Msg #6 Happy June Is Soon!

I reorganized for this post - "Useful Link" are at the bottom now...  New stuff at the top.

Need Help?

One of the things NEHB deals with every year, is that people who have all the skills and talents they need still feel a bit overwhelmed, and sometimes choose to withdraw.

Now - if you have to withdraw because of external factors, we understand and hope to see you next year.

If your concerns are "I'm having a hard time", we all want to help.  The more attendees, the more fun, the more singing.

Please - if you want to see "how other people are doing" or if your practice is frustrating you, or any other thing, please reach out to your sponsor, to me, to the Music Team or the Board.  We will do anything in our power to help reassure you that you are fine, or to help you improve your learning.

Everyone matters, and everyone who was accepted has our faith that they can succeed.  We have invested in you, and will continue to invest in you. There are things we can do, and things you can do too.  All you have to do is raise your hand...  and help will be on its way.

I Can't Give You Anything But Love

(Why did nobody but me notice that I skipped this song?  Sigh, we are all imperfect.)

The song was released in 1928, attributed to Jimmy McHugh (music) and Dorothy Fields (lyrics), although there is apparently some evidence that the tune was written by Fats Waller and sold, and the lyrics may have been by Andy Razaf.

Initial performances were by Adelaide Hall, in a show that went to Broadway.

Only some of the more senior among us will understand the references to Woolworth's. Woolworth's was one of America’s first 5 and 10 cent stores, changing the American retail landscape, and including such items as lunch counters. Refusal to serve black customers in Greensboro, NC helped kick-start the civil rights movement.  Woolworth eventual faced too much competition and the retail chain folded - except its sporting goods department which renamed itself Foot Locker and is still quite successful.

I love trying to count the cross-references with other songs.... did I miss any?

1. Happy Birthday
2. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (added by Jonathan Taylor, I missed this one.)
3. I've Got Rhythm ("who could ask for anything more")
4. Can't Buy Me Love
5. She Loves You (Beatles)
6. Love Is All You Need (Beatles) ("and all you need is love")
7. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen) ("This thing, called love")

Adelaide Hall in 1938 (with Fats Waller)

Billie Holiday in 1936 (singing begins after a long introduction)

Mickey and Minnie Mouse in 1931 (It’s horrible....)

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett (2014)

Useful Links

• The NEHB Preparedness Blog.
• Critical Information About The Rally
• Run Through Calendar
• Tools for recording yourself
• Map of participants
• If you have to withdraw (before Aug 1, 2018)
• Additional learning tracks available to attendees, order from Music VP Will Johnson
• $15 per part, electronic only
• $17 per part, electronic + CD plus $3 shipping per order
• It's not too late to add the Challenge Song "Victr'y Road".
• Contact Joe Dempsey for more information.

Msg #6: Are We At 4 out of 12 Yet?

Useful Links

• The NEHB Preparedness Blog.
• Critical Information About The Rally
• Run Through Calendar
• Tools for recording yourself
• Map of participants
• If you have to withdraw (before Aug 1, 2018)
• Additional learning tracks available to attendees, order from Music VP Will Johnson
• $15 per part, electronic only
• $17 per part, electronic + CD plus $3 shipping per order

Challenge Song

The challenge song was recently distributed: Vict'ry Road (video), a rousing Gospel tune.  (You don't have to be religious to want to sing THIS one.)   If you haven't gotten your music, or you want to sign up for the challenge song, email Joe Dempsey.  I'll be ready on bass - will you sing it with me?

It's Almost June, How Is Your Progress?

We tend to try and prepare 4 songs a month, so with June almost here you should be close to prepared for the first four songs - Nora, Blackbird, Bare Necessities and Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring.

June should bring us I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Go The Distance, Come Fly With Me, It Is Well With My Soul.

Few of us will be word and note perfect already.  BUT: we should be close, and that brings us to the next topic...

Run Through Attendance And Etiquette

If you can possibly get to run-through practices, you should go to as many as you can. There is no better way to come prepared for the rally, and to help others be prepared.  (Plus: we love to sing, right?  Right.)

A few points of etiquette to help the process go better:

• RSVP to the organizer as early as you can.
• Bring your book and a pencil for corrections.
• Swap books with others, and make notes to help each other.
• Encourage, don't discourage.  Feel encouraged, not discouraged.

