Official Weekly Bulletin of the Fairfax Jubil-Aires

Transcription

1 Official Weekly Bulletin of the Fairfax Jubil-Aires Fairfax Virginia Chapter, Southern Division, Mid-Atlantic District of the Barbershop Harmony Society Vol. 63, No. 20 Chartered November 30, 1953 June 3, 2015 Editor: John Knueven: Staff: Robyn Sandler: Booking Agent: Art Medici This Week we re rehearsing at Lord of Life, West Twin Lakes Dr., Clifton, VA 7:30 PM Rehearsal NOTE: Performance times are approximate. June 3 Guest Night Jun 14 3p Potomac Green to think about our next performance. It has been on the calendar for quite a while now, and it will be our third appearance in Potomac Green. The Social Committee has been busy advertising and selling tickets, and they expect over 100 attendees. Reserve the date, June 14 th which is a Sunday afternoon. The chapter will have to help set up the chairs in the ballroom starting around 1:00 PM. The performance is planned for 3:00 PM. We will also provide light refreshments of the punch and cookie variety for a social following. Cis Merkel and Nancy Richardson will be our community contacts for that with details to follow. We need all possible chapter quartets Purple: Tentative Performance RED: Newly Scheduled Potomac Green Performance Reminder - Phil Merkel Now that we're all recovered from a great contest weekend, it's time to augment the performance. It will be quite similar to the Wardensville performance. So save your western gear and get ready to sing. A fellowship of men devoted to the art of a cappella barbershop singing, committed to excellence in musical performance and good will in the community. Visit the Fairfax Jubil-Aires s Web page at

2 2 A Funny Thing Happened - Phil Merkel on the way home from rehearsal Wednesday. Dick Smull and I stopped at Westfields High School to catch the last few acts in their end-ofyear choral concert. I knew that my grand-nephew had teamed up with 5 other seniors to present their own act. Last year Jonny and 3 buddies teamed up as "Men in Arms" to sing Sh-Boom after learning all four parts on their own. All I did was to send them some learning tracks. This year they put together a barbershop doo-wop medley that included In the Still of the Night, Duke of Earl, Coney Island Baby and others. Each of them took a turn at singing the melody with really nice transitions between the songs. They were in their chamber chorus outfits of blue jeans and tee shirts to which they added suspenders, bow ties and skimmer hats. They looked really good, sounded good, had great fun and brought down the house to a standing ovation. Who knows, there may be a collegiate quartet in the making among those guys!! President: Randy Moller Immediate Past President: Fred Geldon Executive VP: Alex Laufer Music and Performance VP: Cliff Shoemaker Membership VP: Steve Hatch Marketing and Public Relations VP: Harold Weinberger Corresponding Secretary: Don Collier Recording Secretary: Ray LaTurno Treasurer: Kevin Deasy Gig Master Art Medici Members-at-Large Bob Eamigh, Gerry Grimes, and Paul Grano

3 3 Contest Video - Cliff Shoemaker - For that doot-doot section of Little Patch of Heaven Here is the link where you can download the contest video. il/aaatq65z2q- Dx3u0slKAYmH2a?dl=0 Celebrations! Roger Lemieux will be with us for another year! He s beginning his 15 th year! I remember when he was a FARB. Back in the olden days we had a lot of moxie. We d put on our best bib and tucker and straighten up and fly right. Hubba-hubba! We d cut a rug in some juke joint and then go necking and petting and smooching and spooning and billing and cooing and pitching woo in hot rods and jalopies in some passion pit or lovers lane. Heavens to Betsy! Gee whillikers! Jumpin Jehoshaphat! Holy moley! We were in like Flynn and living the life of Riley, and even a regular guy couldn t accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill. Not for all the tea in China! President: Randy Moller Immediate Past President: Fred Geldon Executive VP: Alex Laufer Music and Performance VP: Cliff Shoemaker Membership VP: Steve Hatch Marketing and Public Relations VP: Harold Weinberger Corresponding Secretary: Don Collier Recording Secretary: Ray LaTurno Treasurer: Kevin Deasy Gig Master Art Medici Members-at-Large Bob Eamigh, Gerry Grimes, and Paul Grano

