Pitch! Frank Glas 2017 Barbershopper of the Year! Carrie s Cues. June 24, 2018

Transcription

1 Volume 12, Issue 22 Changing lives through song June 24, 2018 Frank Glas 2017 Barbershopper of the Year! Carrie s Cues 12 DAYS! International Hi Guys, I was asked to send notes from Monday's rehearsal. We went through both songs with a fine tooth comb. While we went through Once Upon a Dream from start to finish, we started in the middle of Ten Minutes Ago. To help you practice, I re -ordered the notes from Ten Minutes Ago so that they start at the beginning of the song. Ten Minutes Ago 1. m. 7-8 "What did I have to lose?" We are thinking, "guess what? guess what? I have more to tell you!" 2. m tension-release on the "true" chords 3. All "s" cut offs will be on beat 2. Please note: on pg. 3, leads/baris DO sing an "s" after "how do you do's," while bass/ tenors do NOT sing an "s." Trio has "s" cut off with a breath in m. 48, m. 56, m 64, m. 88, 4. m Worked tuning on the "again" chords. ALL FOUR PARTS sing on "she" in m. 80. Tenors/baris/basses sing the same pitch you just sang for the last note of "again." 5. m. 94 we CHANGED this rhythm back to what is written and got rid of the 3 quarter notes. 6. m Worked tuning on skies, the skies. Tenors, especially need to work on this. Leads, back off on your second note swipe of skies. 7. m Basses sing Db for BOTH measures. I know I said I heard you "thinking about singing different notes," but upon listening to the recording, there is one very quiet bass who did sing a higher note on "love," so it wasn't my imagination. BUSTED! 8. m Nobody breathes except the leads. ALL sing the word "I" in m Put a VERY subtle "n" at the end of again in m We talked about "plateau dynamics" for m. 113, m. 117, m. 119, m. 121, m Counting 1-2-3, when we sing "again" in m. 125, and throughout the "ding dongs." Don't just "feel it." Everyone must count. 11. Leads need to "merge onto the expressway" when they switch from singing "dong" back into "gain." Do not sing the hard "g" sound. For THIS Monday, we had talked about starting softer before our plateau dynamics (see #9). I had an idea for an acting motivation for that. I am so excited! (Continued on page 2) Inside this issue: Business Briefs 3 What to Wear 3 Attendance Policy 4 Board Briefs 5 Birthdays 5 Calendar 6 Board & Music Team 6

2 Page 2 Carrie s Cues continued (Continued from page 1) Once Upon a Dream 1. Cleaning up the "s" sound at the end of the words "price, a price" in m Bass tuning on the F of "began" in m. 2 and bass tuning on the B natural and C of "a price" in m. 4. That last "price" should be the same starting pitch that Bob plays on the pitch pipe. 3. m. 5 Bass "Once" should sound like you're singing about a DREAM and not a NIGHTMARE. LOL. Whoever said nightmare on the recording, that was hilarious. 4. m. 11 Bass "once." See #3 5. ALL need to make more of quarter rests throughout the song. This begins with better cut-offs before the rests. We need big, fat rests. 6. Tenors/baris/bass, move the tempo in m. 14 "a time, a time." Make me have to slow you down. 7. m. 24 " I AM here alone." 8. m. 25 leads/baris "alone" is crescendo then decrescendo (grow louder, then grow softer) 9. Page 3-4 is an EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER. SHOW IT! m (excited!), m (lonely!), m (nostalgic, love was easy), m ("and now" is the transition, despair! "it can never be"), m (bass solo- one last chance at hope!) 10. m No breath between "wonder why" and "It can never be." 11. m BASSES- notes "I stand here a lone, alone" 12. m. 38 ALL- turn the page rhythm and forward motion for "alone, alone." 13.. m still need the waltz feel with the loud-soft feel. 14. m. 50- notes must be PERFECT 15. m. 50- TENORS notes must be PER- FECT practice that F-F#-F combination there. It was rough on Monday. 16. TBD- four different emotions needed for m tag. I'm working on it. For THIS Monday, Basses, we need to make sure we stay in tune on the F# in m. 47. All, we need to sing our "Once" with an "ah" vowel instead of an "aw" vowel. All, we need to sing our "ee" vowels with less lip puckering. We need to figure out our 4 emotions in m I'd like to clean up the "s" in "just" in m. 45. If you made it to the bottom of this missive, congratulations. I know I am pushing you really hard, but it's because I see your potential. As I mentioned on Monday, from our fall contest in 2013 to fall contest in 2017, we increased our score by 142 points. That is no small feat. I am proud of each and every one of you and for how much you've grown as individual singers as well as a chorus. PITCH Editor Bob Nicodem Illinois District BETY winner in 2008, 2009 & W109 Claremont Dr. Darien, IL RNicodem@comcast.net Work: (708) Cell: (708) The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Chicagoland West Suburban Chapter aka The West Towns Chorus