Before you sing a song at a run-through, put the time in at home.  It really helps the run-through to be prepared.  You are not expected to be word and note perfect, but your quartet should be able to complete the song successfully (if absolutely necessary, with paper...)  Yes: I have been in situations where someone says "let's sing X" and I answer "I'm not really ready" - and we sang it anyway.  But most of the time you want your answer to be "Sure, let's sing X".

Go The Distance

This is a made-for-Disney song, written for the title character Hercules in the 1997 film.  As our book’s notes mention, this song almost made the cut for an NEHB rally a few years back and became the challenge song.  But it was so popular, the music team put it in the rally this year. (The tag for this version is slightly different.)

There are three versions of the lyrics.  The lyrics within the movie are different from the version sung during the movie credits (performed by Michael Bolton).  The movie lyrics are about Hercules, a young man who feels as if he doesn’t belong - and once his parents reveal to him that, he was adopted, Hercules goes on an journey of discovery to find himself.  The Bolton version is much more of a love song - the singer is singing that he would go anywhere to be “in your arms”.

The barbershop lyrics are closer to the Bolton version. Different in many minor particulars, but the third verse of the barbershop version is a radical departure from both originals.

Disney Original

I am on my way, I can go the distance I don't care how far, somehow I'll be strong I know every mile will be worth my while I would go most anywhere to find where I belong.

Bolton Original:

And I won't look back, I can go the distance

And I'll stay on track, no I won't accept defeat

It's an uphill slope, but I won't lose hope,

'Till I go the distance and my journey is complete.

Barbershop:

I will beat the odds and maybe I will go the distance.

I will face the world and I’ll be fearless, proud and strong.

I will please my God, I can go the distance.
[tag]

This gives the barbershop version a potential religious feeling, as opposed to either the wanderjahr or love song.

In every case, it’s a superbly singable song. Whatever meaning you find, fill it with feeling.

Disney video from the movie.  (Disney lyrics)

Michael Bolton video  (Bolton lyrics)

Vocal Spectrum crushing it....

Msg #5: And Now, A Message From Our Sponsor....

Useful Links

• The NEHB Preparedness Blog.
• Critical Information About The Rally
• Run Through Calendar
• Tools for recording yourself
• Map of participants
• Additional learning tracks available to attendees, order from Music VP Will Johnson
• $15 per part, electronic only
• $17 per part, electronic + CD plus $3 shipping per order

Enjoying the Rally, and sponsorships:

I was chatting with a long-time member of NEHB last night, and we both agreed that the very best way to enjoy the Rally is to arrive with confidence - to know that when you sing, you will be making beautiful music.  Everyone is an asset to a Rally.

If you are a sponsor to an attendee, it's time to help literally sponsor their fun - to answer their questions, guide them through the learning process, and give them the confidence they need so they look forward to September.

Attendees - do not be passive.  It is to your benefit to talk to your sponsor about your progress - even if your progress is EXCELLENT.  You can help others if you are doing well, and you can get help when you need it.

Please - if you haven't checked in with each other, do so over the weekend.

And an anonymous shout-out to the first-time attendee who I sang with last week, who was helping me correct my errors.  You are the reason NEHB is fun.

If you do not know who your sponsor/attendee is, or how to reach them - write to me privately and I will check for you.

Candor

I'm enjoying the songs a lot, and I have been thinking I am making excellent progress.  But my book is FULL of notes where I am making mistakes.  I am cheerleading preparation not because I am "better", but because I am "average" - and I know how much preparation improves my Rally.

So, a few weak spots of mine on the bass part.  Nora - I keep saying the wrong word instead of "sheiking".  Blackbird - I still don't have breathing spots down, and I cannot command and control the rhythm of the song as well as I need to.  Bare Necessities - I keep failing on the little shout-out.  (And since this is a chorus rep song for me, that's embarrassing.)

Come find me, practice with me, and help me fix my stuff!

Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring

No, this is not a barbershop song.  It is an opportunity to sing an absolutely gorgeous song and show the world that you are barbershop and more!

This song was written by Bobby Troup, famous for acting as Dr. Joe Early in the 70s TV phenomenon Emergency!  One of his other most famous songs was “Get Your Kicks On Route 66”, but he had songs recorded by many other artists, like Nat King Cole, Frankie Lane, Louie Jordan, and many other people from the 40s and 50s.

In my background reading, many authors stated that the Beach Boys practiced their close harmony sound when Brian Wilson tried to make them sound more like The Four Freshmen, whose version our arrangement is based upon.

