jack for a future issue of The Harmonizer.

NEXT EVENT: THURSDAY, APRIL 17, NOON

 

April 17

Steve Wyzsomierski offers a  FREE class on how to be  more effective chapter president.

 

Repertoire Selection For Your Ensemble 

April 24  

Adam Scott facilitates a discussion on how to select the material that's best suited for your ensemble, and how to get the most out of your group through better music choices.

WORK AT HARMONY HALL

Job opening: Chief Financial Officer

 

Location: Nashville, Tenn.

Reports to: CEO

Salary Range: Competitive Salary, plus benefits

 

At the direction of the CEO, the Director of Finance is responsible for effective and efficient conduct of financial and fiscal affairs to meet the needs of the membership and mission of the organization. The Director of Finance participates in long-range planning and policy implementation in concert with the CEO and the Board of Directors. The Director of Finance is also responsible for providing effective financial staff support for Companies programs, subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

Executive search will be conducted by KraftCPAs. For complete job description and details, visit barbershop.org/about/careers-internships.html.

Job opening: Director of Harmony University 

 

Job Description: Director of Harmony University

Location: Nashville, TN

Reports To: CEO

Salary Range: Competitive Salary, plus benefits

 

Harmony University is the parent to all educational programs offered through the Barbershop Harmony Society. These curricular-based programs are delivered throughout the year. This includes the "brick and mortar" week-long school held at the end of July, classes offered at the Society's annual conventions, and various daily/weekly e-learning classes. The programs support internal membership as well as community education of our art form.

 

For a complete job description and application details, visit barbershop.org/about/careers-internships.html. Applications should be submitted by April 13, 2014.