3 Page 3 Business Briefs Bill Haselberger Guests: Kate, Nelleke, Ron Peake RENEWALS: Jim Wagner 16 years; Bill Haselberger - 34 years Jim Brown: Member George Collar passed away on June 8. There will be a memorial service sometime in the future. Don't be a hero when you sing (no individual stand out singers) Bill Burt - PLEASE read Bill's and the attached 'Everything you always wanted to know about going to Orlando but were afraid to ask' (NOT the actual title - LOL) Ron Welch - See Ron for Fall Contest Illinois District raffle tickets What Are We Wearing and More From conversations I heard after chorus on Monday, it sounds like we need some clarification. THIS Monday, June 25 wear FULL costumes for run-throughs. Please invite guests 7:45-8:15 p.m. to watch us do 2-3 complete runthroughs. *We have a limited number of chairs so your friends/family may want to bring folding chairs or lawn chairs * BRING A CHANGE OF CLOTHES. At 8:15 we will change into shorts and t-shirts! *Great news- the weather forecast for Monday is 79 instead of 1,052! NEXT Monday, July 2- NO costumes. This allows you the chance to dry clean and wash your costumes. SIDE NOTE: WASH/DRY CLEAN YOUR COS- TUMES between June 25 and July 6, please. THURSDAY, July 5, rehearsal in Orlando, 1:30-4 p.m.- NO costumes. We don t want them to get sweaty the day before we compete. Cy Wood would like to come watch our performance exchange with SOI at 4 p.m. but the chorus he is in is also rehearsing at 4 p.m. I asked SOI if we could do the exchange at 3:45 p.m. They said it all depends on when After Hours sings if/ when they make the semifinal round. If they sing early enough, our exchange may be taking place at 3:45 p.m. so that Cy may watch both choruses perform. FRIDAY, July 6- CONTEST DAY. I am going to go ahead and say that watching and cheering for SOI (#2 in the performance order) is mandatory for West Towns. They have been big supporters of our chorus and we should do the same for them. We should be able to watch the first 4 choruses before going to our warm-up room. After Chorus #4, Brothers in Harmony, there is a break for an award which means we won t be able to see the Alexandria Harmonizers. That would be a good time to leave to go to our warm-up room. WEAR YOUR FULL COSTUME to warm-ups on Friday. We will not have time to go back to our (Continued on page 4)

4 Page 4 What Are We Wearing and More (Continued from page 3) hotel rooms. I need EVERYONE, IN FULL COSTUMES, in the warm-up room (Hyatt Regency V) at 11:30 a.m. for pinning sashes and costume inspection (with all apologies to our ladies, I believe this will work better than sending you to their hotel room). If you want to watch as many choruses as possible, you may watch the mic tester chorus and choruses #1-4 in full costume and then get to the warm-up room at 11:30 a.m. If you prefer to change into your tux after cheering on SOI, then you could watch SOI, leave to change into your tux, and meet us in our warm-up room at 11:30 a.m. If you walk quickly and can change clothes quickly, you could watch SOI, watch Harbourtown Sound, and then leave to change into your tux and meet us in our warm-up room at 11:30 a.m. ***All roads lead to you being IN FULL COSTUME, IN THE WARM-UP ROOM, at 11:30 A.M. on Friday.*** Due to the order of choruses, we will miss seeing Westminster (#9) and Vocal Majority (#11) perform. The good news is, whichever chorus wins, we ll be able to watch their set again at the end of the day. For the second session of the chorus contest, you may need food or bathroom breaks, but I strongly encourage you to be in the convention center to see these choruses perform: #16 Sound of the Rockies #24 Heralds of Harmony #27 Music City Chorus #28 The Men of Independence (Their set description mentions a handsome Prince. This has me curious.) #29 Southern Gateway Chorus (Cy Wood s chorus) #30 Parkside Harmony (One of THE BEST at singing from the heart and to the heart) Swan Set: Masters of Harmony (Last year s champs) I hope this clears up a few questions for you! Carrie From the Music Team: Attendance policy is in effect the 8 weeks prior to any major performance. You must attend half (4) of the final 8 rehearsals, including 2 of the last 3. If you are unable to make that qualification, you have the option to perform the songs in front of your section leader, assistant director(s) or the director to prove you know the music and SP. Your sashes should be hung or laid out to hang out the folds. They can be lightly ironed with a warm iron if needed, but only on the reverse side of the material.