You can enjoy the following interpretations - none of which have the “continuous wall of sound” of barbershop.  But each performance has its own meaning and style.

You can hear Bobby Troup sing this song.

The Four Freshmen

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys rewrote the lyrics to be about the death of James Dean (A Young Man Is Gone)

NEHB 2018 Vital Information

I am posting this information for reference only, as it is not strictly related to preparedness.

NEHB Critical Communications - 2018

Basic Rally Information:

• September 14-16, 2018
• Courtyard by Marriott, 75 Felton St., Marlborough, Mass.
• All activities are at the hotel, except for optional ones listed below.
• Judges and Headliners: OC Times (2008 BHS International Quartet Champions)

Registration:

Attendance at NEHB is by invitation only. Invitations are issued to men who have demonstrated through their quartet singing experience that they have the ability and desire to learn twelve songs of medium to hard difficulty, word- and note-perfectly, within a four- or five-month period.

• Apply here
• Fees are all inclusive - music, hotel, meals.
• Deposits of 50% due at registration, final payment due by August 14, 2018
• Scholarships of up to 50% available. Apply to president@nehb.net
• Early registration for the 2019 Rally before Sunday of this year's rally gets $10 off.
• First-time attendees who are not members of other Harmony Brigades will be assigned a sponsor/mentor to help them prepare.

Rally “Uniform”:

• No dress code for the event
• For the Saturday Night performance: black pants, shoes, belt, socks, white dress shirt and undershirt, any color SOLID neck tie.

Preparedness Pass:

• Rally attendees must demonstrate preparedness in order to perform in the Saturday concert.
• Demonstration of preparedness involves being "checked":
• Two songs will be randomly selected for you
• You must sing those songs in a quartet for one of our checkers.
• You do get multiple attempts.
• If you have questions or concerns - ask.

Applying for Membership in NEHB:

• Membership allows people to participate in future directions for NEHB, and does not cost anything.
• Men who have attended NEHB for two consecutive years, and are fully prepared, are asked to submit two recordings of songs (announced at the Rally) for evaluation.
• Recordings will be reviewed, and accepted members notified.
• Details on the process are available - please ask.

Logistics and Optional Activities:

• We are prepared to assist people flying in to Boston for the Rally with transportation to and from the event.  Please ask for assistance.
• There is a voluntary/optional dinner on Thursday night, ask for details.  (Not included in the rally fee.)
• There are optional opportunities to perform for the community on Friday. Inquire to sign up.
• Dress code for those performances are jeans, sneakers  and Hawaiian shirts.
• Hotel accommodations are provided for Friday and Saturday night, and are double occupancy rooms.  There will be a survey form released asking about roommate preferences.
• Extra-cost private rooms may be available.
• Roommates must identify each other by name on the form. If the name's don't match, you get a random roommate.
• The survey will ask about medical or special meal requirements
• Failure to return the survey form on time means you receive a random roommate and no meal accommodations.
• The hotel has very strict rules about outside alcohol being consumed in public spaces. Any alcohol you provide for yourself (or friends) must be consumed in your room.

Msg #4B: One Guy's Learning Process

My music-learning process has changed a great deal since my first Harmony Brigade, and the difference is amazing.  I can't read music (or so I thought, because I was comparing myself to people who are really trained, and can sight-read like mad).

So I started out with learning tracks for my part, and nothing but repetition.   That worked - but it also burned my mistakes into my brain so fiercely, that fixing them was a nightmare.

Now, first of all - I use the music at least every few days.  Just because I can't sight read at speed, doesn't mean I can't learn something from the music.  (And looking at the music is improving my reading skills...)  I (like others) don't start out with my part-predominant track.  I put the song on full-mix and repeat, and listen for things like movement of melody between parts, pick-ups, rhythmic and dynamic changes.  Then I leave the music on repeat and just go about my business, and let my subconscious take over.

Then I learn my part.  And it goes a LOT faster.

I make a point of using part-predominant tracks by shifting right (to the other 3 parts) and left (to my own).  I listen to my left-shifted part as often as I sing it - I have learned I can spot my mistakes just by silently singing along, and hearing differences.  I sing with the 3 parts just to practice without leaning (and that's a good time to use Ted's learning information above.  I mark up my book - and then I check the marks to see if I'm still wrong.  (Since I mostly use pencil, I'm willing to erase those marks when I think I've fixed things.)