4 4 Cobbler s Corner - Cliff Shoemaker How to learn the new songs The question has been raised about the new songs: In what order should we learn them? (If you are in a hurry to get the answer, skip to the last paragraph.) Having gone through the Brigade experience, I could say that you need to learn them all at the same time, which was the way Shameless learned those songs. Every time I got in the car, my CD picked up where it had left off, and I continued on through all 12 songs before starting over with number one. At first it seemed an impossible task learning that many difficult songs. But I cranked up the left speaker, the baritone part, and just listened for about a week. When I had the time, I listened to the songs while watching the spots. After a couple weeks, I started singing along lightly, trying to make sure I wasn t singing the wrong notes or words. After about a week of that, I started turning the left speaker down until at about 6 weeks I could sing along with the other three parts. Every week, Shameless would sit and sing through a couple songs to see how we were coming along, and by 2 months into learning the 12 brigade songs we knew which songs we liked and had pretty well learned and which songs were going to be a struggle and probably would not stay in the repertoire after Brigade. But we had to learn all 12 to go to Brigade and take part. A couple of those songs made it into the chorus repertoire Live Til I Die and Jezebel and Shameless competed with Just In Time, When It Comes To Lovin the Girls/They re All Sweeties, and Somebody Loves Me. Actually, at my son Peter s and Leslie s wedding, we also sang, L.O.V.E., As Time Goes By, Darktown Strutters Ball, Imagination, and I Got Rhythm. Two songs never made it into our repertoire after Brigade Stardust and Isn t It A Lovely Day. Both were nice songs, but they just didn t click for us. Why am I talking about all of this? Well, as Pat Varre is fond of saying, So many great songs and so little time to sing them. I am sure that all of you have learned some great songs over the years that you really enjoyed singing, but that are no longer in our repertoire. Maybe they were songs from a prior quartet that no longer sings together. I can t begin to tell you how many songs I really like that I will never get a chance to sing in a quartet or a chorus. And I recall with fondness some of the songs we sang when I first joined the chorus (and I am a relative newbie). Railroad Rag, Chordbusters, Sound Celebration, The Old Piano Roll Blues, President: Randy Moller Immediate Past President: Fred Geldon Executive VP: Alex Laufer Music and Performance VP: Cliff Shoemaker Membership VP: Steve Hatch Marketing and Public Relations VP: Harold Weinberger Corresponding Secretary: Don Collier Recording Secretary: Ray LaTurno Treasurer: Kevin Deasy Gig Master Art Medici Members-at-Large Bob Eamigh, Gerry Grimes, and Paul Grano

5 5 When I m 64, Wells Fargo Wagon, You Gotta Have Heart, I ll Fly Away, etc. (If you ever get nostalgic, go to the last page of our Groupanizer music and listen to one of our retired repertoire songs, and even sing along. Sorry, but Paper Doll and Paper Moon are not there. So, what keeps a song in our repertoire or causes us to drop it? Good questions, and folks should feel free to weigh in. Some songs have limited places where they fit into a typical program. Forgive Me comes to mind. We joke about it every time Valentines Day rolls around, but I doubt we will really use it. Good love songs are always good to keep in the repertoire because they are versatile and can be used for so many occasions. Patriotic songs are good to have on hand, and that includes songs like So Long Mother, Patriotic Medley and Sentimental Journey. Some religious songs come in handy once in a while, and that might be a good reason to keep Daddy Sang Bass. Maybe we can set up a poll on Groupanizer to see which songs everyone votes to keep from last year s show. Until we learn new songs, we will definitely keep singing the songs in the Way Out West Redux that we did at Wardensville and Hermitage and will do at Potomac Green. TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. Learn them all at once, but focus the most attention on the contestable songs, so that we can get choreo on board as soon as possible. They are 50 s Rock and Roll Medley, Are You Lonesome Tonight, and Can t Buy Me Love. Also try to learn Aquarius and Happy Together as soon as you can. For Going Out of My Head, we may be looking at a different tag. It was originally written for the Sundowners, and Larry is sending us a tag that is more traditional and easier to tune to consider. I Heard it Through the Grapevine may or may not stay on the list. It has a solo part that i am hoping i can talk Drew Fuller into looking at. Also, the tag has 7 notes instead of 4, so the tenors, leads and baris will need to split between two notes. Done right, it could be a monster song, but i want to check with Richard to be sure we want to expend the effort of a 7 th song like this. President: Randy Moller Immediate Past President: Fred Geldon Executive VP: Alex Laufer Music and Performance VP: Cliff Shoemaker Membership VP: Steve Hatch Marketing and Public Relations VP: Harold Weinberger Corresponding Secretary: Don Collier Recording Secretary: Ray LaTurno Treasurer: Kevin Deasy Gig Master Art Medici Members-at-Large Bob Eamigh, Gerry Grimes, and Paul Grano