5 Page 5 Board Briefs Secretary: Bob Nicodem Minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Treasurer: Tony Tumea Treasurer s report was received. He did provide a summary of spring show revenues and expenses for the past four years. Music and Performance: Craig Lancaster Performances Discussed the need to get better at setting up singing performances; making sure we have all bases covered. Christmas show looking for additional/replacement talent for the Christmas show. Also working with David Rhodes on issues we may have at the Arcada. Spring Shows should we consider trying a more casual style spring show sort of like a big afterglow (sometimes called a caberet )? Music still looking for new music. Also getting an arrangement for a song for a contest set. Will also need to get learning tracks made. Coaching will be exploring coaching possibilities at Harmony U Fall Contest discussing the possibility of a joint hospitality room Chapter Development and Membership: Daniel Garcia will be sending out a Facebook invite for Monday s rehearsal. Also, July 16 will be the next guest night. Marketing: Ben Dirks sent out an blast about the 3-chorus show Member-at-Large: Frank Glas we were well received at the Chicago Dogs, and they would like us back. Past President: Ron Welch gave a brief summary of the HOD meeting. New Business: Selected a Barbershopper of the Month Chorus picnic because of our busy schedule it was decided to skip a picnic this year. New Society Rules for Inclusion not enough information or need to make any decisions yet. Lots of unanswered questions about how contests will work, who can be on stage, etc. June Birthdays 8: Bob VanderBeek 10: Dick Brown 10: Jim Deegan 14: Jack Roller 19: Rick Anthoney 20: Curt Spencer 27: Don Kaap FREE MONEY sign in to smile.amazon.com and select West Towns Chorus as your charitable recipient.

6 Visit us on our website: Chicagoland West Suburban Chapter Barbershop Harmony Society PO Box 1005 Downers Grove, IL Changing Lives Through Song Phone: Board President Jim Brown Music VP Craig Lancaster Development & Daniel Garcia Membership VP Program VP Bill Haselberger Marketing VP Ben Dirks Treasurer Tony Tumea Secretary Bob Nicodem Member-at- Frank Glas Large Past President Ron Welch Sunshine Don Davia Care Person Librarian Bob VanderBeek Uniform Eric Roffelsen Board meetings are scheduled for the third Thursday of each month (except December) 7:30 PM at Bob Nicodem s house. The Music Team meets the second Thursday of each month at Horizon, 7:30 PM. Music Team Director: Carrie Marcotte Asst-directors: Mark Betczynski & Joe Tomecek Music VP: Craig Lancaster Section Leaders Bass: Jim B, & Will G, Baritone: Mark & Joe Lead: Mark Servos Kevin Westburg Tenor: Trenton Ferro, Sid Peterson MusicTeam@WestTowns.org Calendar of Events June 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat July 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat August 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat June 6/4 Rehearsal 6/11 Rehearsal 6/12 Brat Bash 6/13 Oak Trace 6 PM call time 6/18 Rehearsal 6/19 Tue Chgo Dogs Rosemont 7pm Call time is 6 PM 6/21 Board Meeting 6/24 Sun Joliet Slammers 6/25 Rehearsal 6/28 6/29 Speedway NASCAR July 7/2 Rehearsal 7/5 Orlando Rehearsal 7/6 International Chorus Contest 7/9 Celebration/wrap-up 7/16 Rehearsal 7/19 Board Meeting 7/22 29 Harmony U 7/23 Rehearsal 7/30 Rehearsal Future 8/18 & 19 Three Chorus events 8/22 Kane County Cougars 8/27 Mon Coaching w/ Steve Tramack 9/17 Coaching session (Mon) Terry Ludwig 9/22 Christmas Blitz 10/6 Fall Contest 12/5 Tech rehearsal (Wed) 12/8 & 9 Christmas Show West Towns rehearses every Monday evening, 7:00 PM at Horizon Community Church in the Meadowbrook Shopping Center, rd Street, Downers Grove, IL We invite men who like to sing to come visit us and join us in song and fellowship.