When words flummox me (and they do) I try anticipating the words phrase by phrase.  So, say the pitch blows on the track, and I quickly say "In the apartment above me, there is the lovingest (lovingest) pair.  I do that through the entire song - checking whether I know what's coming against what actually comes.

Then I go to a run-through - and discover that 95% accuracy isn't 100% accuracy.  And the first time I rehearse after the run-through, I focus on my book, and my mistakes.  That's the quickest way to fix them that I know.

I've shrunk my learning time by more than half since I started using these techniques.  By the end of this summer, I'll have changed or added to my methods.  Because, as I said in my previous post - Kaizen....

Msg #4A: How are we doing?

Before I begin, a quick list of useful links, repeated:

• Run Through Calendar
• Tools for recording yourself
• Map of participants
• Additional learning tracks available to attendees, order from Music VP Will Johnson
• $15 per part, electronic only
• $17 per part, electronic + CD plus $3 shipping per order

Let me ask you a question - how is it going?  Sure, it's early days yet, but how are you doing?  If you are having difficulties (or think you might be) - let's get you help now.  If you haven't started, let me encourage you to start today.

I encourage people to start now, and get help now - because most problems can be solved by brainstorming better ways to learn the music.  And why not find your personal best way to learn NOW, while we are early in the process?

I cannot emphasize enough - it's not merely OK to be humble.  It's GREAT to be humble.  Loving your difficulties and errors is how you erase them.  Deny your troubles, and you get to keep them. Coming to the Rally with those troubles intact will sharply diminish your fun.  Everyone wants everyone to be ready - people are absolutely eager to help.  (And sometimes it helps to hear "yeah, that part of the song is kicking my behind too....")

People you can ask for help include:

• Me, your Chief Preparedness Assistant (and Cheerleader)
• Your sponsor (if you have one)
• Other members or attendees of NEHB
• Your music team
• ANYONE at a run-through

I'm breaking this note into TWO posts today - this is your general reminder, and the next will be my personal learning techniques.

One of the principles people in business use is a Japanese approach called Kaizen.  Kaizen literally means "change for the better".  It focuses on making constant (usually small) improvements in how you do things.  After all, if you do the same thing the same way every time, you get the same results.  But by slowly improving the way you do things, you can get better results.

So - read my other post, and use it as a springboard to look at your approach - and make a small improvement.  Maybe you will see big results in your music learning.  I did.

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Bare Necessities

Not Bear Necessities, although the pun is obvious, was written for Disney’s animated
movie The Jungle Book, released in 1967.  Our version is heavily modified for barbershop,
but still contains the original melody and feel. It's also much shorter. (Original lyrics)

It has been covered countless times, in many different formats:

• Alvin and the Chipmunks (animation voiced by Dave Seville)
• Los Lobos (American Rock with Zydeco influences)
• Lou Rawls (for the TV Show Jungle Cubs, in Hip-Hop style)

Msg #3: It's time to start singing together.

A new month of May, which means it's time for run-through meetings to start.

You can not only access the Web Calendar for Run Through Meetings, but you can add the calendar to your Apple or Android Calendar if you use either of those smartphones.

If you can't make it to a run-through, Ted Blank has created a useful tutorial on how to record yourself and test those recordings using Audacity.  That page has a good short summary, and greater details in a link.

I had the pleasure of testing my new-found music knowledge with other NEHB attendees twice last week: once after the Vocal Revolution rehearsal on Thursday (using books), and another after one of our performances as I  rode with a friend back home (from memory).  Fun to see how far we have come in a short time, interesting to see how far from note-and-word perfect I am. :-)

If you want to buy learning tracks for other parts, those can be made available to you. Pricing is as follows for registered attendees and members for NEHB 2018 (meaning you already have the rights to the music):

• Download Only - $15 per part.
• CD and Download - $17 per part, plus $3 shipping.

Order via your friendly neighborhood VP of Music, Will.

===========================

Blackbird....

My lesson on Blackbird this week, after trying it out - is that the Bass really does control the rhythm of the song, more than the lead does.  You have to know your parts and pickups, and you have to be strong on  your breathing.  I'm still working that out.

We all know the Beatles created and recorded this song - here's a recording.

Stories vary about what the song means or why it was written, but a consistent tale is that it was inspired by problems with US race relations in 1968.  (See Wikipedia for details.)

This song has been covered countless times in many styles. For the barbershop style, this arrangement was made most famous by Ringmasters. This performance has a slightly different interpretation in the lead than our learning tracks.