6 Love to Sing? Experience the THRILL of performing a cappella harmony in the barbershop style! Come visit the Fairfax Jubil-Aires and sing with our Chorus! Free Singing Lessons! Visit us for some Singing and Cheer! SINGING, REFRESHMENTS, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT Wednesday, June 3rd 7:30 9:00pm Lord of Life Lutheran Church (West) Twin Lakes Drive, Clifton, VA ninjaneer@verizon.net for more info! Or Call Steve Hatch, Welcome! Director Richard Lewellen has 32 rich years of experience as a vocal specialist, musical director, and singing judge. He won a bronze international contest medal with the acclaimed quartet Riptide! Wednesday Evening Rehearsals! Director Richard Lewellen and chorus member/presentation judge Gary Plaag instruct. A Pick-up Quartet woos Marilyn during some breaktime fun. This is the PERFECT TIME to join us with a new season of music just starting! Rehearsals start June 3rd, 7:30pm. Performances throughout Northern Virginia! No musical experience necessary. All music and instruction provided free! 29SEP2014/adw

7 What you can expect When you arrive on Thursday you will be given your room assignment Classes start Thursday evening Everyone starts Friday morning with breakfast at the cafeteria followed by vocal warm ups You will be involved in either classes or coaching (quartet or chorus) all day Friday with breaks for lunch and dinner Steve Armstrong will direct a Mass Sing from 6:30-7 p.m. followed by the Friday night show where some of the quartets being coached get to strut their stuff Following the show you can sing or socialize until whenever Saturday is similar to Friday There will be a Master Class conducterd by an International Quartet, followed by a gala event on Saturday night where both quartets and choruses get to perform for you This is followed by more singing and socializing if you have any energy left Sunday morning you turn in your room keys and drive home exhausted BUT VERY HAPPY! Where, When, Cost? FATHER S DAY WEEKEND (weekend of the third Sunday in June). Why not introduce your family member son, grandson, dad or grandad to our great art form? Jun 18-21, 2015 Tuition is around $200, which includes a 3-night stay, 6 meals, all courses, two barbershop shows. Our host is: Salisbury University 1101 Camden Avenue Salisbury, MD Questions or Comments? Ig Jakovac ijakovac@comcast.net Roger Tarpy rtarpy@verizon.net immerse yourself in a weekend of MAD barbershop The best value in barbershop! Guaranteed to improve your singing and performance skills, raise your Barbershop IQ 30 points, double your friends list and keep you singing all night as well as all day.

8 Immerse yourself in a weekend of MAD barbershop Select classes that will broaden your barbershop experience from some of the best instructors in the Barbershop Harmony Society Learn more about musical leadership to help you become a better director, assistant director, section leader, Music VP or any musical leadership position Accelerate your quartet or chorus performance skills as you are coached by some of the best coaches in the world. Come and sing in a chorus under the direction of one of the top directors in our Society. Enjoy the performances of top youth ensembles and tag singing for all generations. Have fun, sing tags, re-acquaint with old friends, enjoy two awesome barbershop shows. 40 Classes and Seminars -- something for everyone Director s Roundtable Arranging (Basic) Arranging: Individual Tutorial Barber Shop to Barbershop: A History of our Hobby Song Repertoire: Arrangements from BHS [new] Creating a sustained membership program for your chorus Directing (Advanced) Directing (Basic) Directing: Individual Tutorial Director Under Glass Essentials of Good Ensemble Singing HCE Chorus How to attract young singers to your chorus How to be a great. tenor, lead, bari, bass How to do chorus voice coaching [new] How to plan a great chapter meeting [new] How to put on a great show [new] Leadership and the Rehearsal Likes, tweets, and homepages: Marketing your chorus or quartet Mass sing [new] Master Class by international-ranked quartet [new] Music Theory (Advanced) Music Theory (Basic) Music Theory (Intermediate) Outstanding in Front Physics of Sound Presentation (Advanced): The Power of Presence Presentation (Basic) Quartet Coaching Under Glass Rehearsal Techniques for Chorus Directors Sight Singing So.you be the judge Song Choreography: Effective Performance Planning Song Interpretation: Technique and artistry Sound Management: Listening for a good ensemble sound Sound Management: Practicuum in working with live ensembles Tag Singing Vocal Techniques: 40-min Individual Voice Lesson Vocal Techniques: Essentials of Good Singing Woodshedding For more details, go to Who is welcome? EVERYONE! BHS, SAI, HI members, directors, section leaders, Joe Barbershoppers, quartets, chapter officers, music educators, youths interested in the art form, Society Associates, your entire quartet, and choruses large, small and in-between!